4th Meeting of the European Academy of Forensic Science (EAFS 2006), Helsinki, Finland
Messel bursar Nicola Farmer reports from the 18 – 16 June 2006 event
 Forensic anthropologist Douglas Ubelaker from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC delivered the plenary lecture on crime scene investigation at EAFS 2006 in Finland. He discussed the techniques and tools used to find bodies and burial sites, the effect of fires and the use of botanical evidence in relation to anthropology.
The programme was interesting and different to any other conference I have attended. Five parallel sessions each day covered: Identification, Reconstruction, Reliability, Developing Techniques, and Forensic Applications. The presentations in each of these sessions were wide-ranging, so it was possible to hear speakers from many areas of forensic science, whilst remaining in a single session. During the afternoons there were workshops, posters, and forums from visiting companies, so there was always something interesting to attend.
One of the special sessions gave me the opportunity to present my research on the use of stable isotopes to an audience which included both those knowledgeable in the technique and newcomers. The poster session allowed people to discuss the work further. The conference was an ideal opportunity to meet people from a variety of backgrounds and I met representatives from several companies who offered help with the research either by providing samples, analytical equipment, or their experience.
The social programme included welcome drinks from the organisers, welcome drinks from the City of Helsinki, a conference dinner, and farewell drinks. I found this was the ideal opportunity for networking, further discussion, or relaxing.
The conference allowed me to meet many individuals interested in our work at Queen’s University. It also provided the opportunity to explain my research and the potential of the technique to a wide audience. Attending the conference was a highly beneficial exercise for my research and career, and also provided a welcome opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Helsinki.
Miss Nicola Farmer
Queen’s University of Belfast
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