News

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) is making the Call for Posters for their upcoming 2027 Current Trends in Seized Drug Analysis Symposium:

This year marks the 10^th Anniversary of the Current Trends in Seized Drugs Symposium offering FREE continuing education to forensic professionals, researchers, academicians, and students in over 85 countries.  On behalf of Poster Chairs Maggie Tam (Canada Border Services Agency) and Alexander San Nicolas (District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences) I would invite you, your co-workers, and/or your students to submit science in the form of a poster presentation to help us celebrate our anniversary year.  The entire event, including the poster session, is virtual so there are no travel costs and no registration fees. Just an excellent opportunity to share your work with the global forensic chemistry community. Accepted posters would be submitted in either a ppt or pdf format and authors have the option of including a 5 min video to accompany their work.  It does not matter if the work had been presented elsewhere at a local or national meeting – we are happy to provide your work the added visibility of exposure to a global audience.

There is an award provided for the best student poster - $100USD cash and a 15min timeslot during the core program to present your work live to the world as well as an invitation to participate in the final panel discussion alongside all of the distinguished, invited speakers who presented on that day.

Please see the attached flyer for additional details such as the abstract submission link and submission deadline.

The American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE) cordially invites you to join us for a free webinar series highlighting the importance of trace evidence:

"Bridging the Gap – From Crime Scene to Courtroom”

Microscopic evidence can play a key role in the investigation and the courtroom. Yet, bridging the gap between crime scene collection, laboratory analysis, and effective legal presentation remains one of the most critical challenges in criminal justice. We are here to help bridge that gap to build your case.

This interactive series brings together crime scene investigators, forensic scientists, and legal professionals to explore how trace evidence—from glass and paint chips to fibers, hairs, explosives, and ignitable liquid debris—can serve as the tipping point in complex investigations and trial outcomes.

What We’ll Cover

Through deep-dive case studies, our multidisciplinary panel of experts will demonstrate how trace evidence directly influences outcomes from initial collection to final verdict.

• Real-World Case Studies: Uncover how overlooked microscopic evidence became the decisive factor in high-profile and cold cases.

• Seamless Chain of Custody & Interpretation: Learn best practices for preserving evidence integrity from the field to the laboratory.

• Courtroom Impact: Discover strategies for recognizing the potential impact of scientific trace data in your case.

• Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue: Connect with peers across forensic science disciplines, law enforcement, and law to align methodologies and strengthen case strategy.

Who Should Attend?

• Crime Scene Investigators, Detectives & Law Enforcement

• Forensic Scientists

• Academia (forensic science researchers, professors, and students)

• Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys, and Judges

• Laboratory Management (Lab directors, supervisors, and managers)

Event Details

• Date: Our first webinars will take place on Sep 16th and 30th, 2026 at 12pm EST.

• Duration: 30 Minutes including live Q&A

Please see the attached flyer or visit our website for more details. Also see attached instructor information. 

Cedar Crest is offering several free training events including a three-day  course for Basic Crime Scene Investigation.  Check out their offerings here.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (KS) Criminalistics Laboratory is hosting a 5-Day (40-hour) workshop designed as an introduction to bloodstain pattern analysis from October 5-9, 2026. Click here for more information. 

The 9^th Annual Current Trends in Forensic Toxicology Symposium will be held this year from May 4^th-8^th, 2026.  This year’s event will be chaired by Lt. Robert Sears of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Geraldine Dowling of the Atlantic Technological University - Ireland.  The call for posters has gone out, and anyone interested in offering a submission can do so here.  The deadline for submission is April 17th.  Submissions do not need to be original work - something presented at a regional meeting or other venue would be appropriate.  There is also no requirement to attend the poster at anytime during the session.  Registration is free, there are no travel costs, CE credits are available through ABFT, and the entire event is recorded should scheduling conflicts prevent attending the live event.

MAFS will be hosting a free members-only four-hour webinar based on the MAFS Fall 2025 Conference workshop instructed by Brooke Ehlers titled “From Bench to Boss: Transitioning Roles Within Your Organization” on Wednesday, April 22nd from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST via Zoom. For more information, click here. 

The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) is recruiting for two At-Large Directors to serve on the Board of Directors (BoD). The candidate must be a certificate holder of the ABC.  Please see this flyer for more information.

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the exceptionally high level of global interest in IAFS 2026, we are pleased to announce a final extension of the abstract submission deadline.

 Final Extended Deadline: 15 December 2025

This additional time is being offered to accommodate the many colleagues from around the world who have requested a short extension in order to finalise their contributions. We are delighted to see such an enthusiastic response, reflecting the truly international scale and growing importance of the 24th Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences.

IAFS 2026, taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria from 25–30 May 2026, is shaping up to be a landmark event for the global forensic science community. The meeting will bring together experts from all disciplines for a week of high-level scientific exchange and collaboration.

As a reminder, IAFS 2026 will also host two integrated meetings:

• The International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI 2026) → Learn more here
• The Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences (BAFS 2026) → Learn more here

 Submit your abstract here!

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to welcoming you to Sofia for what promises to be a truly exceptional and widely attended international gathering.

Warm regards,
IAFS 2026

The American Board of Criminalistics is pleased to announce that we have completed the field testing and examination evaluation process for our Seized Drug Analysis examination.  We will begin offering the examination January 1, 2026.  This examination will be offered electronically only.  For more information on the examination please visit the Seized Drug Analysis page on our website.

With the implementation of this new examination, we will be retiring our Drug Analysis examination.  We will stop accepting applications for Drug Analysis after 10/31/2025.  If you have a current Drug Analysis application, it will remain active until your application period expires.  Alternatively, you may request to have your application converted to a Seized Drug Analysis application.  Please contact the Registrar at abcregistrar@criminalistics.com.

The National Association of Forensic Science Boards (NAFSB) would like to announce their upcoming conference, taking place October 20–21, 2025, in New Haven, Connecticut. More details on their website and attached agenda.