American Academy of Forensic Sciences Holds 71st Annual Scientific Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland Feb. 18-23

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Forensic Sciences' (AAFS) 71^st Annual Scientific Meeting will take place Feb. 18-23, 2019, at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. Themed "Diligence, Dedication, and Devotion," AAFS President Susan M. Ballou, MS, will lead the scientific community of nearly 5,000 national and international forensic professionals to discuss advances in the forensic sciences and hold discussions on the science, environments, and challenges that impact forensic science practitioners.

The desire to advance the forensic science profession will be evidenced as professionals assemble to share ideas, case studies and attend more than 900 scientific sessions related to the 11 sections of the forensic sciences, which cover a multi­disciplinary range of human, technical, medical, and scientific endeavors to search for the truth in the name of justice. More than 150 exhibitors will showcase the state-of-the-art technology and services.

The scientific meeting begins with a public outreach event, a CSI MiniCamp, presented in partnership with the Maryland Science Center. The family-friendly CSI MiniCamp will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Maryland Science Center, located at 601 Light St. in Baltimore. AAFS forensic professionals will present several hands-on experiments, from DNA testing of fruit to facial recognition reconstruction.

From 9–11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20, the opening plenary session, "Diligence, Dedication, and Devotion," at the Baltimore Convention Center, will examine the how the forensic sciences community maintains its purpose to serve the cause of justice while dealing with adversarial scorn, interminable bureaucracy and less-than-optimal resources. AAFS President Ballou leads a panel discussion following presentations by Bonnie Armstrong, BS, The Shaken Baby Alliance; Ted Hunt, JD, U.S. Department of Justice; and John Sattler, BS, U.S. Naval Academy.  Guest speakers will address fighting back victimization and what to do about it; rededication to a common cause: the search for truth in the name of justice; and diligence, dedication, and devotion in the real world.

For updates on AAFS during the scientific meeting, visit the AAFS newsfeed at www.aafs.org.

COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION FOR JOURNALISTS: Individuals able to document a current direct con­nection with the news media may receive free registration at the AAFS registration desk, as may journalism students by presenting letterhead-stationery certification that they are attending as part of a class activity. Everyone seeking access to any aspect of the annual meeting must be registered. Press attending special functions (e.g., workshops, seminars, luncheons), are required to preregister and pay the designated fees by the preregistration deadline of Feb. 1, 2019.

About the AAFS:

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences is a multidisciplinary professional organization providing leader­ship to advance science and its application to the legal system. The objectives of the Academy are to promote professionalism, integrity, competency, and education, and to foster research, improve practice, and encourage collaboration in the forensic sciences.

Organized in 1948, AAFS serves a distinguished and diverse membership of more than 6,700 forensic-science professionals who are the focal point for public information when forensic-science issues are addressed in the public domain. AAFS publishes the internationally recognized Journal of Forensic Sciences. For more informa­tion, visit www.aafs.org.

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SOURCE American Academy of Forensic Sciences