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Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter - July 1998 A Student's
Perspective: YFSF Special Session 1998 |
| In our opinion the
Young Forensic Scientists Forum Special Session held at the 1998 AAFS Annual Meeting in
San Francisco was a great success with its informative topics and friendly atmosphere. It
was our first time attending an AAFS meeting, and we were not sure how to use the meeting
to our advantage. Both of us are graduate students in forensic anthropology and were
hoping to meet other people in a similar situation. The session entitled "Building a
Career in Forensic Science: Education, Employment and Expert Testimony" looked to be
the answer. The session started with a handout containing outlines for the day's presentations. Everyone introduced themselves and their area of interest. Because of our interests we spend most of our time with other anthropologists or pathologists. However, this group included people from many fields of forensics, some of which we had never contemplated as being part of the legal system. Robert Gaensslen and Richard Tontarski discussed formal education and certification in forensic sciences. Though their focus on criminalistics and toxicology did not pertain to our field of study, we did learn how all forensic fields interrelate and depend on one another. Barry Fisher and William Phillips spoke on career opportunities at the local and federal levels. Neither of us are sure how we want to continue our education. Knowing we could find jobs to support ourselves for awhile with a master's degree was a relief! After the lunch break the group reconvened to listen to Carol Henderson discuss the legal definition of an expert witness, how to present yourself on the stand and the rights/responsibilities of an expert witness. This presentation was the session's highlight for us because Ms. Henderson provided insight into our future roles in the judicial system and what is expected of a "forensic specialist." Attending this session was one of the most beneficial experiences of our week in San Francisco. It accomplished what we hoped it would. We met other people starting out in other forensic science fields and learned about our roles as future forensic anthropologists. |
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© 1999 Young Forensic Scientists Forum / American Academy of Forensic Sciences |