The
International Forensic Strategic Alliance (IFSA) met on October 3-4, 2019 at
the Leverhulme Research Centre (LRC) for Forensic Science at Dundee University
in Scotland. LRC Director, Niamh Nic Daeid, and Deputy Director Michael Marra,
were gracious hosts for this two-day event. The objectives for the meeting were
to re-establish priorities for IFSA and to identify clear commitment for the
next year and beyond.
The LRC has
extensive research capability, and dedicated funding to support the conduct of research
with direct applicability to forensic practitioners and operational forensic
laboratories. IFSA has committed to having LRC as a Strategic Partner moving
forward. The bulk of the two days was spent on developing a research priorities
document, which attempts to capture key areas of global importance and
interest. The document will be used initially by ENFSI in the consideration of
research funding administered from the EU.
ASCLD has
traditionally provided website supports for IFSA and a request for a
continuance of this has been made. Updates to the site are required with
respect to Minimum Requirements Document (MRD) uploads and a request has been
made through the UN (Justice Tettey) for some website analytics related to the
download of those documents.
Over the coming year,
under the leadership of the new Chair, Linzi Wilson-Wilde, IFSA will be focused
on several priorities including the development of a formal Research Statement
and a Business Plan.