Essentials of forensic interpretation
Online Course
March to September 2020
Our range of courses constantly expands
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Target audience
Practitioners of all forensic disciplines – including reporting officers, lawyers, accreditation bodies – having a University degree (at least BSc) or an equivalent degree of a higher education programme. The course is given in English. For exercises, discussions and one-to-one tutorials, English, German or French are available as further languages.
Overview
The course team also offers further online short courses for practitioners who wish to specialize in DNA interpretation, or Bayesian networks.
In addition to these short courses, a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Statistics and the Evaluation of Forensic Evidence is proposed to forensic practitioners willing to acquire a comprehensive training (around 470 hours, 18 months in total).
Objectives
- Provide practitioners with a theoretical and practical background in probabilistic and statistical reasoning without leaving their desk (online course).
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Be able to apply the likelihood ratio approach when data are scarce.
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Help practitioners explain their reasoning in Court and feel at ease with expert debate and the published literature on interpretation.
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Have specialized and up-to-date knowledge in the field of forensic interpretation and evaluation of forensic results.
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Acquire a good knowledge of probabilistic reasoning and elements of Bayesian networks in forensic science.
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Understand the principles of interpretation and the use of propositions at different levels (hierarchy of propositions).
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Acquire skills in written communication of uncertainty.
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Identify the importance of pre-assessment.
Program
- Uncertainty in forensic science
- Nature of probability
- First reflections on forensic interpretation of scientific findings (concepts of uniqueness and individualisation)
- Evaluation of forensic findings with a logical approach
- Communication of results, relevant populations and pitfalls of intuition
- Introduction to a choice of specialized topic (fingermarks, Bayesian networks, transfer material such as fibers, glass, GSR etc.).
Instructors
- Professor Christophe Champod
- Professor Franco Taroni
- Professor Alex Biedermann
- Dr. Sc. Tacha Hicks Champod
The instructors have theoretical and practical experience with evaluation and interpretation from laboratory to courtroom. They have published over the years numerous scholarly papers and textbooks on the subjects of evaluation and statistics in forensic science.
Consultants
- Prof. Colin Aitken, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
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Dr. Sc. Ian Evett, United Kingdom
Certification
Certificate of attendance, 5 ECTS
Practical information
Course venue
Online course
Registration
Apply online. A current curriculum vitae is to be uploaded through our online application system.
Course fee
3,500.- Swiss Francs
Registration deadline
February 29, 2020
For any administrative questions, please click here
Alumni testimonials
« Since completing your 2014 Essentials of Forensic Interpretation course, I have personally promoted it at every appropriate opportunity. Essentials of Forensic Interpretation is a great course and I have professionally benefited so much from it. » Charles Eggleston
« This is a superb course and I will continue to recommend it to others. It has helped me enormously and has really clarified my thinking about effective interpretation and communication. I will miss working with you and would certainly be interested in further study on your courses. » Paul Olden, Forensic Scientist (Firearms), Key Forensic Services, UK.
