AAFS National Meeting in Orlando
From Feb. 16-21, Orlando was home to the American Academy of Forensic Science Annual Meeting for the first time since the 1990s.
In total, thousands of people attended. Professionals, academics, lawyers, doctors and many others representing different fields across the world took advantage of this learning opportunity.
Dr. Michael Sigman, Director of the National Center for Forensic Science and UCF Chemistry professor, gave a presentation on fire debris analysis. Four UCF students were also given the opportunity to present at the conference. Of the four presenting, three were Chemistry Ph.D. students.
- Dana-Marie Dennis, gave her presentation on smokeless powders database
- Alejandra Flores gave an analysis of fibers
- Quashanna Price presented on correspondence analysis of smokeless powders FTIR and MS data.
- Undergraduate Jessica Kindell from the Forensic Science program presented on biological degradation of ignitable liquid components in fire debris samples containing soils.
Dr. John Ballantyne, Associate Director for Research at the National Center for Forensic Science and UCF Chemistry professor, and Dr. Erin Hanson, Research Assistant Professor in the Biological Evidence Section of the National Center for Forensic Science, also presented results from their work in the area of forensic biochemistry.
Two Anthropology MA students, Ashley Green and Patrisha Meyers , presented poster demonstrations with their advisor, Dr. John Schultz, Associate Professor, Associate Chair and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Anthropology department . Green presented the Use of Human Skeleton Remains: It is Forensically Significant? Meyers presented A Preliminary Study for Estimating Postmortem Interval of Fabric Degradation in Central Florida.
Wednesday evening, the UCF College of Sciences Alumni Chapter hosted a Networking Knight following the day’s events. Approximately 30 UCF alumni and students working in the forensic science industry across the country gathered for the college’s first alumni reception.
Next year’s AAFS meeting will be held in Las Vegas. The COS Alumni Chapter is exploring opportunities to host similar alumni receptions at future AAFS meetings.