JFS Announces Forensic Lab Talks Two-Part Seminar Series on Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy!

I am delighted to announce that the fifth and sixth Journal of Forensic Sciences (JFS) Forensic Lab Talks (FLT) Seminars will be a two-part series on Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG). Please mark your calendars. 

FLT #5, titled Branching Out: The Use of FIGG in Forensic Investigations; From the Science to the Solutions, is scheduled for October 11 at 1:00pm ET. The seminar will be presented by Dr. Claire Glynn, Professor, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven, CT. Dr. Glynn is also the Founding Director of the online Graduate Certificate in Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy at the University of New Haven, which is the first program of its kind in the world. Dr. Glynn's presentation will address the scientific foundations of FIGG by exploring key concepts such as the DNA sequencing technologies available and the principles of genetic genealogy and kinship analysis to identify genetic relationships between individuals. The overall workflow involved in a FIGG investigation will be covered, highlighting the key steps and methodologies employed, with a focus on best practices for each step. Associated ethical and privacy concerns will be discussed, emphasizing the need to protect both public safety and individual privacy rights. Additional information on this FLT virtual seminar, as well as the link to register, will be forthcoming on September 20.

FLT #6, titled Beyond the OMG Era: Forensic Genetic Genealogy 2011 - 2023, Expectations Versus Realities, is scheduled for November 8 at 1:00pm ET. The seminar will be presented by Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, Founder, Identifinders International LLC, Fountain Valley, CA. Dr. Fitzpatrick is widely recognized as the founder of modern Forensic Genealogy. She has pioneered the use of genetic genealogy Y-STR and autosomal SNP analysis for generating forensic intelligence on cold cases sometimes decades old. Dr. Fitzpatrick's presentation will discuss how Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) has been used for more than ten years to solve hundreds of cold cases, many dating back decades. As more cases move forward to successful resolution, the capabilities of FGG are becoming more well characterized, tempering expectations, and mitigating the risk of over-using a technique once regarded as a miracle cure for the common cold case. You can look forward to diving into case studies that offer insight into the legal, technical, and genealogical evolution of FGG, with suggestions on what the future may hold for this game-changing tool for human identification. Additional information on this FLT virtual seminar, as well as the link to register, will be forthcoming in October 2023. 

The Forensic Lab Talks Seminar Series is provided FREE OF CHARGE as a value-added member benefit. A Certificate of Attendance will be sent to participants who attend the FLT virtual seminars live.

FLT #5:  October 11, 2023  
Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy – Part I
Branching Out: The Use of FIGG in Forensic Investigations; From the Science to the Solutions 
Speaker: Claire Glynn, PhD

FLT #6:  November 8, 2023  
Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy – Part II 
Beyond the OMG Era: Forensic Genetic Genealogy 2011 - 2023, Expectations Versus Realities
Speaker: Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD 

The fourth Forensic Lab Talks seminar, titled Forensic Toxicological Investigation of Postmortem Cases: Novel LCMS and HRMS Analytical Approaches, presented by Dr. Luke Rodda, was a tremendous success with over 1,850 registrants. We were thrilled by the interest shown from the forensic community for our fourth seminar. For those who participated, thank you again for contributing to its success.  

We are excited about offering our fifth and sixth Forensic Lab Talks virtual educational seminars on October 11 and November 8, 2023. PLEASE SAVE THE DATES!

Thank you for your continued support of JFS and its initiatives. For questions about the seminar series, please contact JFS Managing Editor Brenda Peat at bpeat@aafs.org.