Just Science

Just Bath Salts  In this special release episode of the 2017 NIJ R&D Symposium, Just Science interviews Lindsay Glicksberg, a student from Sam Houston State University. This is an excerpt from the abstract submitted by the guest, Lindsay Glicksberg explaining the research discussed in this episode: The ongoing proliferation of designer drugs present a variety of public health and safety concerns. Synthetic cathinones are capable of producing a variety of psychostimulant effects. According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS), their use has escalated. Forensic laboratories must be able to identify these new drugs as part of antemortem and postmortem toxicology investigations. Due to limitations in immunoassay-based screening technologies, many forensic toxicology laboratories must rely on chromatographic-based screening approaches in order to detect these drugs in biological evidence. The detection of drugs is heavily dependent upon the stability of the drug in biological matrices,

In this special release season, Just Science will be covering presenters at the National Institute of Justice’s Research and Development Symposium Meeting held in conjunction with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana in February of 2017. The first of four episodes, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, we interviewed Dr. Jarrad Wagner, from Oklahoma State University. This NIJ funded research is striving to make law enforcement officials and their communities safer by determining practical ways to detect methamphetamine clandestine laboratories through water waste systems.

Just Hairy Isotopes  In episode ten of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], we spoke with Dr. Gwyneth Gordon,  from Arizona State University.  Dr. Gordon and her team have developed methods to use the isotopic abundance of elements in hair to learn more about the history of an individual. This NIJ funded research, used in the investigation of unidentified dead, isotopic analysis will measures strontium, trace elements, and even rare earth minerals to shed light on diet, birthplace and residential history. https://forensiccoe.org/?p=4412&preview=true

Just Blood Spatter In episode nine of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], we spoke with Dr. Marc Smith, from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Smith’s NIJ funded research in blood spatter has connected computational fluid dynamics with empirical studies to improve the understanding of blood spatter onto solid, slanted surfaces. His work looks at many variables, including droplet size, speed, surface roughness and wettability. https://forensiccoe.org/ep9s1/

In episode eight of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], we spoke with Dr. Christopher Krebs, a Senior Research Social Scientist at RTI International. Dr. Krebs’ research has shed light on the problem of sexual assault on college campuses and prisons. We discuss the history of RTI research in the area and how to interpret the data considering the methodology of social science. This could be a lesson in data interpretation and statistics that may be useful for forensic scientists, but it also raises the awareness of an issue of which the magnitude is not yet fully understood. Some content in this podcast is sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences. https://forensiccoe.org/ep8s1/

Just Dry Bones: In the seventh episode of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], guest speakers Dr. Melissa Connor, Dr. Eriek Hansen, and Christiane Baigent discuss their NIJ funded research. A study was launched in late 2015 using two methods, Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and Total Body Desiccation. Observations from three years of study at Colorado Mesa University created a qualitative scoring system the Total Body Desiccation Score (TBDS) showing major changes over time by desiccated remains. Visit the FTCOE website to learn more at https://forensiccoe.org/e7s1/

In the sixth episode of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], guest speaker Dr. Paul Speaker discusses the FORESIGHT program. Dr. Speaker, an Associate Professor at West Virginia University, will describe how The FORESIGHT program helps crime laboratories manage their finances and track their performance by using data. This episode will stress the importance of knowing business jargon, and how it can help a crime laboratories persuade policy makers. Listen and subscribe to learn more.

DNA Mixture Interpretation In the fifth episode of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], we have guest speaker Dr. Catherine Grgicak speaking about one of the hot topics in forensic science, DNA Mixture interpretation. Dr. Grgicak and her colleagues at Boston University have developed tools and resources that are openly available to the forensic science community. This episode covers the CEESIt (Computational Evaluation of Evidentiary Signal) and NOCIt (Number Of Contributors) tools along with some of the other contributions that Dr. Grgicak and her colleagues have made to the forensic community. Listen and subscribe to learn more.

SUBJECTIVE PROBABILITY For episode four of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], we will be diving into the world of statistics and how it applies forensic case work with Dr. Christophe Champod and Dr. Tacha Hicks from the University of Lausanne. They, along with RTI International resident fingerprint expert, co-host Heidi Eldridge, will be discussing subjective probability and how it can be used in forensic science. There are many different viewpoints and methods about how to use statistical analysis in the courtroom and this episode will help listeners better understand these differing viewpoints. Subscribe and listen to learn more about how logical thinking must be applied appropriately when determining subjective probability through examples given by the guests. Visit the landing page to learn more: https://forensiccoe.org/episode-four-subjective-probability/

Episode Three of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], features Dr. Ryan Lilien, from Cadre Forensics and Todd Weller, from the Oakland Police Department talking about their groundbreaking research in optical topography and firearms identification. Optical topography is a mean to give firearms examiners data that is close to a perfect representation of an impression. This research provides the possibility that in the future we will be able to relate the human examiner's judgment to a statistical representation. Note: This interview occurred in June of 2016. https://forensiccoe.org/episode-three-3d-optical-topography/

In episode two, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], Dr. Tom Busey explores the importance of human factors as it relates to fingerprint analysis and interpretation. He, along with RTI International resident fingerprint expert, co-host Heidi Eldridge, will discuss the dangers in performing large database searches and the top issues that involve human factors in the forensic laboratory. Why should the forensic science community care about psychology and psychological research? Find out in this episode! https://forensiccoe.org/episode-two/

The first episode of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], will feature guest speaker Barry Fisher. It will dive into Barry’s legacy, which goes back to the 1960s, and how he used leadership in the crime laboratory to overcome obstacles. The FTCoE will be releasing a Forensic Leadership Series in 2017, which Barry helped develop. Leadership is the anchor for how forensic scientists can improve the confidence of the public in casework, analysis, and the results that come out of the crime laboratory. Listen and subscribe to learn more. https://forensiccoe.org/episode-one/

TrailerJustScience by RTI International