Call for Abstracts
The Scientific Program Committee would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming response to the call for abstracts prior to postponement of the 2020 Meeting. We received almost 1600 abstracts from 67 different countries!
The Scientific Program Committee now invites the submission of new abstracts for original work for consideration as an oral or digital poster presentation in the IAFS 2023 Meeting Program. Due to the rapidly changing research in the forensic science and medicine fields, previous abstracts will not be transferred to the 2023 Meeting.
The theme for IAFS 2023 is ‘where to from here’ which asks the forensic science community to review contemporary practices and consider strategies to improve operational contributions and effectiveness in the light of both current and future challenges.
Key Dates
| Abstract Submission Open | Wednesday 12 October 2022 |
| Abstract Submission Close | Wednesday 8 February 2023 |
| Authors Notified of Acceptance | Wednesday 3 May 2023 |
| Author Registration & Early Bird Deadline | Wednesday 21 June 2023 |
Program Overview
Digital Poster Template
Presentation Types
Discipline Keynote Presentation: 30-minute presentation, comprising of a 25-minute platform + 5 minutes for questions. By selection at the discretion of the Discipline Convenors and the Scientific Committee.
Oral Presentation: 15-minute presentation, comprising of a 12-minute platform + 3 minutes for questions.
Digital Poster: Available to view on smartphones, tablets and interactive kiosks provided in the exhibition hall throughout the duration of the Meeting. For more information, please click here.
General Policies and Requirements
- The presenting author will be required to register for the Meeting in order to ensure their abstract(s) is included in the final program. Deadline for presenting author registration is Wednesday 21 June 2023.
- All submissions must be completed electronically via the online submission facility. If you are unable to submit in this manner, please contact the Meeting Managers at iafs2023@arinex.com.au for further information.
- All abstracts must be prepared according to the guidelines provided. Abstracts will only be accepted if submitted within the format and layout guidelines.
- There is no limit to the number of abstracts that may be submitted by an individual. However, splitting of a body of work into multiple abstracts is discouraged and consolidation into one abstract is preferred.
- Authors are required to acknowledge that by submitting an abstract, permission is automatically given for the abstract (if approved) to be made available on the website and via the app, and possibly published more broadly.
- At the discretion of the Discipline Convenors and the Scientific Committee, a maximum of two abstracts may be accepted into the scientific program where there is the same lead author.
Abstract Format and Layout Guidelines
- Abstracts must not exceed a 400-word limit. The word limit relates only to the text of the abstract and does not include title, authors and institutions.
- Use single line spacing.
- No tables, figures or images are allowed.
- Abstracts must be free of typographical and grammatical errors.
- Standard abbreviations may be used for common terms only. Otherwise, any abbreviation should be given in brackets after the first full use of the word. Abbreviations may be used in the title, provided the name in full is outlined in the body of the abstract.
- You will be asked to provide a short biography (up to 150 words) with your submission.
- You will be asked to nominate your preference for digital poster or oral presentation.
- Please include degrees or professional titles (e.g. Dr, Prof., etc).
- It is the author’s responsibility to ensure the title, author and affiliation details entered in the paper submission site are correct and exactly as they should be published on the abstract and all Meeting materials.
Notification of Acceptance
The IAFS 2023 Program Committee and Discipline Convenors will review all submitted abstracts and assess them in relation to quality and relevance to the Meeting disciplines. Notifications of acceptance will be sent via email to the submitting author on Wednesday 3 May 2023. Abstracts submitted for oral presentations that cannot be accommodated within the program will be considered and reviewed for potential acceptance as a digital poster.
Where an abstract for a paper is accepted, revisions or changes of emphasis to match the Meeting discipline may be requested as there will be an opportunity to submit an extended abstract or full paper to relevant journals directly.
All presentations are required to link and respond to the Meeting theme ‘where to from here’.
The Meeting Managers will not be held responsible for abstract submissions not received via the website or for submission errors caused by internet service outages, hardware or software delays, power outages or unforeseen events.
Awards
Best Oral Presentation and Best Digital Poster Presentation
- Authors that are accepted into the scientific program will have the opportunity to receive a Best Oral Presentation and or Best Digital Poster Presentation award which are available for each Discipline.
- Awardees will be selected based on the quality of the research, the quality of the presentation, and the overall contribution to the Discipline.
- The awards will be presented at the conclusion of each Discipline’s ‘where to from here’ panel session.
Scientific Program Disciplines
Expand the box below to see a detailed description of each Discipline.
Disciplines
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Anthropology & Archaeology |
Issues relevant to the recovery and examination of human remains (e.g., from clandestine burials), physical anthropology (including human osteology), and the application of archaeological methods to the collection and interpretation of traces. |
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Biological Criminalistics |
All aspects of forensic biology, including the collection and analysis of biological materials (from presumptive tests through to DNA profiling), and the interpretation of associated results. |
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Chemical Criminalistics |
Physical and chemical analysis of materials, including glass, paint, textile fibres, and miscellaneous substances not covered elsewhere, and the interpretation of the associated results. |
|
Clinical Forensic Medicine & Forensic Nursing |
All aspects of clinical forensic medicine (clinical practices to support potential legal proceedings) and forensic nursing (nursing processes associated with the treatment of patients in cases of abuse, violence, criminal activity, liability, and accidents). |
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Crime Scene Investigation |
Issues related to crime scene examinations and the disciplines generally covered by field-based practitioners (e.g., scene of crime detection, scene recording, footwear impressions, bloodstain pattern analysis, etc.) |
|
Digital Forensic Science & Electronic Evidence |
Forensic exploitation of the various forms of digital/electronic information that may form part of an investigation (e.g., data from mobile phones, laptops, PCs, PDAs, GPS systems, etc.), including its collection, analysis and interpretation. |
|
Document Examination |
The examination of questioned documents, including the physical and chemical analysis of paper, inks, toners, etc., and the interpretation of associated results. |
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Education & Training |
Issues related to education and training across the various fields of forensic science, including tertiary education, online programs, short courses and continuing professional education. |
|
Fingerprint Evidence & Biometrics |
Physical and chemical techniques used for fingermark detection and enhancement, together with issues related to fingerprint identification, including the interpretation of fingerprint evidence. Also includes biometric technologies for authentication and identification purposes (e.g., access control) that measure and analyse human body characteristics, such as fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial configurations and hand measurements. |
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Firearms & Toolmarks |
Issues related to scene examination, and specimen collection, analysis and interpretation for incidents involving firearms and toolmarks. This includes the chemical analysis of firearm discharge residues. |
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Fires & Explosions |
Issues related to scene examination, specimen collection, analysis and interpretation for incidents involving fire or explosion. This includes the chemical analysis of fire debris and explosive residues. |
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Forensic Pathology |
Pathology that focuses on medicolegal investigations of sudden or unexpected death with a view to determining cause, manner and mode of death. |
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Forensic Taphonomy & Entomology |
The interrelated studies of the post-mortem changes of human remains – focusing largely on environmental effects – and the identification and biological attributes of insects with application to forensic investigations (e.g., through estimation of the post-mortem interval). |
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Humanitarian Forensic Science |
The application of the knowledge and skills of forensic medicine and science to humanitarian action, especially following conflicts or disasters. This includes the forensic response to mass graves and mass-casualty incidents where Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) protocols are required, and complex investigations and prosecutions of international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. |
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Illicit Drugs & Clandestine Laboratories |
Issues related to scene examination, specimen collection and analysis for incidents involving illicit drugs, including clandestine laboratories involved in the manufacture of illicit materials. Specimen analysis includes the application of chemical profiling techniques, related databases, and data interpretation issues. |
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Management & Quality Assurance |
Aspects related to the management of forensic services, including quality assurance requirements (e.g., ISO 17025 accreditation). |
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Military Forensic Science & Counterterrorism |
The military application of forensic techniques (including battlefield forensics) and issues specifically related to counterterrorism. This includes specimen collection and analysis where CBRN agents may be involved. |
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Odontology |
Application of dental science to legal investigations, primarily involving the identification of human remains based on dental records, or the identification of an offender by comparing dental records to a bite mark left on a victim or at the scene. |
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Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences |
Psychiatric consultation and the assessment of mental health applied to legal matters, including clinical work with both offenders and victims. Behavioural science covers the various disciplines that deal with human actions, with such fields including sociology, social and cultural anthropology, and psychology. |
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Science, Justice & Legal Issues |
Issues related to the interface between the various forensic science disciplines, the forensic science system and the justice system in its broadest definition, including how forensic evidence is perceived and interpreted by the legal community, how forensic evidence is presented in court, and how we can make forensic science more effective and reliable. This includes cases of alleged or actual wrongful conviction. |
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Toxicology & Pharmacology |
Aspects related to the use of toxicology and other disciplines – such as analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry – as part of the medicolegal investigation into incidents of death, poisoning, and drug use. This includes the topic of anti-doping in sports. |
|
Wildlife Forensics & Environmental Crime |
Issues related to the physical and biochemical analysis of animal- and plant-based material that may be encountered in wildlife crime investigations (e.g., illegal trafficking of native animals and plants), as well as specimen collection and analysis for broader environmental crime investigations, such as pollution incidents. |