Forensic Data Science Laboratory
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The Forensic Data Science Laboratory conducts research to develop methods for evaluation of forensic evidence that are based on relevant data, quantitative measurements, and statistical models; methods that:

1. are transparent and reproducible;
2. are intrinsically resistant to cognitive bias;
3. use the logically correct framework for interpretation of evidence (the likelihood-ratio framework); and
4. are empirically calibrated and validated under casework conditions.

In order to develop methods that provide solutions for real forensic-evaluation problems, solutions that have a high probability of actually being adopted in casework, members of the Laboratory conduct research in collaboration with researchers and practitioners who have expertise in particular branches of forensic science.

Members of the Laboratory also conduct research on calibration and validation of forensic-evaluation systems, and on communication of forensic science to courts, research whose results are applicable across many branches of forensic science.

In addition to research, members of the Laboratory provide training in forensic inference and statistics to forensic practitioners and to lawyers, and contribute to the development of standards and guidelines for forensic science.

Members

Selected Publications

Morrison G.S. (2022). Advancing a paradigm shift in evaluation of forensic evidence: The rise of forensic data science. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 5, 100270.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100270



Morrison G.S., Kaye D.H., Balding D.J., Taylor D., Dawid P., Aitken C.G.G., Gittelson S., Zadora G., Robertson B., Willis S.M., Pope S., Neil M., Martire K.A., Hepler A., Gill R.D., Jamieson A., de Zoete J., Ostrum R.B., Caliebe A. (2017). A comment on the PCAST report: Skip the “match”/“non-match” stage. Forensic Science International, 272, e7–e9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.10.018
Preprint at: http://forensic-evaluation.net/PCAST2016/

Research and Development Projects

– Calibration and Validation of Forensic-Evaluation Systems

• methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
• empirical calibration of forensic-comparison systems
• empirical validation of forensic-comparison systems
  
  

– E³ Forensic-Speech-Science System (E³FS³)

• standards, guidelines, and standard operating procedures
• data-collection protocols and software
• open-code software tools based on state-of-the-art automatic-speaker-recognition technology
• library of validation reports
• training for practitioners
  
  

– Speaker Recognition / Speaker Identification by Human Listeners

speaker recognition by earwitnesses
speaker identification by judges and juries

– Firearms

• comparison of fired cartridge cases
• data collection
• development and validation of feature-based methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

– Forensic Anthropology

• development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

– Cell-Site Analysis

• data collection
• development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

– Fingerprints

• data collection
• development and validation of forensic-data-science methods for comparison of fingerprints and fingermarks
• training for practitioners application for research funding under development
  
  

– Communicating Forensic Science

• understanding of likelihood ratios by legal-decision makers
• understanding of validation by legal-decision makers
  
  

– Forensic Comparison of Facial Images

• development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  

– Authorship Attribution

• development and validation of methods for calculation of likelihood ratios
  
  
  

Training and Events

Subscribe to receive announcements about training offered by the Forensic Data Science Laboratory:

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– Introduction to the likelihood ratio framework for evaluation of forensic evidence

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshop
  
  
  • Birmingham, UK
    
    
  • Future dates TBA
    
    
    

– Concepts of likelihood-ratio calculation + Calibration and validation of likelihood-ratio systems

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshop
  
  
  • Birmingham, UK
    
    
  • Future dates TBA
    
    
    

https://forensic-data-science.net/

This webpage is maintained by Geoffrey Stewart Morrison and was last updated 2024-02-05