This is the title of a symposium on 14 January 2010 that preceded the inaugural lecture of Prof. dr. Ate Kloosterman, Special Chair of Forensic Biology of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED). During the symposium international experts will highlight the latest advances in the field of forensic DNA research.

Forensic DNA research: interplay between science and practice

The criminal justice system has been designed to exploit new research techniques such as forensic DNA research, and actively seeks out new technological developments that can aid in solving complex cases. In addition, there is often considerable pressure to solve criminal cases as quickly as possible. These circumstances underline the importance of innovative, effective and efficient forensic DNA research. Moreover, the increased number and complexity of DNA analyses bare witness to the importance of effective communication between forensic laboratories and the various other parties involved in the criminal justice system.

Prof. dr. Ate Kloosterman

In 2008, Prof. dr. Ate Kloosterman was appointed Special Chair of Forensic Biology of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED). As Professor of Forensic Biology at the UvA, Prof. Kloosterman works towards the further development of forensic DNA research. Prof. Kloosterman has worked as a forensic DNA researcher at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) since 1980, working at the intersection between research and practical application. He has been around since the beginning of forensic DNA research in the Netherlands, and has testified as an expert witness at a large number of court cases. In addition, Kloosterman has been a lecturer in the Master of Forensic Science at the University of Amsterdam since 2005. He also provides instruction to various parties involved in the criminal justice system, including employees of the Public Prosecutor, judges, the police and lawyers. He is a member of the International Society of Forensic Genetics, the European DNA Profiling Group and the DNA Working Group of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes.

‘Doing justice with forensic DNA research’ – a symposium

• Prof. Kimmo Himberg (Director of the Keskusrikospoliisi Rikostekninen Loaboratorio Vantaa - Finland and quartermaster of the MSc Forensic Science at the University of Amsterdam)  embarked on an ideological quest for the meaning of forensic research now and in the future with his presentation ‘Research in Forensic Science: Providing Support for Criminal Justice'.
  
• Prof. Peter Gill (Strathclyde University, Glasgow - Scotland) addressed the future developments in the field of DNA research of minimal biological traces in his presentation ‘Challenges and Perspectives on DNA Profiling Evidence'.
  
• Prof. Manfred Kayser (Forensic Molecular Biology Department of the Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam) provided an overview of DNA-research related to the prediction of appearance traits in his presentation: ‘DNA Prediction of Appearance Traits for Forensic Application'.
  
• Prof. Peter de Knijff (Forensic Laboratory for DNA Research of the Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum) addressed the application of the latest techniques of Genomics research in DNA research in his presentation: ‘Forensic Genomics: Next Generation Sequencing'.
  
• Mr. Diederik Aben (Advocate General with the Dutch Supreme Court) addressed communication between experts and lawyers in his presentation: ‘Integreren en Primitiveren'; onwillige deskundigen en onwillige juristen; naar een wijziging van de stopregel en een fundamenteel andere benadering van de communicatie tussen deskundige en jurist'.
  
• Prof. Ate Kloosterman (Nederlands Forensisch Instituut (NFI) and Special Chair of Forensic Biology at the University of Amsterdam) finished the lecture sequence at 2:30 pm with his inaugural lecture with the same title as the symposium.

The symposium was presided over by Mr. Kees Möhring, Director of External Relations of the Nederlandse Forensisch Instituut (NFI).