Reffners’s presentation focused on how combinations of analytical techniques are being used in forensic investigations. Today, Reffner noted, forensic science is under attack by defense attorneys, judges, and public advocates. Police departments, government agencies, and social groups are challenging the validity of the testimonies of expert witnesses. Some academics and scientists also question the way in which forensic laboratories analyze evidence and interpret the results of their studies. As a result, demands on forensic scientists are increasing daily.
In this context, there has been a call to standardize analytical methods used in the crime laboratories and spectroscopy has become an essential technology for elevating the quality of forensic evidence analysis. Reffner’s presentation included highlights of many interesting forensic cases that he has been involved in, including authenticating a winning lottery ticket, matching red fibers in a murder investigation, identifying the chemical makeup of a multilayer paint chip being used as evidence in a hit and run case, and identification of adhesive residue found on a suspect’s knife.
The meeting was attended by many students and several university professors, as well as by consultants and industrial members. The students were encouraged to ask questions and received an engraved pen for participation in the question-and-answer session following the talk.
During the dinner section of the meeting, several students from Fabris’s group displayed posters. The posters highlighted optimization and applications of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and facilitated interesting discussions between the students and industrial attendees.
More information about the chapter and the schedule of meetings can be found at www.nysas.org.
Debbie Peru is the secretary of the New York–New Jersey Chapter of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (NYSAS).
