Forensic Science Forum

On March 28, 2012, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing on the science and standards of forensics.

The Committee is in the process of developing forensics legislation. The hearing was to serve as an opportunity to examine the role of federal science agencies in improving science and standards, including the longstanding work of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in its advancement of forensic science. The hearing also examined means by which the National Science Foundation could provide opportunities for basic research and graduate education in forensic fields.

The Witness Panel consisted of:

• Dr. Eric S. Lander, President, Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Co-Chair, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA;
• The Honorable Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce;
• The Honorable Subra Suresh, Director of the 
National Science Foundation.

The hearing were held on March 28, 2012, and may be viewed at: http://t.co/QMv7o51E. (Please note there is a 13 minute delay before the audio and video is available.)

Question: Are the efforts made by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation the best approach to help address forensic science oversight?