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Forensic Investigations to locate and identify the missing

 
  February 06, 2014  
     
 
EuroSciCon, Forensic Forums 2014 series, Cineworld: The O2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX, United Kingdom
5th March 2014


The search for the missing and their identification is an ever growing issue recognised by the international community and national governments alike. Investigations are a multi-disciplinary endeavour, and this forum presents examples from across the  scientific process of how this work has been successfully undertaken. Finding solutions to the challenges posed by both operational activities in the field, and resolving issues of identification especially from multiple casualty events continues to be a pressing problem. The scale and difficulties with pinpointing disposal sites and the effective and standardised approaches to dealing with mass graves and numerous skeletonised remains  require constant development of techniques to make the scientific process more effective. New research and case studies into how bring cases are brought to light and to conclusion are presented from a range of academic and discipline professionals. This International Forum will comprise of expert talks and plenty of networking opportunities.
This event has CPD accreditation and is part of the Forensic Forums 2014 serieswww.forensicforums2014.com.
 

 

Talk times include 5 – 10 minutes for questions

9:00 – 9:45           Registration

9:45 – 10:00         Introduction by the Chair:   Mr Ian Hanson, International Commission on Missing Persons, Sarajevo

10:00 – 10:30       The effective location of mass graves. The continuing work to find the missing from Srebrenica
Mr Ian Hanson
, International Commission on Missing Persons, Sarajevo
The events concerning the fall of Srebrenica have been well documented. The physical search for the missing began in 1996, and continues today. The approaches have been multi-disciplinary and the success of various methods of search, location and recovery analysed. How the dozens of mass graves related to the events were found indicates what approaches might be utilised in future conflicts to locate the missing. 

10:30 – 11:00       The Excavation of a WW1 Mass Grave: Recovery & Identification of Australian And British Servicemen, Fromelles, France
Mrs Alison Anderson
, Senior Anatomical Pathology Technologist,NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology, Scotland, UK
The WW1 Battle of Fromelles on 19th July 1916 resulted in the loss of more than 2000 Australian and British Servicemen. Many of those killed could not be accounted for at the time and historians have long speculated their whereabouts. Bavarian regimental archives suggested the location of several possible burial pits which were eventually pinned down to Pheasant Wood, Fromelles. In May 2009 a complete excavation of the site began, revealing many amazing artefacts but also  personal tragedies of the First World War. This presentation demonstrates traditional archaeology working alongside DVI protocols and the value of providing families with identifications.

11:00 – 11:30       Speakers’ photo then mid-morning break and poster exhibition

11:30 – 12:00       GIS analysis and the reliability and validify of a forensic survey
Mr Mike Groen, Forensic Archaeologist, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Netherlands
Within Dutch forensic archaeology the use of GIS is self-evident, especially when a field survey for a missing and possibly buried person is planned. Moreover, the GIS use is not limited to the visualisation of satellite images and geographical maps of the survey area; GIS is also used to plan the survey and to assess the pedological, geomorphological and ecological values within the survey area. These values will, together with the time interval since the disappearance, predict the taphonomic preservation of a buried body, and, subsequently, the usefulness of different survey methods and the reliability and validly of the outcome of the survey, depending the method(s) used.

12:00  – 12:30     Mass grave evidence before international criminal trials
Dr Melanie Klinkner,
Senior Lecturer in Law, Bournemouth University, UK
As the extensive experience of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia demonstrates, scientific expertise, especiallyrelating to mass grave evidence, has been used successfully to prosecute the categories of crimes falling under its jurisdiction.  Thispaper, firstly, examines the way mass grave evidence has been used at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslaviabefore, secondly, analysing how relevant mass grave victim identification and location of the missing is likely to be at the International Criminal Court.

12:30  – 13:30     Lunch, poster exhibition

13:30 – 14:30      Discussion Panel
This discussion session is an informal question and answer session.  This is an ideal opportunity to get advice and opinion from experts in this area.  This session is not for questions about specific talks, which can be asked after the speakers session, but for discussing either general topics or specific issues. There are three ways you can ask questions:
1.   Before the session you can submit your question to Euroscicon staff at the registration desk
2.   Before and during the session you can submit a question or comments, by email, which will be provided on the day of the event
3.   During the session you can put your hand up and join in

14:30 – 15:00      Searching for missing people: the contribution of forensic archaeology and anthropology.
Dr Matteo Borrini,
Principal Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University - School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, UK
The search for missing persons is a complex multidisciplinary investigation. Forensic anthropology and archaeology contribute to this investigation by providing useful tools, such as a prioritized and scientific field survey, or supporting cadaver dog units.Cases from the Italian context are analyzed to underline the possible future implementation of such investigations by the involvement of a multi-expert team. The activity of the association NEMESI, which is developing training protocols for units composed by dog handlers and forensic archaeologists and anthropologists, will be presented.

15:00 – 15:30     Afternoon Tea, last poster session and trade show

15:30 – 16:00     The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Mass Grave Investigations in Guatemala and Afghanistan
Ms Gillian Fowler, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science, University of Lincoln, UK
Forensic anthropology is fundamental to the investigation of human rights violations around the world. Its role in the investigation of mass graves comprises three parts; ante-mortem investigation, exhumation and post-mortem analysis of the remains. In post-conflict countries, such as Guatemala and Afghanistan, extensive ante-mortem information is the cornerstone to successful identifications. The investigation of mass graves raises many ethical, political and social questions and these should be carefully considered before any attempt is made to exhume a grave. This presentation will examine the work of the forensic anthropologist within this complex process with references specific to Guatemala and Afghanistan.

16:00 – 16:30     Forensic archaeology and anthropology in criminal and restorative justice
Professor Martin Evison
, Research Group Leader, Northumbria University Centre for Forensic Science, UK
This presentation will begin by summarsing the sorts of contribution forensic archaeology and anthropology can make to a criminal investigation, illustrating their strengths and weaknesses. It will consider their utility in the justice system and wider social implications, including their role in the investigation of alleged abuses of human rights and restorative justice.

16:30 - 17:00    Technological choices and approaches for detecting mass graves
Mr Paul Cheetham
, Senior Lecturer in Archaeological Sciences at Bournemouth University, UK
There can be a tendency to be overoptimistic about the effectiveness of technologies that could help in detecting mass graves. In practice, rarely does any project have access to all those that are available for a range of constraints, while in some cases the efficacy and reliability of such technologies have never been convincingly demonstrated. This presentation will consider critically the strengths and weaknesses of a range of technologies that are used, have been used, or have been suggested for use in detecting mass graves of all types so that more informed choices can be made.

17:00        Chairman’s summing up and Close of Meeting

 
 
Organized by: Euroscicon
Invited Speakers:

Meeting chair:  Mr Ian Hanson, International Commission on Missing Persons, Sarajevo

 Speakers:

Mrs Alison Anderson, Senior Anatomical Pathology Technologist,NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology, Scotland, UK

Mr Mike Groen, Forensic Archaeologist, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Netherlands

 Dr Melanie Klinkner, Senior Lecturer in Law, Bournemouth University, UK

 Dr Matteo Borrini, Principal Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University - School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, UK

Ms Gillian Fowler, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Science, University of Lincoln, UK

Professor Martin Evison, Research Group Leader, Northumbria University Centre for Forensic Science, UK

Mr Paul Cheetham, Senior Lecturer in Archaeological Sciences at Bournemouth University, UK

 

About the Chair
Ian Hanson
is Deputy Director of Forensic Sciences for Archaeology and Anthropology at ICMP. He has over 16,000 hours of professional experience globally in the field, including 15 years of practice on mass graves. An archaeologist since 1994, he manages excavations, undertaking training and capacity building, and running MSc courses as senior lecturer at Bournemouth University. He directs and develops processes and integration of disciplines to provide support for legal and identification investigation. He is a Member of the Institute for Archaeologists and the Forensic Archaeology Expert Panel. He is a member of The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and an Expert for the National Crime Agency.

About the Speakers
Alison Anderson
is a Senior Anatomical Pathology Technologist employed by the National Health Service. She has almost 25 years experience and currently works within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Mortuaries. As a Council Member of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology, with her specific interest in the mortuary management of mass fatalities, Alison is the AAPT Lead for Emergency and Preparedness. Her career has been interspersed with many field roles from the investigations of mass graves in the Balkans to DVI in Thailand post tsunami and also capacity building Mortuary Management Training in Iraq.

Mike Groen is forensic archaeologist at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) and lectures in human taphonomy and osteo-archaeology at the Institute for Bio- and Geoarchaeology (IGBA) at the VU University Amsterdam. Before being employed by the NFI he has worked as a field archaeologist for several Dutch municipalities and as a physical anthropologist for the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). As forensic archaeologist he participated - within the Netherlands and abroad - in more than one hundred surveys for missing and possibly buried persons.

Melanie Klinkner's current research focuses on the impact the ‘right to truth’ on behalf of victims will have on international criminal justice efforts, specifically the operations of the International Criminal Court. This focus stems from her interdisciplinary research into the value of forensic science for international criminal processes, which relied on empirical research of a qualitative nature. Through synthesising experiences from the former Yugoslavia, she formulated key policy recommendations on how to improve investigations into mass graves. At Bournemouth University, she teaches International Criminal Law and International Economic Law.

Matteo Borrini: PhD in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, he is a Principal Lecturer and Programme Manager for the BSc (Hons) Forensic Anthropology at the Liverpool John Moores University. Currently he is the only expert witness in Forensic Archaeology and Forensic Anthropology for the Italian State Prosecutor Office. He has led dozens of bio-archaeological excavations and was a scientific consultant for the National Geographic Society. He is involved in the search, recovery and identification of missing people and murder victims; devoted to WWII investigation, for his contribution to missing army soldiers, he was designated as an honorary member of the Commonwealth.

Gillian Fowler is a forensic anthropologist and archaeologist with extensive experience working in post-conflict environments. She worked for the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation for six years as an expert forensic anthropologist and produced 92 forensic reports for the Guatemalan Prosecutor's Office. Gillian is currently a forensic anthropology consultant for Physicians for Human Rights and is involved in a project to protect mass graves and create a forensic anthropology team in Afghanistan. Gillian lectures at the University of Lincoln in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology and undertakes regular casework for UK police forces.

Martin Evison joined Northumbria University Centre for Forensic Science in 2010. From 2005 to 2010, he was the Director of the Forensic Science Program at the University of Toronto, Canada. Before moving to Canada, he was a member of the Department of Forensic Pathology at Sheffield University, UK, where he led a research group in forensic human identification and practiced as the regional forensic anthropologist. He has given written and oral evidence in forensic anthropology and archaeology cases in the UK courts, and has participated in human rights investigations in Brazil, Kenya and Kosovo. Professor Evison has recently published on the utility of forensic anthropology in the investigation of suspicious death, with collaborators in São Paulo, Brazil.

 
Deadline for Abstracts: The deadline for abstract submissions for oral presentation has now passed.
 
Registration:

Registration Website:www.regonline.co.uk/mass2014

For enquiries regarding payment email:  accounts@euroscicon.com

 

E-mail: astrid.englezou@euroscicon.com
 
   
 
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