• http://www.ncstl.org’s “one-stop-shop” database has grown to over 79,611 records and continues to develop and consolidate forensic-based information including the addition of webcasts, podcasts, vodcasts, blog links, and training materials which focus on science, technology and law topics;
  
  
• NCSTL receives regular media coverage. On January 21, 2009, Director of Outreach, Anjali Swienton, was interviewed on the Scott Farrell radio show. On January 27, I participated on a webcast: "Key Issues Facing Forensic Scientists & How to Solve Them" hosted by Val-Pierre Genton of BrightTALK and on February 18, 2009, I was interviewed by Nell Greenfield Boyce from NPR for the program “All Things Considered”. On March 10, 2009, my remarks to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Technology & Innovation were broadcast on C-SPAN 1. Articles mentioning my testimony ran in Healthcare Finance, Tax & Law Weekly; Biotech Week; Medical Verdicts and Law Weekly; Medicine and Law Weekly; Lab Law Weekly; Health Business Week; Law & Health Weekly; Healthcare Mergers, Acquisitions and Ventures Week; FNS Daybook; Pharma Investments, Ventures and Law Weekly; Lab Business Week; House Science and Technology Committee The Washington Daybook; The Frontrunner; Congressional Quarterly Inc.; and Federal Information and News Dispatch Inc. Also, on March 10, 2009, David Coffey at McClatchy Newspapers interviewed me regarding the state of forensic science in the U.S. I was interviewed by The Graveyard Shift Blog and was also mentioned in Dr. Katherine Ramsland: The Forensic Resource You Need to See in March.
  
  
• On February 16-20, 2009, Director of Outreach, Anjali Swienton, Director of Research, Diana Botluk, Director of Technology & Distance Education, Susan Zucker, and Research Attorney, Catherine Guthrie Bailey, and I participated in the AAFS 61st Annual Scientific Meeting in Denver, CO;
  
  
• To inform NCSTL’s constituency, which includes law enforcement, legal professionals, scientists, engineers, educators, and technologists, NCSTL representatives make presentations and offer training on a multitude of topics. On January 22-23, 2009, Director of Outreach, Anjali Swienton, presented “The NCSTL: Resources for DNA Post-conviction Case Management” in Palm Harbor, FL and on March 19, 2009 she presented “Ethics in Forensic Science” at the Actual Innocence Conference in Austin, TX. On January 26, 2009, I presented “Digital Forensics as a Forensic Science” at the 5th Annual IFIP in Orlando, FL. Research Attorney, Catherine Bailey, presented project updates to the ABA's Section of Science & Technology Law at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Boston, MA on my behalf on February 13th, 2009 and on March 21, 2009, she presented “Digging Up Dirt: Dissecting and Analyzing the Expert Witness” at Cedar Crest College in Allenton, PA. At the 61st AAFS Annual Meeting in Denver, CO on February 16-21, 2009, Director of Research, Diana Botluk, Research Attorney, Catherine Bailey, and NCSTL Advisory Council member, Cynthia Holt, presented “Forensic Research Resources” and Director of Technology and Distance Education, Dr. Susan Zucker, and NCSTL Advisory Council member, Dr. Vahid Majidi, presented “YouTube, Facebook, Chat Rooms, and Blogs: A Fertile Classroom for Illicit Activities”. On March 10, 2009, I presented "Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward," before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. At the Actual Innocence Conference in Austin, TX, I presented “Legal Issues” on March 19, 2009.

Purpose: To review the scientific and technical issues raised by the National Academies (NAS) report Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, including those related to accuracy, standards, reliability, validity and the role of NIST. Full summary

Opening remarks by Senator Leahy spoke to conclusions from the NAS report and salient facts about the capacity of forensic labs generally. Full summary