CSAFE is sponsoring an Error Rates Symposium January 18-19, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. Error rate studies are key to establishing validity in many expert-opinion-based forensic disciplines and over the last several years the need for appropriate procedures for estimating error rates has increased. This approach to evidence interpretation involves the determination of two samples as being indistinguishable or matched; and an assessment of the probability of a coincidental match (also known as Random Match Probabilities, False Match Rates, or Error Rates).
The focus of this symposium is to provide a summary of the classical approaches to forensic evidence interpretation and discuss recent methods arising out of the machine learning and biometrics community concerning the use of error rates in the presentation of evidential strength. Participants will work to develop a draft proposal for how the Organization of Scientific Area Committees of Forensic Science (OSAC) Statistics Task Group should advise various disciplinary groups on developing studies to estimate relevant error rates.
Individuals interested in participating can contact CSAFE Administrative Specialist Harlie Jud at harliej@iastate.edu for more information.
Additional information on upcoming forensic science conferences, workshops, trainings and more can be found on our Events Page.