Podcasts about Human identification

There are times when life confronts us with great loss or the threat of loss, and the emotions we feel can be overwhelming. Deep emotional pain, however, can have adverse effects on the brain that threaten the quality of a sufferer's work. In this episode of the CoachCast, John Collins provides insight and tips for dealing with emotional pain, and how to support the members of our teams when they are afflicted by the most difficult circumstances that life will inevitably bring our way. Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) Advanced Expert Witnessing (Online) Show Links Hennepin County DNA Contamination The Scent of Death - A New Methodology in Death Investigations CBI Audit and Responding Proposals HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory (Book, 2018)

Coming off a recent tour of workshops and presentations on the subject, John Collins discusses the threat of excessively restrictive policies that prevent hiring managers from really getting to know their job candidates. When forensic science laboratories are forced to follow a structured "script" that prohibits a conversational connection with interview subjects, their ability to recognize and identify potential problems is significantly impaired.  Events and Workshops Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) Advanced Expert Witnessing (Online) Show Links Stutter Reduction Enzyme by Promega HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory (Book, 2018)

The newest forensic science organization got off the ground in November 2023. The National Association of Forensic Science Boards is now set to host its 2nd annual meeting in Albany, New York. In this episode of the CoachCast, John speaks with Kermit Channell and Jennifer Naugle about the organization's mission, future, and upcoming meeting. John also explains the evolution of his own thinking about forensic science oversight.  Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) Events and Workshops ISHI 2024 Workshops - San Antonio (September 2024) AFQAM 2024 - Daytona Beach, Florida True Intergity at AFQAM - Registration Page Show Notes and Links National Association of Forensic Science Boards National Forensic Science Week - Texas Style NIST Strategic Opportunities Report Rhode Island Firearms Suspension CFSO on Smith v. Arizona

Few things are harder on a team or organization than a change in executive-level leadership. The experience can leave even the best-running teams feeling like everyone has lost their minds. In this episode, we explain why it happens and how to prevent it with a more thoughtful and open approach to transitioning between leadership regimes. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) Events and Workshops ISHI 2024 Workshops - San Antonio (September 2024) AFQAM 2024 - Daytona Beach, Florida True Intergity at AFQAM - Registration Page Show Notes and Links Election Forensics Wall Street Journal on Cannibis and Impaired Driving

Back for another week of shenanigans. George is doing doordash on the side. Gil went to Pittsburgh over the weekend and sent drunk Batman texts after going to a space themed bar that asks for "human identification." PNC park is top tier. Sports is happening all over the place. CeeDee Lamb finally signed his contract with the Cowboys. Astros are...not playing well as of late. Will they make playoffs? Tune in for all this and more.

There is a particular kind of individual with a particular temperament that you must identify and eliminate from hiring consideration. Doing so will save you and your team valuable time and energy, and it will prevent the poisoning of your team and its ability to nurture a communicative and collaborative environment. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) Events and Workshops ISHI 2024 Workshops - San Antonio (September 2024) AFQAM 2024 - Daytona Beach, Florida True Intergity at AFQAM - Registration Page Show Notes and Links Traces of Doubt: The Forensics of Dr. Henry Lee (NBC) The ASCLD LEAP Network HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory (Book)    

What is integrity and how does the study of ethics ensure that professionals will demonstrate integrity during the most difficult situations? The answer is that it can't. Ethics is a highly misunderstood and often misapplied field of study. In this episode, your host, John Collins, will discuss his new situational readiness workshop, True Integrity, and some important factors that predict the quality of decisions people will make when everything is on the line. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) Events and Workshops ISHI 2024 Workshops - San Antonio (September 2024) AFQAM 2024 - Daytona Beach, Florida True Intergity at AFQAM - Registration Page

Job satisfaction leads to higher levels of energy, which translates into better engagement and better performance. But the factors leading to one's job satisfaction are complicated and often include personal matters that are outside the control of the laboratory. In this episode, John Collins discusses some of the key elements of job satisfaction and why the hiring of local talent should always be an option worthy of serious consideration. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) ISHI 2024 Workshops - San Antonio (September 2024)

In this episode of the Crime Lab CoachCast, John Collins, your host and author of HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory - A 21st Century Approach to Effective Crime Lab Leadership, discusses the importance of filling vacant leadership positions as soon as possible. He also discusses the damage caused by unnecessary delays. For those of you involved in the selection and hiring of executive forensic laboratory administrators, you won't want to miss this episode. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) References Smith v. Arizona (SCOTUS Blog) HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory (2018)

Jody Wolf is an award winning forensic laboratory veteran and former president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. She is one of the few forensic laboratory administrators to climb beyond the laboratory into the police command ranks. Jody is now the Chief of Staff for the Phoenix Police Department. In this episode, John speaks with Jody about her journey and love of forensic science laboratories, and what she's observed and experienced in forensic science along the way. You don't want to miss this chat with one of America's most influential forensic laboratory leaders. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) References Video - Elevating Women in Law Enforcement - With Jody Wolf    

Confidence is the blissful feeling of self-assurance that you can handle whatever people or situations you encounter in your life and career. But you can lose it and, when you do, it can leave you feeling lost, hurting, and desperate for answers. The good news is that you can get it back, and in this episode you will learn how. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) References No references    

Relationships are the raw materials from which teamwork is made. But what happens when problems arise in workplace relationships and what can be done to fix them? John Collins will share his thoughts about relationships within the forensic science environment and will also share a strategy for repairing broken relationships when they start getting in the way of your laboratory's mission. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) References Book: The Body Keeps the Score - Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Faith is not a subject we typically associate with science, but even scientists rely on their faith to orient themselves in this world and this life. Faith is not the same as religion and is not rooted in certainty. It is something we struggle with. John Collins speaks with his friend, colleague, and fellow coach, Kevin R. Smith, about having faith in our natural strengths, and knowning that they provide the best opportunity to function with more effectiveness in our lives and careers. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Friends at Promega The International Symposium on Human Identification (2024) References Still Kevin - Leadership Development (Kevin R. Smith)

Dr. Keith Biddle is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and the manager of Parkside's new Human Identification and Forensic Anthropolgy Lab- which, among other things, can do DNA extraction.

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Michael Coble, Executive Director of the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. They discuss the important work done at the CHI, including the forensic DNA testing they conduct for criminal casework and missing persons identification. Dr. Coble explains some of the latest advances in forensic science and describes how he came to work on high profile cases such as the 9/11 attacks and the identification of the missing Romanov children. NOTE: This episode was recorded in February 2023. To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu. To learn more about the Center for Human Identification, visit https://www.unthsc.edu/center-for-human-identification/.

THIS WEEK!!! We bring you tales of delight and woe in equal measure, beginning with the newest and brownest form of Human Identification, rolling into our wishes from the proverbial genie, and ya know what? I'm not gonna spoil it. There's some other Stuff. Some other really good Stuff that made your mom very proud of us. You just need to listen to the goddamn show, Sharon.  Thanks to the Demon that delivers our drums, and to RVA Mag for the extra special and terrific write-up about our show. It made us very tingly and happy. Much love to the Richmond Podcast community. 

Recorded from the site of the 33rd International Symposium on Human Identification in Washington, DC, John Collins discusses the growing concern of laboratory decision-makers about the skills of scientists to perform effectively on the witness stand. Are we developing our forensic scientists the right way, and are we emphasizing expert witnessing skills in our training programs? John Collins, author of 50 Situations Awaiting Every Forensic Scientist, shares his thoughts.

In episode four of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Katharine Pope, a Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, Dr. Bruce Anderson, a Forensic Anthropologist with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, and Joe Mullins, an Instructor at the New York Academy of Art, to discuss human identification using forensic anthropology and facial approximations. From skeletal remains found in the woods to mass casualty events, forensic anthropologists use their knowledge and expertise of biological profile estimation and skeletal trauma analysis to help establish identities for unknown individuals. Forensic artists who are trained in facial approximations use skulls and other identifying information to recreate victims' faces. Listen along as Katharine, Dr. Anderson, and Joe discuss how their disciplines interact, coordination with various entities to resolve cases, and how to get in touch with local forensic anthropologists and forensic artists. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice's Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (Award No. 15PNIJ-21-GK-02192-MUMU).

In episode three of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Lori Bruski and Amy Jenkinson, two Research Public Health Analysts at RTI International, to discuss interagency efforts to compile crime, missing persons, and decedent information in comprehensive databases. In the digital age, criminal justice information can be uploaded into databases and organized in a searchable centralized location, making it more accessible than ever. These government databases act as computerized indices of information that law enforcement, medicolegal death investigators, and, in some cases, the general public can use to help identify unknown human remains and resolve missing persons cases. Listen along as Lori and Amy discuss the different databases available, where to access them, and how they can be leveraged for forensic science and human identification. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice's Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (Award No. 15PNIJ-21-GK-02192-MUMU).

In episode two of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Bryan Johnson, the Major Incident Program Manager in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Latent Print Unit, to discuss how postmortem prints can be used to help identify unknown decedents. One of the cheapest, easiest, and fastest methods of identifying individuals is through friction ridge prints; however, challenges can arise in cases where trauma or decomposition affect the quality of a decedent's hands. Fortunately, there are a variety of techniques available that can facilitate the collection of high-quality postmortem prints if the hands still possess the necessary layers of skin. Listen along as Bryan discusses the advantages of postmortem printing, why identification is accomplished by latent print examiners, and how friction ridge skin is formed. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice's Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode one of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Heather McKiernan, a Research Forensic Scientist at RTI International, and Ashley Rodriguez, a Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, to discuss the use of forensic genetic genealogy in identifying human remains. Oftentimes, unknown human remains are recovered fully or partially skeletonized with no close biological relatives in CODIS to facilitate identification. Therefore, combining non-traditional DNA testing with genealogical methods and research has become a powerful investigative tool to bring closure to families. Listen along as Dr. McKiernan and Ashley discuss how forensic genetic genealogy differs from searching a DNA profile in CODIS, what limitations exist when using DNA technologies to identify unknown remains, and the importance of familial reference samples. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice's Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

The northeast Texas mother-of-three disappeared along with her vehicle in early 1991. Until early last year, when a volunteer group called Adventures With Purpose used sonar to locate her car in Lake Tawakoni. They found human remains last October. Parker's children announced in late May that authorities matched the remains to family D-N-A. Now the Hunt County Sheriff's Office is closing its missing person case. It says the University of North Texas Health Science Center for Human Identification in Fort Worth sent investigators a report confirming the remains were those of Parker. Adventures With Purpose founder Jared Leisek says his group is grateful to Sheriff Terry Jones for trusting them to recover Parker's car and remains.And an obituary published this week describes Parker as a “strong-willed, free-spirited woman who enjoyed spending time on the lake and night driving with her kiddos.” They plan to hold a private service next week in Wills Point.

Dr Kathryn Smith is an interdisciplinary visual artist and curator who has moved from an initial education in Fine Arts (with a BAFA and MAFA from Wits) to actively explore applied sciences at the University of Dundee where she earned an MSc in Forensic Art, and a PhD from the Liverpool John Moores University. It is a journey that has taken her from advanced contemporary art practice, she was winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 2004, to a deep engagement with the practicalities and theoretical and ethical challenges of forensic facial imaging. In this dialogue, we discuss the trajectory of Kathryn's career from "crime artist and muse" - starting with her MA on Joel-Peter Witkin - to applied forensic facial reconstruction projects such as the recent Sutherland Reburial Initiative. We also discuss the postgraduate work Kathryn did at the Dundee Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and the challenges raised by the "Laws of the Face" which she explored in her PhD; as well as her contributions to the Face Lab research group, including the development of the MA Art in Science degree at Liverpool John Moores University. We talk about her return to South Africa and how she is establishing resources to promote forensic imaging skills through VIZ.Lab, as well as new understandings of this scarce skill in the African context, most recently for the Charting the Uncharted exhibition. Finally we explore Kathryn's thinking about the relationship between art and science practice; the management of "pracademic" exchanges between operational, institutional, and research environments; and the notion of knowledge generation in arts-science-technology research. Links: VIZ.Lab: http://www0.sun.ac.za/visualarts/projects/ Stellenbosch University profile of Kathryn: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=7858 The Sutherland Reburial Initiative: https://theconversation.com/how-art-and-technology-helped-bring-faces-of-the-dead-to-life-127844

Dr Kathryn Smith is an interdisciplinary visual artist and curator who has moved from an initial education in Fine Arts (with a BAFA and MAFA from Wits) to actively explore applied sciences at the University of Dundee where she earned an MSc in Forensic Art, and a PhD from the Liverpool John Moores University. It is a journey that has taken her from advanced contemporary art practice, she was winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 2004, to a deep engagement with the practicalities and theoretical and ethical challenges of forensic facial imaging. In this dialogue, we discuss the trajectory of Kathryn's career from "crime artist and muse" - starting with her MA on Joel-Peter Witkin - to applied forensic facial reconstruction projects such as the recent Sutherland Reburial Initiative. We also discuss the postgraduate work Kathryn did at the Dundee Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and the challenges raised by the "Laws of the Face" which she explored in her PhD; as well as her contributions to the Face Lab research group, including the development of the MA Art in Science degree at Liverpool John Moores University. We talk about her return to South Africa and how she is establishing resources to promote forensic imaging skills through VIZ.Lab, as well as new understandings of this scarce skill in the African context, most recently for the Charting the Uncharted exhibition. Finally we explore Kathryn's thinking about the relationship between art and science practice; the management of "pracademic" exchanges between operational, institutional, and research environments; and the notion of knowledge generation in arts-science-technology research. Links: VIZ.Lab: http://www0.sun.ac.za/visualarts/projects/ Stellenbosch University profile of Kathryn: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=7858 The Sutherland Reburial Initiative: https://theconversation.com/how-art-and-technology-helped-bring-faces-of-the-dead-to-life-127844

Join Dr Bryan M. Williams, Lecturer in Biometrics and Human Identification, Lancaster University (UK) as they discuss: Harnessing Anatomical Variation for Forensic Identification Using the Human Hand. For more great insights head to www.PublicSectorNetwork.co   

Michael Fabozzi is a 22-year veteran of the NYPD. As a Detective he pioneered the use of investigative techniques in Cyber Fraud. He cracked the largest identity theft case ever garnering world-wide attention. He has testified on cyber crime in front of US Congress as an expert and has lectured across the country. After he retired from the NYPD he continued to work in cutting edge areas of law enforcement as Director, Law Enforcement Programs at a leading Rapid DNA sequencing technology company. He has started two companies related to Law Enforcement and has been an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He recently co-founded NetThunder, NetThunder provides an on-premise private cloud solution built by cybersecurity professionals. Our IT automation includes services that keep your company running efficiently and securely, even in a compute-heavy environment. Safe and secure networking. Detective Fabozzi and an expert on ID theft and financial investigations. He was one of the first seasoned members of the NYPD Computer Crimes Squad and worked with the Federal Electronic Crimes Task Force in NY. A former professor at John Jay College in NYC where he developed a graduate level course in Cyber-Criminology. A first responder on 9/11 where he helped with the identification protocol for trace DNA evidence at the Medical Examiner’s office. He is an entrepreneur and founder of a security and data base management company that he sold before moving to Palo Alto. He was a Director working at a DNA sequencing company for Human Identification that developed a rapid DNA instrument. Detective Fabozzi also worked as a Detective in CA and I am enjoying living in Palo Alto and plans on staying for many years.Michael Fabozzi is a 22 year veteran of the NYPD. As a detective he pioneered the use of investigative techniques in Cybed Fraud. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/otcpod1/support

Featuring: Lin Anderson, Lorna Dawson, Niamh Nic Daeid, Professor James Grieve and Martin Hall. Few writers can ignore how forensics has transformed detecting crimes, taking the genre from the puzzle in the library to the minutia under the microscope. Join, author Lin Anderson, creator of forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod, with a panel of professors. Lorna Dawson is a Principal Soil Scientist who has worked on case investigations with the police and Forensic Science Service, as well as advising on TV shows ‘Vera’ and ‘Silent Witness’. Niamh Nic Daeid is Professor of Forensic Science and Director of Research at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee. Professor James Grieve was a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Medicine and a Police Forensic Pathologist. And forensic entomologist Martin Hall has worked as an expert witness on over 30 criminal cases, looking at how maggots can provide vital clues to murder. 'Forensics' was recorded live at Harrogate International Festivals' Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in July 2015.

Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | Stitcher | Apple Episode 5 – Dame Professor Sue Black Life can be unpredictable, but one thing we can all be sure of is that one day, it’s going to end... according to this week’s guest though, that needn’t be something to worry about too much! To say that we were chuffed with this week’s episode is a bit of an understatement. We sat down for a drink and a chat at The Borough Pub in Lancaster with none other than Dame Professor Sue Black, world-renowned forensic anthropologist and strong contender for a ‘most productive person ever’ award. Over a delightful couple of hours, we dissected (pun intended) some fascinating topics, including what it’s like to study human anatomy using human cadavers, how to keep your cool when presenting evidence in court, and how to cope with the emotional and physical demands of disaster victim identification. Dark as some of this subject matter can be, Sue’s refreshingly down-to-earth attitude, sensitivity and sense of humour helped to bring out the inspirational and fascinating aspects of the work. We also got to hear about some cutting-edge forensic work Sue’s team have pioneered, and a grisly story about a medieval murder case that left us feeling light-headed… Welcome back to the Pint of Science podcast. Each week, we meet scientists in pubs around the UK to find out about their lives, their universe, and everything. From *how* fruit flies love to *why* humans love, via jumping into volcanoes, winning Olympic medals, where we came from and more! Like what we do? Let us know using the hashtag #pintcast19. And be sure to subscribe to us and rate us on your favourite podcasting platform! The Pint of Science podcast is a part of the Pint of Science Festival, the world's largest science communication festival. Thousands of guests and speakers descend on pubs in hundreds of cities worldwide to introduce science in a fun, engaging, and usually pint-fuelled way. This podcast is made possible with the help of our sponsors Brilliant.org. Do check them out, and visit www.brilliant.org/pintofscience/ where the first 200 people who sign up will get 20% off a Premium plan! About Sue Black, this week's guest: Professor Dame Sue Black is a globally renowned anatomist and forensic anthropologist, and presently Pro-Vice Chancellor of Engagement at Lancaster University. From 2005 to 2018 Sue was Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee where she oversaw the running of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification, a world-leading centre responsible for training the UK national disaster victim identification unit and for creating the first forensic anthropology programme in the UK. Sue has led forensic teams specialising in disaster victim identification across the world, in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Grenada, Iraq and Thailand, work that has led to her receiving her DBE in 2016 for services to forensic anthropology and education. Since August 2018, Sue has been overseeing the engagement strategy for Lancaster University as part of a newly created role. Sue’s autobiography ‘All that Remains: A Life in Death’ recently won the Saltire Book of the Year Award. She reads a great audiobook version of it too. You can follow Sue on twitter: @ProfSueBlack And just because we liked the video, here’s Sue performing an ‘alien autopsy’ at Dundee’s Being Human Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSAtlqUMPvk Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | Stitcher | Apple  

How did modern molecular biology become an integral component of forensic science? My guest, Bruce Budowle, played key roles in the development of genetic and microbial forensics, and he explains significant events in forensic science over the past four decades. Bruce joined the research unit of the FBI Laboratory Division in 1983 and rose in the ranks to become the Chief of the Forensic Science Research Unit and the Senior Scientist for the Laboratory Division. In 2009, Bruce left the FBI to become the Executive Director of the Institute of Applied Genomics at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Bruce directs the Center for Human Identification and he is the Vice Chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics. He has published about 500 scientific articles and testified in over 250 criminal cases. Bruce and I discuss the missing children of Argentina’s Dirty War, the O.J. Simpson trial, the 9/11 terror attack on the World Trade Center, the subsequent anthrax letter attacks and the advent of microbial forensics, the DNA Fingerprinting Wars, DNA genealogies and forensics, and making mistakes in forensics.

Sarah Fraser won the 2012 Saltire First Scottish Book of the Year for her acclaimed debut The Last Highlander, which in 2016 also became a New York Times ebook bestseller. A writer and regular contributor on TV and radio, she has a PhD in obscene Gaelic poetry and lives in the Scottish Highlands. Professor Dame Sue Black OBE FRSE is a Scottish forensic anthropologist, anatomist and academic. She is Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee and Director of the British Association for Human Identification. http://www.sarahfraser.co.uk

How many of us spend our days surrounded by dead bodies? For Professor Tracey Wilkinson, the Principal Anatomist at the University of Dundee, it is part of her everyday. Tracey is current Cox Chair of Anatomy at the University which is celebrating the 130th Anniversary of the position in 2018. The Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification was the first in the UK to introduce the Thiel soft fix approach to embalming, leading to research which has resulted in new and improved surgical procedures and the design and development of new medical technologies and surgical devices. Starting in the dissecting room, in this Brainwaves, Pennie Latin follows Tracey for a day to find out more about her role as Principle Anatomist, the research she heads ups and how her passion for anatomy is being passed on to medical students, surgeons and researchers around the world.

The Last Highlander with Sarah FraserSarah Fraser won the 2012 Saltire First Scottish Book of the Year for her acclaimed debut The Last Highlander, which in 2016 also became a New York Times ebook bestseller. A writer and regular contributor on TV and radio, she has a PhD in obscene Gaelic poetry and lives in the Scottish Highlands. Professor Dame Sue Black OBE FRSE is a Scottish forensic anthropologist, anatomist and academic. She is Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee and Director of the British Association for Human Identification. http://www.sarahfraser.co.uk The Colorful Kitchen with Ilene Godofsky MorenoIlene is a certified health coach, recipe developer and food photographer. Before all of that, I studied Textile Design at RISD and Photography at OCAC. This blog is my happy place where I combine my love of color, texture and all things rainbow with plant-based cooking. http://thecolorfulkitchen.com

Edit: Bit low effort this one on my part. But next week... The Fringe! - Mark For another trip back to 2017's Edinburgh International Science Festival we'll be hearing from Dr Lucina Hackman. Forensic anthropologists are crucial in helping to identify the deceased when there are limited clues to their identity. Dr Hackman's talk will examine how her work has helped give victim's their identity to assist with the investigation of crimes. Dr Hackman is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification based in the University of Dundee. She runs postgraduate courses and teaches students in forensic anthropology. Dr Hackman is also a certified, practising forensic anthropologist and works regularly with investigators in this role.

Yes, it's us again. Remember us? We do podcasts and then take massive breaks to put on public festivals of science and rationalism. But we're here again! We'll have some podcasts from most of our Skeptics on the Fringe 2017 talks over the coming months and there's so much good stuff coming up. It'll keep you going for aaaages. Before that we have a few other podcasts to put out from the Science Festival, starting with this interview with Niamh Nic Daeid. She'll be telling us all about her incredible career and her current research, as well as telling us about her dreams for the forensics future. We sadly couldn't podcast Niamh's talk for pesky legal reasons, but you'll be able to hear more from her in a few weeks time on one of our Skeptics on the Fringe 2017 podcasts! Professor Niamh Nic Daeid is Director of Research at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science a £10million a year project with the remit to disrupt the forensic science ecosystem. She is a forensic chemist specialising in fire investigation, and the clandestine manufacture and characterisation of drugs of abuse. She is the current Vice Chair of the scientific advisory board of the International Criminal Court and is an advisor to the United Nations on aspects of New psychoactive drugs.

In the last decade, the scientific foundations of a number of traditional forensic methods have come under increasing criticism by the scientific community, leading to their discontinuation or reduced effectiveness in criminal prosecutions. These challenges raise questions about the admissibility of certain type of evidence in current cases and the validity of previous convictions. We will discuss the basis of these issues and describe some of the work ongoing at LLNL to try and address some of them. In particular we will describe an entirely new science-based approach to human identification. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 32071]

In the last decade, the scientific foundations of a number of traditional forensic methods have come under increasing criticism by the scientific community, leading to their discontinuation or reduced effectiveness in criminal prosecutions. These challenges raise questions about the admissibility of certain type of evidence in current cases and the validity of previous convictions. We will discuss the basis of these issues and describe some of the work ongoing at LLNL to try and address some of them. In particular we will describe an entirely new science-based approach to human identification. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 32071]

What do you want to happen to your body when you die? Cremation? Woodland Burial? Maybe you'll have your ashes scattered at sea...perhaps you'd like to donate your body to science? Edinburgh outlaws, Burke and Hare made a living simply because cadavers were essential to anatomical education. Today cadavers are still essential to learning and research, the difference is today donating your body to science is a very different affair. In this edition of Brainwaves Pennie Latin looks into the who, what for and why of modern body donation. With extraordinary access to the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee, Pennie meets the medical students in the dissecting room who learn from the cadavers, the anatomists who use them for research and hears about the pioneering Thiel method of preservation that enables the cadavers to be used for a far wider range of research than traditional preservation techniques. Asking herself if she would donate her own body, Pennie sets out to discover what would happen to it. Her journey begins in the Val McDermid mortuary.

Kirsty Young's castaway is Professor Sue Black. She is Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, founder and past President of the British Association for Human Identification and heads the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification in Dundee. Brought up on the west coast of Scotland and in Inverness, she fell in love with biology at secondary school and read Human Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen. After graduation she worked at London's St Thomas' Hospital as an anatomist and police began to call on her to help identify bones. In 1999 she travelled to Kosovo, tasked with investigating the site of a mass shooting. She has worked in areas of conflict including Iraq and was part of the team helping to identify victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She was awarded an OBE in 2001 for her services to forensic anthropology. Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Tonight's special guest is Todd Matthews from Tennessee, Director of Communications and Quality Assurance at NamUs.gov. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a national centralized repository and resource center for missing persons and unidentified decedent records. NamUs is a free online system that can be searched by medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement officials and the general public from all over the country in hopes of resolving these cases. There are three distinctive databases, one for Missing Persons, another for Unidentified Persons and a third for UnClaimed Persons (identified remains with no known next of kin). Todd Matthews joined the UNT Center for Human Identification in October 2011 as part of the NamUs program. He previously served on the NamUs advisory board for the database and program development, and he piloted efforts to coordinate case exchanges between NamUs and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Mr. Matthews' efforts in the area of volunteer programs related to missing and unidentified person investigations involve creating and serving as the Media Director for two important volunteer programs: The DoeNetwork and Project EDAN. In his role with the UNT Center for Human Identification's CAFIS program, Mr. Matthews will provide visionary and strategic leadership, as well as coordinate outreach and media communications. A few years ago, Mr Matthews recorded 100 episodes of a podcast called www.MissingPieces.info.