President's Message
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March/April 2006 Vol. 36 — Issue 2 Editor: Kathy Reynolds President’s Message As I write this column I am still in Seattle at the It has been some time since the issue of what constitutes close of the annual meeting and yet planning has a violation of Academy ethics has been reviewed. It is already begun for the 2007 Annual Scientific essential that such a review take place if the Academy is Meeting in San Antonio. One of the first jobs of an to maintain its position as a world leader. The Ethics incoming president is to decide on a theme for the Committee and the Long Term Planning Committee next year's program. I hope to define not only the will jointly meet this year and will review the terms of meeting, but also the committee activities for the reference of what constitutes an ethics violation. The coming year, under the theme “Forensic Science in group will then address procedural issues that arise a Global Community: Issues and Advances.” from ethics reviews. The goal is to produce a relevant and transparent process that properly protects the The intent of this topic is to focus on where the privacy needs of both the complainant and the person forensic community currently is globally, issues we complained about. If you have views about what should all face, and where we need to be in the future. be included in this review or potential policy, please let James G. Young, MD None of us can afford to practice forensic science in me know so that your ideas may be included. In a an isolated manner in our communities. The risks of column later this year I will detail how these doing this are enormous with the greatest risks being deliberations are progressing. that forensic science plays a role in a wrongful conviction, or conversely, that effective forensic Many members of the Academy have played a science is not conducted, resulting in a failure to major role in international forensics, either through provide proper scientific evidence to bring about a casework or through international meetings such as conviction. the International Association of Forensic Sciences. Past Academy President Ron Singer was recently It is increasingly clear that we need to approach elected President of this organization and planning is forensic science from a global perspective. Many underway for the 2008 IAFS meeting in New crimes including serial sexual crimes and internet Orleans. Work is also continuing on a project crimes may cross municipal, state, and international started at the last meeting in Hong Kong. A day long borders. Major disasters including 9/11, the Bali forensic summit was held bringing together forensic bombings, and the southeast Asian tsunami involved leaders worldwide. The discussions included how to deaths and economic consequences to multiple share best practices on an ongoing way, how to work countries. To address such complex matters as together in international emergencies, and very international crime and disasters protocols, importantly, how to improve forensic science in the consistent approaches to operations must be agreed developing world. The work from this summit is upon. To succeed in this, the forensic community continuing with a meeting that will take place during must freely exchange best practices, operate as the EAFS Triennial Meeting in Helsinki in June. universally as possible, and do so in an ethical These two meetings are the prime forensic purpose manner. for the tour that has been arranged to Helsinki. Details of this trip, which includes sidetrips to The San Antonio meeting will focus on international Sweden and Estonia are available on the Academy best practices and ethics in forensic science. The website. program committee is already lining up speakers for the plenary session, workshops, and breakfasts. We Finally, I would like to again thank all of you for remind everyone that the deadline for abstract showing the confidence to make me the president of submissions for the 2007 meeting is firmly fixed on the Academy. It is a great honor to be asked to August 1. A Call for Papers Form may be found on serve, and I will do my best to advance forensic pages 27-30 of this issue of Academy News. science during my term. Officers 2006-2007 PRESIDENT James G. Young, MD Inside This Issue PRESIDENT-ELECT President’s Message..................................................................................................................1 Bruce. A Goldberger, PhD Legislative Corner ....................................................................................................................3 PAST PRESIDENT Edmund R. Donoghue, MD Planning and Development ....................................................................................................4 VICE PRESIDENTS Joseph P. Bono, MA 2006 AAFS Annual Meeting Highlights ................................................................................6 Kathleen J. Reichs, PhD 2006-07 Officers Elected ......................................................................................................10 SECRETARY Carol E. Henderson, JD 2007 Program Information....................................................................................................12 TREASURER Thomas L. Bohan, PhD, JD Section News ..........................................................................................................................14 Foundation News ..................................................................................................................20 Board of Directors CRIMINALISTICS In Memoriam ........................................................................................................................26 Richard E. Tontarski, Jr., MS 2007 Announcement and Call For Papers Form ................................................................27 ENGINEERING SCIENCES Scott D. Batterman, PhD FSF Contributors....................................................................................................................31 GENERAL James M. Adcock, PhD Contributing Article................................................................................................................34 JURISPRUDENCE Applicants ..............................................................................................................................37 Danielle D. Ruttman, JD Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter{......................................................................40 ODONTOLOGY Robert E. Barsley, DDS, JD Meetings & Conferences........................................................................................................43 PATHOLOGY/BIOLOGY Julia C. Goodin, MD Employment Opportunities ..................................................................................................48 PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Douglas H. Ubelaker, PhD PSYCHIATRY & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE Daniel A. Martell, PhD QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS Did You Present a Paper at the 2006 AAFS Annual Meeting? John L. Sang, MS The Journal of Forensic Sciences reserves the right of first publication to all previously u npublished reports TOXICOLOGY and papers presented at the AAFS annual meeting in Seattle. Please submit your manuscripts to: Barry K. Logan, PhD AAFS Staff Michael A. Peat, PhD, Editor EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Journal of Forensic Sciences Anne Warren 6700 Woodlands Parkway DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Ste 230-308 & ACCREDITATION The Woodlands, TX 77381 Jim Hurley E-mail: [email protected] MEETINGS & EXPOSITIONS MANAGER Nancy Jackson FINANCE MANAGER Charlene Alberson MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Future Annual Meeting Dates COORDINATOR Kimberly Wrasse February 19-24, 2007 February 18-23, 2008 February 16-21, 2009 San Antonio, Texas Atlanta, Georgia Denver, Colorado PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Kathy Reynolds STAFF ACCOUNTANT Debbie Crockett MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ASSISTANT & EXHIBIT COORDINATOR Tracie McCray ASSISTANT MEETINGS MANAGER Academy News (ISSN#: 0739-7666) is published bi-monthly for $20 (for members and non-members) Sondra Doolittle per year by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO MEETINGS ASSISTANT & 80904-2798. Periodicals postage paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2798. Postmaster: Send address VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Pat Tolle change to Academy News, 410 N. 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2798. The deadline for inclusion of material in the next issue of Academy News is April 1, 2006. RECEPTIONIST Phyllis Gilliam 2 Academy News Barry A.J. Fisher, MS, MBA Legislative Corner I’d like to start off this column by telling you why I in contact with the Consortium to help us relay our love the TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and message. Court TV has also been very generous in all its spin-offs. I’ll also throw in, for good measure, support of the Academy’s efforts to train high school shows like Forensic Files and other programs that science teachers. feature fiction as well as non-fictional portrayals of forensic science. Confidentially, I don’t generally Over all, the pluses of shows like CSI far outweigh watch these programs. I don’t especially care to watch the minuses. And as long as they help us gain public the shows for the same reason I suspect that and political support for more resources for forensic physicians don’t watch TV shows about hospitals and science, I plan to continue to say nice things about doctors. I’ve become too picky and forget that the them and to thank them. And you should, too! fictional shows are just entertainment and based loosely on science. CSI is not meant to be a primer