For Dr. Anna Barbaro, forensic science is in her blood. Influenced by her forensic pathologist father who, in the 1970s, founded the Italian laboratory Indagini Mediche E Forensi (SIMEF), Barbaro has long known forensic science would be part of her life.
However, she realized not everyone has the same “luxury.” After an education and multiple degrees, Barbaro entered the industry, seeing an immediate need for community and collaboration across borders. In 2011, she founded the Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts (WAWFE), an international multidisciplinary organization. The group brings together experts from around the world, working in different forensic fields in public or private institutions, to promote the exchange of information and experience.
Barbaro is a biologist with a European Doctorate in Forensic Genetics from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and also has a degree in Applied Genetics, as well as diplomas related to courses in criminalistics and crime scene investigation. She also collaborates as a DNA expert with the Italian Prosecutor's Office and with the Court of Justice, analyzing DNA samples from evidence collected at the crime scene to identify the type of sample—be it blood, saliva, hair, etc. Over the years, Barbaro has performed casework on homicides, human remains identification, parentage relationship constructions, and paternity tests.
Despite her breadth of experience, Barbaro, like many women who work in forensics, has experienced prejudices and difficulties due to it being a predominately male field. Although the inequities in forensic science have somewhat improved, women that work as forensic science professionals and educators should receive the support and mentorship necessary to advance in their careers. This, in combination with Barbaro noticing the predominately male forensic science board committees of many associations pushed the forensic scientist to start her own female-oriented association.
The main goal of WAWFE is to promote the diversity and recognition of women in the international forensic science community, especially in countries where women and students still encounter difficulties and discrimination in certain forensic fields. In order to better understand and address the problems some women face on a global level, WAWFE partners with forensic associations all over the world. In 2017, WAWFE professionals wrote the "Manual of Forensic Science: An International Survey," published by CRC Press, and in September 2020, they published another manual of Criminalistics and Criminology in Spain.
Barbaro also created International Forensic Women Day to be held each year on October 16, with the first one celebrating the accomplishments of women in the forensic science community on 2020. The first annual International Forensic Women Day received the support of many other international associations, including the Association of Women in Forensic Science, Inc. (AWIFS). WAWFE will continue to organize events, courses and conferences as it enters its 10th year in 2021.
"As WAWFE president, I sincerely hope WAWFE will continue in this way, further expanding itself and collaborating with people from other countries, especially those who are not currently WAWFE representatives,” Barbaro said.
When I began my career as a forensic scientist in 2001, the first episode of “CSI” had aired just a little earlier. The field was not as popular as it is now and the option for a chemist like me to apply for employment at a law enforcement agency crime lab was not publicized at the college I attended in Philadelphia. But now, opportunities for STEM majors to consider careers in forensic science can be seen throughout social media, outreach initiatives and organizations like the Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts.
You can learn more about the association here, on Instagram @wawfe, and at the Worldwide Association of Women Forensic Experts group on LinkedIn and Facebook. This is Forensic’s fourth installment of “Women in Forensics.” This column is authored by Antoinette T. Campbell, founder of the Association of Women in Forensic Science, Inc. (AWIFS) and Club Philly Forensics—a youth forensic science and violence/education outreach program. Determined to fulfill all her passions, she established AWIFS as a conduit for connecting like-minded individuals and organizations and provide STEM-based programming for youth and young adults. Antoinette has been profiled in the Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY, 105.3 WDAS, 900 AM WURD, and myriad blogs. In 2017, she earned a nomination for the RAD Awards Scientist of the Year and continues to serve as a venerated member of several panels including the Philadelphia Science Festival-Partner Advisory Council and Parents United for Better Schools, Inc. Antoinette can be reached at: www.awifs.org, @womeninforensics, #womeninforensics