A Review of Forensic Science Higher Education Programs in the United States: Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees*

Abstract: As the number of forensic science programs offered at higher education institutions rises, and more students express an interest in them, it is important to gain information regarding the offerings in terms of courses, equipment available to students, degree requirements, and other important aspects of the programs. A survey was conducted examining the existing bachelor’s and master’s forensic science programs in the U.S. Of the responding institutions, relatively few were, at the time of the survey, accredited by the forensic science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). In general, the standards of the responding programs vary considerably primarily in terms of their size and subjects coverage. While it is clear that the standards for the forensic science programs investigated are not homogeneous, the majority of the programs provide a strong science curriculum, faculties with advanced degrees, and interesting forensic‐oriented courses.     

Forensic DNA Challenges: Replacing Numbers with Names of Fosse Ardeatine’s Victims*

Abstract: The Fosse Ardeatine massacre was a mass execution carried out in Rome on March 24, 1944 by Nazi German occupation troops during the Second World War as a reprisal for a partisan attack conducted on the previous day in central Rome. The 335 civilians were taken to the “Cave Ardeatine” and they were shot. Only 323 corpses out of 335 have been identified. The aim of this work is the genetic and anthropological analysis of the remains exhumed from grave number 329 of Fosse Ardeatine’s Shrine to assess their identity. So far, such remains have been supposed to belong to MM but mitochondrial analysis excluded a biological relationship to two living maternal relatives. Our analysis indicated that remains recovered in grave number 329 do not belong to MM. This result suggests that genetic analysis of the remains should be also applied to the other 12 unknown corpses to elucidate their identity.     

第17届国际法庭科学大会侧记

2005年8月21日上午9时,伴随着舞狮队喧天的锣鼓声和苏格兰悠扬的风笛声,为期6天的“第17届国际法庭科学大会”在香港会展中心隆重开幕。司法部司法鉴定科学技术研究所也组团参加了本届大会,笔者随团参会并侧记如下:一、大会概况国际法庭科学大会是“国际法庭科学协会(IAFS)”每三年举办一次的主要学术活动,是国际法庭科学领域同行交流的重要平台。2005年是第17届大会,也是该会自成立以来第一次由中国主办。参加本届大会的有来自世界各个国家和国际组织的一千多名代表,中国内地参加本届大会的代表有一百多名,主要是来自科研、教学和公安等…