Overview
National Forensic Science Week (September 15-21, 2024) recognizes the contribution that forensic science makes to the criminal justice system. It is an opportunity to celebrate academic programs, forensic professionals, and scientific research in the various forensic disciplines.
Throughout the week, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) will be engaging with the community to highlight the impact that forensic science has in the world and provide fun and informative resources!
This year, the FTCOE is hosting the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium and stay tuned for another exciting Murder Mystery case. Additionally, the FTCOE will provide a wide range of stress relief activities and educational resources, including new forensic science themed crossword and wordsearch puzzles, and teacher guides!
We hope to engage forensic professionals from all disciplines and all stages of their careers, including the forensic scientists of the future. Subscribe to the FTCOE Newsletter and follow @ForensicCOE on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (X) to stay up to date on news and events. Stay tuned for everything that the FTCOE has to offer for this year's National Forensic Science Week!
Murder Mystery Event
Clues released all week long!
For this year’s murder mystery, we will be reopening a cold case with information from the original casefile and new information from the follow-up investigation released daily. Follow along and test your sleuthing skills to see if you can unravel the mystery! On Friday, September 20, you will be able to enter your guesses in a mystery-related questionnaire! Then, check the FTCOE website the following Monday, September 23 for the case review to see how detectives closed the case!
Graduate Research Symposium
This event originally occurred on Thursday September 19, 2024
Duration: 2 hours
The 2024 NIJ Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium provides a platform for undergraduate students, graduate students, and early career scientists to present their research to a broad audience. View the archived presentations and Q&A to learn more about research being conducted by a diverse group of students across the United States and the globe!
Interview Series
In the past, the FTCOE has released written interviews with forensic practitioners in various stages of their career and working in various forensic disciplines. Last year, the FTCOE released a fun interview montage. This year the FTCOE and the Advancing Service-oriented Policing through Inclusion, Relationship-building, & Engagement (ASPIRE) team collaborated to create a short video campaign highlighting alternative career paths for law enforcement professionals as sworn forensic scientists. Check out the series to learn more!
Teacher How-To Guides
This year for National Forensic Science Week, the FTCOE will publish educational resources for teachers to download, print, and complete with students to learn some of the basic principles of forensic science!
Educational Activities
Crossword and Wordsearch Puzzles
The FTCOE will release crossword and wordsearch puzzles with forensic science themes that incorporate trivia terminology. Find the Terms wordsearches incorporate themed terminology and Test Your Knowledge crosswords incorporate related trivia to challenge forensic scientists in training and in the workforce.
Some content may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
Check out last year's events!
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week Murder Mystery Event
- 2023 NIJ Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium and Poster Session
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week Interview Montage
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week Teacher How-To Guides
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzles
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week Fingerprint Game & Activity
- 2023 National Forensic Science Week Spot the Differences
Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence event has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this event do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Contact us at ForensicCOE@rti.org with any questions and subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.
