Just Science

In episode six, Just Science interviews Barbara Guttman from the National Institute of Standards and Technology about the first large-scale black box study to test the accuracy of computer and mobile phone forensics.

In forensic science, black box studies are used to measure the reliability of methods and techniques that rely on human interpretation. Barbara Guttman and her team at NIST are working to measure the overall competency of the digital forensics community at large by releasing an open-enrollment online test available to interested forensic scientists. Listen along as she discusses the parameters of the test, the expected results, and the value of the study in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode five, Just Science interviews Matt Ruddell from Florida International University about their efforts to develop forensic education and training programs at FIU.

The National Forensic Science Technology Center at Florida International University offers a variety of courses, consulting, and training geared toward forensic scientists. Matt Ruddell and the rest of the faculty at FIU are working to develop accessible programs for law enforcement, military personnel, and now – undergraduate students. Listen along as he discusses the development of digital forensics courses and his experience in the university system in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode four, Just Science interviews Paul Reedy, Owner of 4th Street Global, a digital forensics and cyber security consulting firm, about data stories and the future of digital evidence. Rapidly changing technology can complicate the analysis of digital evidence. As such, it is imperative that researchers and investigators work to stay on the cutting edge of the digital world. Paul Reedy believes that being proactive when it comes to the development of new digital evidence technologies will help investigators keep up with criminals. Listen along as he discusses tool validation, data stories, and the ever-evolving landscape of digital evidence in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode three, Just Science interviews Martin Novak, a Computer Scientist with the National Institute of Justice, about digital evidence in the United States Court of Appeals.

Digital evidence has the capacity to identify suspects, win acquittals, and obtain convictions. Whether through cars, smart homes, cell phones, personal computers, or a myriad of other devices, analysts are able to collect a staggering amount of data during the investigation of a crime. Martin Novak is currently studying the application of digital evidence in the courtroom. Listen along as he discusses cases, his current research goals, and the role of digital evidence in the Court of Appeals in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode two, Just Science interviews Nicolas Hughes, assistant public defender with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, TX, about the validation of tools utilized by digital forensics laboratories.

Many forensic laboratories face overwhelming caseloads; digital forensic labs are no exception. The diversity and complexity of devices that can be used as digital evidence continues to be a dynamic problem. From malware scanners to cell phones to smart homes, digital evidence can be a pivotal piece of the puzzle when investigating crimes. Nicolas Hughes is uniquely poised to drive better practices within the digital forensic discipline. He blends his background in computer engineering and law to better understand problems of inaccuracy and misinterpretation. Listen along as he discusses digital security, the value of a skilled technician, and the validation of digital forensics tools in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

While the realm of digital evidence is still relatively new, it requires validation and testing like all forensic disciplines. Digital evidence is a dynamic discipline that can often provide greater insight into the investigation of a crime or the defense of the alleged perpetrator. In this season of Just Science, we will be covering the history and interpretation of digital evidence, emerging technologies used in investigation and as evidence, and the validation of digital forensic tools. In episode one, Just Science interviews Paul Reedy, owner of 4th Street Global, a digital evidence consulting firm, about the history and evolution of digital evidence.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

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In this special release episode of Just Science, we sat down with Ashley Church and Erin West, founders of Gap Science, to discuss stress and resiliency in crime scene investigators.

Traumatic death investigation can have adverse, long-term effects on crime scene analysts. As Ashley Church and Erin West moved through their respective careers, they noticed a lack of training around protecting the psychological well-being of forensic scientists. Gap Science is working to fill this void in knowledge and address the challenges that investigators are experiencing every day. Listen along as our guests discuss compassion fatigue, the supervisor's role in protecting their people, and the impact of violent crime scenes on forensic scientists in this episode of Just Science.

This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode seven of the 2020 R&D Season, Just Science interviews Kimberly Sturk-Andreaggi, a Research Scientist at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, about the development of entire mitogenome reference data using an automated high-throughput sequencing workflow.

Disaster victim identification comes with a unique set of hurdles. Poor-quality DNA, decades-old samples, and a lack of relative referential data can make the identification of victims from current and past conflicts challenging. This is the reason that the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory uses mitochondrial DNA as their primary testing method. Stay tuned as our guest discusses the utility of mitochondrial DNA and a method for developing entire mitogenome reference data in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In this episode of the 2020 R&D Season, Just Science interviews Dr. José Almirall, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University, about a statistical approach for the interpretation of glass evidence.

One criticism levied against trace evidence examinations is that the interpretation can sometimes be too subjective. Interpretation sometimes plays a large role in the evaluation of trace evidence. Dr. Almirall and his team at FIU are trying to fix that. They have been working on an implementation package, including instrument specification, procedures, and validation assistance, that can be transferred to any forensic laboratory to help standardize trace evidence evaluation. Listen along as he discusses the implementation package, the value of trace evidence, and the analysis of glass in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

This week on Just Science, we are publishing a special release episode in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Social distancing, shelter in place, and other responses to COVID-19 can create a stressful environment for survivors of sexual assault especially if they feel they cannot access resources or are physically unable to seek help. In addition, highly stressful situations that result from significant amounts of change, such as unemployment, disruption in ‘normal’ activities, and social isolation may increase the risk of domestic violence and sexual assault. In this podcast, we will discuss what services are available to survivors of sexual assault, including leveraging on-line platforms and modified strategies for first responders, rape crisis centers, and victim advocates. We will also discuss how we as a friend, family member, and community can be prepared to respond to a victim of sexual assault in this challenging time.

In this episode Just Science interviews Ms. Marya Simmons, the Founder and CEO of Shift in Notion Consulting. Marya is a nationally recognized victim advocate and trainer with a specialty on the formation of multidisciplinary teams or sexual assault response teams and assisting agencies with developing policies and practices for improved responses to sexual assault.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.