The forensic community is bracing itself for change as we await the White House response to the NAS report on the state of forensic science. The National Science and Technology Council, the committee reviewing the report, is slated to release their findings on the practicalities of implementing the NRC's recommendations by September 2011.

Meanwhile Chris Hassell, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation laboratory, is optimistic. He told Nature that forensic scientists need to invest more in the validation of new technologies and work more closely with the crime labs that implement those technologies to close the gap between basic research and its application in solving crimes.

A lack of validation and standardized practices were the biggest criticisms of forensic science techniques in the report. It recommended the formation of an agency to oversee the field. Hassell believes part of the problem is a community-wide resistance to change.

Source: Nature