Scientific Inquiry and Research

There is considerable debate regarding the strength of the foundational science underpinning some forensic science disciplines. Additionally, fragmentation of research efforts hinders the development and deployment of advanced technologies for forensic science. The Subcommittee on Scientific Inquiry and Research considered ways to examine existing foundational research and recommend research priorities for technological investments that can improve the quality and timeliness of forensic analyses.

Scientific Inquiry and Research Subcommittee Members

Work Products Archive

Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice
Initial Draft Views Document on Validation of Forensic Science Methodology (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #9 – March 21-22, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation and Views on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice 
Final Draft Views Document on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice
Views Document on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #10 - June 21, 2016)

Initial Draft Recommendation on Validation Studies for Forensic Science (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #9 – March 21-22, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation and Views on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice 
Final Draft Recommendation on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice (voted on at NCFS Meeting #10)
Initial Draft Recommendation on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice (version 2 - Initial Draft revised work product after NCFS meeting #10 – June 21, 2016)
Adjudication Summary for Recommendation on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice  (version 2)
Final Draft Recommendation on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice (version 2)
Recommendation on Technical Merit Evaluation of Forensic Science Methods and Practice (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #11 - September 12, 2016)

Scientific Literature in Support of Forensic Science and Practice
Initial Draft Views Document on Scientific Literature in Support of Forensic Science and Practice as Released for Public Comment (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #4 – October 28-29, 2014)
Adjudication Summary of Views Document on Scientific Literature in Support of Forensic Science and Practice
Final Draft Views Document on Scientific Literature in Support of Forensic Science and Practice as Submitted for Vote
Views Document on Scientific Literature in Support of Forensic Science and Practice (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #5 - January 29-30, 2015)

Post-Doctoral Projects
Initial Draft Directive Recommendation Post-Doctoral Projects to Facilitate Translation of Research into Forensic Science Practice (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #8 – December 7-8, 2015)
Final Draft Directive Recommendation to Fund Pilot Projects to Facilitate Translation for Research into Forensic Science Practice
Adjudication Summary for Directive Recommendation to Fund Pilot Projects to Facilitate Translation for Research into Forensic Science Practice 
Recommendation to Fund Post-Doctoral Projects to Facilitate Translation for Research into Forensic Science Practice (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #9 - March 22, 2016)

Foundational Literature
Initial Draft Views Document on Establishing the Foundational Literature within the Forensic Science Disciplines (Introduced at NCFS Meeting #8 – December 7-8, 2015)
Final Draft Views Document for Identifying and Evaluating Literature that Supports the Basic Principles of Forensic Science Method or Forensic Science Discipline  
Adjudication Summary for Views Document for Identifying and Evaluating Literature that Supports the Basic Principles of Forensic Science Method or Forensic Science Discipline
Views Document for Identifying and Evaluating Literature that Supports the Basic Principles of Forensic Science Method or Forensic Science Discipline (Adopted at NCFS Meeting #9 - March 22, 2016)