It is with pleasure that I write "From the Director’s Desk" for NCSTL’s first quarterly newsletter. NCSTL has come a long way since its inception in 2003. In this period of increased interest in crime scene investigation, NCSTL representatives travel nationwide to inform our constituency – law enforcement, legal professionals, scientists, educators, and technologists of NCSTL’s work.

NCSTL’s mission is to provide comprehensive scientific, technological and legal information, which will promote justice based on sound science and technology. To this end, I am pleased to report our accomplishments:

• www.ncstl.org consolidates interdisciplinary information and proudly features the "one-stop-shop" database which has grown to over 30,000 records;
• The first National Conference for Science, Technology and the Law was hosted in September, 2005. The next conference will be held November 2–5, 2006.
• Works authored by NCSTL representatives are widespread, as is media coverage, including features on television and radio networks;
• Educational guest lectures are being produced via digital media and include CD-ROMS, DVD-ROMS, web and pod casts;
• An interactive education program entitled Law 101, which is designed to educate non-lawyers who are going to serve as expert witnesses, is in development;
• Law students at Stetson and other universities satisfy pro bono hours and earn directed research credits by conducting research for the database.

Happy New Year!

Virtual autopsies are on the cutting edge of forensic science. They use computerized reconstructions of the deceased to determine cause and time of death. Find out more ...

What is the likelihood that the avian flu sweeping Asia will be contracted by individuals and introduced into the West to deposit death and turmoil? Find out how physicians faced with an epidemic like this respond to patients with symptoms that indicate avian flu infection.

In January, 2006 NCSTL had cause to celebrate, as the database reached its 30,000th record! Find out more about how NCSTL researchers are working hard to make the database the best resource it can possibly be, while providing the highest quality research tool.

To bring you the best possible service, the NCSTL website at www.ncstl.org continues to be modified and developed.
Details include information on web/pod casting and an education update.

NCSTL ACTIVITIES and PRESS: Find out where NCSTL staff has been and what we’ve been doing, including information about our publications and the press coverage we have received.