Announcements

12th Haploid Markers Meeting 2020

The 12^th Haploid Markers Meeting will take place May 13-16, 2020 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/

Gordon Research Conference 2020

Announcing the next Gordon Research Conference Forensic Analysis of Human DNA, June 21-26, 2020, in Mount Snow, West Dover, VT, United States. Congress Chair are Sarah Seashols Williams and Steven Lee.

• Conference Flyer
• Congress Website

Forensic Genetics Summer School in Copenhagen

This summer, you have the chance of receiving a comprehensive insight into forensic genetics and a broad introduction to massively parallel sequencing (MPS) work including data analysis. Join our summer course and learn more about the fascinating work in forensic genetics, MPS, and get hands-on experience with data analysis within MPS. The course focuses on relevant forensic topics such as:

• Crime scene investigation and trace samples
• DNA profiling and weight of the evidence
• MPS of forensic genetic markers (SNPs, STRs, and mitochondria)
• Molecular autopsy (sudden cardiac death)
• Paternity and relationship testing
• Future forensic investigation (prediction of age and externally visible characteristics)

The course will be held 5 - 16 August 2019. After completing this course, you will be able to understand, analyse, and interpret forensic genetic data. You will be able to understand the latest research and advantages with forensic genetics and MPS work and data analysis. Finally, you will be able to work with command line and understand the common way of analysing MPS data. For all further details and registration information, please visit: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/summercourses/forensic-genetics/ Online Course: "How Science Should Speak to Court"

Challenging Forensic Science

The aim of this course is to promote critical thinking with regard to forensic science. This course – given by specialists in the field – goes beyond the conventional image that is promoted through TV series such as CSI. It alerts (without alarming) the public on the limits of the techniques in order to promote a sound administration of forensic science in the criminal justice system. It allows participants to understand the importance of probabilistic reasoning in forensic science, because uncertainty is a constitutive part of forensic science. The course offerend by COURSERA has been prepared by the School of Crriminal Justice, University of Lausanne. Registration starts on November 20, 2018. All details can be found at https://www.coursera.org/learn/challenging-forensic-science/

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

• Registrations opened, courses start in March 2018

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.

Essentials of DNA Interpretation - short course (150 hours, 5 ECTS)

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. For more information

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Statistics and the Evaluation of Forensic Evidence (470 hours, 20 ECTS)

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 here

Essentials of Bayesian Networks - short course (150 hours, 5 ECTS)

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. For more information