Young Forensic Scientists Scholarship (YFSS) Announced

The Brazilian Academy of Forensic Sciences is proud to announce its fourth biennial InterForensics meeting to be held from August 28 to August 31, 2023, in Brazil's modernist capital city of Brasília.

According to Architectural Digest's Stefanie Waldek, "There are few cities in the world that fascinate architecture lovers as much as Brasília. When it was inaugurated in 1960, it was unlike any other city in the world, with a radical, artistic urban plan by Lúcio Costa, striking edifices by Oscar Niemeyer, and its avant-garde landscape design by Roberto Burle Marx."

The Brazilian Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education, and the Forensic Sciences Foundation have partnered up again to offer the phenomenal Young Forensic Scientists Scholarship. This amazing scholarship offers young forensic scientists with five (5) years of forensic experience or less the opportunity to present at the meeting in Brasília.

There are only two qualifications for this unique scholarship opportunity: (1) applicant must have five (5) years of forensic experience or less, and (2) applicant must be a member of AAFS in one of the following categories: (i) student affiliate, (ii) associate, (iii) trainee, or (iv) full member with AAFS. If you meet these criteria or know someone who does, please consider applying for this unique scholarship opportunity.

What does this scholarship opportunity consist of? First and foremost, it is the chance to present their selected abstract during a 20-minute presentation at the biennial meeting in the fabulous city of Brasília. The scholarship also covers the following: (1) coach air ticket to the host city in Brazil; (2) hotel stay during the biennial meeting in the host city; (3) breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the associated venue; (4) complimentary registration for the event; (5) airport pick-up; and (6) a student guide to the magnificent host city.

How to apply? Follow these easy steps:

1. All candidates must submit an abstract through the website of the event: https://www.interforensics.com/,
2. Papers from any field of forensic sciences are eligible,
3. Submissions must be written in English,
4. Submissions must be no more than 500 words, and
5. The abstracts must be submitted by Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late entries will not be accepted.  Be certain to submit early!

The selection process:

1. All submissions will be reviewed by AAFS members or fellows who will score the submitted abstracts.
2. The highest scores from the top ten (10) to fifteen (15) manuscripts will be considered reviewed by members of the Brazilian Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education, and the Forensic Sciences Foundation.
3. The selected manuscripts will be evaluated by representatives from the Brazilian Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education, and the Forensic Sciences Foundation, who will select the three scholarship recipients.

Don't forget, all abstracts must be received by Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST for consideration. If you have any questions or concerns about the scholarship, do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time (Tanisha.henson@icloud.com) or you may contact one of the amazing organizers, Joao Carlos Ambrosio (joaocarlos.jcla@gmail.com) directly.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Please be mindful of the following:

• Brazil is requiring masks be worn while in the Brazil airport; you will need to bring one with you.
• COVID-19 Vaccinations:
  • Per https://www.visitbrasil.com/en/covid/
  • Requirements to Enter Brazilian Territory
    • Travelers arriving in international flights, whether Brazilian or foreign, must provide alternatively:
      5. Proof of vaccination, printed or in electronic form, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, OR
      6. Proof of a negative or not detected antigen test or RT-PCR, taken one day prior to boarding.
• Vaccination
  • All vaccines must be approved by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), by the World Health Organization (WHO), or by the authorities in the country of origin. The vaccines used in Brazil are the following: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Janssen, and CoronaVac.
• • All passengers aged 12 and older entering Brazil by air must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
• If providing COVID-19 vaccination, travelers must present proof as follows:
  • Before boarding, passengers aged 12 and over must present proof of their vaccination status (electronic or printed).
  • The vaccine must be approved by the WHO or by relevant health authorities in the country where the vaccine was administered.
  • Proof of vaccination may be in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, and must include the manufacturer's name or commercial name, lot number, doses and date of the dose(s) administered, and traveler's name.
  • COVID-19 recovery certificates will not be accepted in lieu of proof of full vaccination.
  • To be considered fully vaccinated, the traveler must have received the final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding.
  • Proof of vaccination only in QR-code format or other coded will not be accepted.
  • If providing a negative COVID-19 test, travelers must present proof as follows:
    • Proof of a negative or non-detectable result from a RT-PCR or laboratory administered antigen test performed within one day of boarding, carried out in a laboratory recognized by the country of departure.
    • Proof of a negative test may be in English, Portuguese or Spanish.
  • If a traveler has had COVID-19 in the last 90 days and is asymptomatic but continues to test positive for COVID-19, they will be permitted to enter if they present:
    • Proof of two detectable RT-PCR results, taken at least 14 days apart, with the second test taken no more than one day before boarding.
    • A medical certificate stating that the traveler is asymptomatic and able to travel, including the dates of their travel, written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.
    • "Proof of recovery" certificates alone will not be accepted.

Quick notes

The application process:

1. All candidates must apply through the website of the event: https://www.interforensics.com/,
2. Applications must be submitted by Saturday, Abril 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST,
3. Papers from any field of the forensic sciences are eligible,
4. Submissions must be written in either English,
5. Submissions must be no more than 500 words.

The Scholarship consists of:

1. Air tickets (coach) for the selected authors,
2. Hotel stay during the event,
3. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the associated venue,
4. Free registration for the event,
5. Airport pick-up, and
6. A student guide to magnificent city of Brasília.

Rules of application:

To apply, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. You must have five (5) years of forensic experience or less, and
2. Be an AAFS member (student, associate, trainee affiliate, or full member).

Presentation:

The selected Young Scientists must prepare a 20-minute presentation on their paper to be delivered during the Scientific program of InterForensics.

• Timelines:
  • Excel spreadsheet and abstracts to FSF/BAFS Liaison via electronic delivery device determined by BAFS, no later than Monday, August 30, 2021.
  • Judges score sheets returned to FSF/BAFS Liaison Monday, September 6, 2021.
  • Top 10-15 (submission number dependent) to BAFS and CFSRE by Friday, September 3, 2021.
  • BAFS and CFSRE scholarship recipient selection to FSF/BAFS Liaison Thursday, September 9, 2021.
  • FSF Scholarship recipient selection to BAFS and CFSRE for confirmation Monday, September 13, 2021.
  • YFSS recipients and regrets notified by FSF/BAFS Liaison no later than Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
  • YFSS recipients response required by Wednesday, September 22, 2021.

Download Abstract Template HERE.