Announcements

Webinar on forensic software DNAxs in Sept. 2021

On September 2, 2021, the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) will organize a free webinar on the latest version of the forensic DNA software suite DNAxs. If you are interested in using DNAxs and get the aid in case management, profile comparisons and (statistical) evaluation of forensic DNA profiles, please register through the link. For current users of (the free version of) DNAxs this is your chance to get informed about new functionalities. More information on the webinar is in the webinar flyer. For more information on DNAxs see the DNAxs website and the DNAxs version information

ISFG Summer School 2021

Join us in a series of seven SUMMER SCHOOL WORKSHOPS organized by the ISFG. The first virtual Summer School on Forensic Genetics will take place 20^th - 30^th July, 2021. This year’s virtual edition of the Summer School will be an excellent opportunity for training and education with some of the most most qualified experts in forensic genetics. REGISTRATIONS START ON MAY 3^rd, 2021 ­– please visit the Homepage of the 2021 ISFG Summer School for all further details.

12th Haploid Markers Meeting postponed to 2022

Important message: Due to the Corona virus / Covid-19 situation, the 12^th Haploid Markers Meeting has been postponed to May 18­–21, 2022, taking place in Budapest, Hungary. The Conference motto is “Big data – stretching the borders of forensic genetics”. Novel sequencing techniques have significantly increased the body of haploid data and will continue to shape our understanding of extant lineage variation. This also impacts forensic applications. Therefore, attendees who specialize in this aspect are encouraged to submit relevant abstracts. The organizers invite papers on a variety of topics including

• forensic biostatistics of haploid markers
• haploid markers in the courtroom
• evidential value of high-resolution mtDNA and Y haplotypes - new sequencing technologies and bioinformatics
• update on forensic databases
• population structure and inference on its history
• forensic genealogical testing
• human evolutionary genomics
• ethical considerations in the context of phenotyping and biogeographic ancestry testing

All conference details can be retrieved from the meeting website: http://www.hm2020.hu/.

Summer course in Copenhagen in August 2021

The Section of Forensic Genetics at the University of Copenhagen will organize a summer course on "Forensic Genetics and Massively Parallel Sequencing" in August 2021, see also the course flyer. The course focuses on relevant forensic topics such as:

• MPS of forensic genetic markers (SNPs and STRs).
• Molecular autopsy (sudden cardiac death).
• Complete mitochondria sequencing.
• Prediction of the suspect’s externally visible characteristics and ancestry.
• Age determination using methylation patterns (metDNA).
• Tissue identification

Join the summer course and learn how to work with DNA in forensic genetics and carry out analysis of DNA data using massively parallel sequencing. Please see the course website for all further details on relevant dates, registration etc.: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/summercourses/forensic-genetics/

IAFS in Sydney postponed to 2023

The 22^nd Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Science (IAFS) in conjunction with the 25^th Symposium of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS) originally due to be held in September 2020 has been postponed to November 20-24, 2023, see https://iafs2023.com.au/.

Forensic Biology Conference in Poland 2021

Due to the Corona virus / Covid-19 situation, the NEXTlab Conference has been postponed to September 21-24, 2021! The 4^th edition of the NEXTLab Forensic Biology Conference will take place in Uniejów, Poland, see http://nextlab2020.pl. The conference languages are Polish and English (with simultaneous translation). The topics for discussion will include such issues as:

• genetic research (including predictive analysis),
• automation and computerization of research processes,
• forensic DNA databases,
• and many other equally interesting issues related to forensic biology.

Gordon Research Conference 2022

Announcing the next Gordon Research Conference Forensic Analysis of Human DNA, June 19-24, 2022, in Mount Snow, West Dover, VT, United States. Congress Chair are Sarah Seashols Williams and Steven Lee.

• Congress Website

It will be accompanied by a Gordon Research Seminar for graduate students and postdocs on June 18-19, 2020, chaired by Tiffany Layne and Laurence Devesse:

• Seminar Website

Online courses in forensic statistics and DNA evidence interpretation at the University of Lausanne

• Registrations opened, courses start in March 2021

These courses necessitate no pre-requisites in statistics and are tailored for forensic scientists. They are meant to be practical and help you in your daily work. You will benefit from personal feedback and will be able for example to work on your own casework.

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Statistics and the Evaluation of Forensic Evidence (470 hours, 20 ECTS, March 2021 to October 2022)

You want to assess the value of biological results given activity level propositions but are unsure this can be done in casework? You want to further develop your skills in managing forensic interpretation issues from case reception to court and feel at ease with the debates on interpretation issues? Then, you will find more information on our Certificate of Advanced studies

Essentials of DNA Interpretation - short course (150 hours, 5 ECTS, March to September 2021)

You encounter challenging casework, are a forensic DNA specialist who is not fully at ease with the literature published on DNA interpretation given sub-source level propositions (e.g., probabilistic software, formulation of propositions, LR), then the course ‘Essentials of DNA interpretation’ is meant for you. Registration deadline is 29 January 2021. Follow link for more information!

Essentials of Bayesian Networks - short course (150 hours, 5 ECTS, May to November 2021)

You are familiar with interpretation issues and want to use Bayesian Networks in your daily practice? This course will give you a comprehensive view of the use of BNs for the probabilistic evaluation of scientific evidence in forensic science applications. It will provide you with in-depth study of the various aspects that a solid mastery of BNs in practical applications demands. Follow this link for more information!