What You Missed at AAFS 2025

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Scientific Meeting took place from February 17 to 22, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland (1). This premier event brought together professionals from various forensic disciplines to share research findings, discuss advancements, and collaborate on best practices (1). This year, the conference focused on the technological advancements happening in forensic science, and the ethical and practical questions that it raises (1). One of these technological advancements is the use of artificial intelligence (AI), which has emerged as a hot topic in scientific circles (1). Throughout the week, forensic scientists gave talks on how AI is impacting their work, both positively and negatively, and what it bodes for the future of forensic analysis.

Forensic analysis is undergoing significant changes, but it remains as important as ever. Forensic analysis is crucial in solving crimes, as it involves the scientific examination of evidence to establish facts and support legal proceedings (1,2). Techniques such as DNA profiling, fingerprint analysis, and trace evidence examination enable investigators to identify suspects and reconstruct events with a high degree of accuracy (2).

Spectroscopic techniques have been used by law enforcement to help identify and characterize substances found at crime scenes. Spectroscopic methods provide precise and reliable data, which are essential for accurate forensic investigations. Some spectroscopic techniques that have been used for this purpose include but are not limited to Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy (2).

In this video interview, we speak with Tom Metz of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Heidi Eldridge of George Washington University, and Claire Glynn of the University of New Haven, all of whom attended AAFS this year and delivered important talks that provide insight into the state of the forensic science industry (2). Metz, Eldridge, and Glynn offer some insights into what it was like to attend AAFS this year and give their thoughts as to what stood out to them throughout the week.

Join us as we recap the AAFS Conference and highlight some of the key takeaways.

References

1. Wetzel, W. Previewing the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Conference. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/previewing-the-american-academy-of-forensic-science-conference (accessed 2025-03-12).
2. Wetzel, W. The State of Forensic Science: Previewing an Upcoming AAFS Video Series. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/the-state-of-forensic-science-previewing-an-upcoming-aafs-video-series (accessed 2025-03-12).