Activities of The Forensic Institute Research Network (FIRN)

FIRN Activities

The Forensic Institute Research Network is an international collaboration of universities created in September 2004.

FIRN is a cooperative with the single aim,

“To improve the quality and quantity of forensic science research and teaching” .

The Forensic Institute provides support for FIRN’s activities. Currently, the main projects are:

1. FORREST, the FORensic RESearch and Teaching conference. The fifth FORREST Conference was held at the Liverpool John Moores University in 2009, this year's FORREST Conference is at Coventry University.

2. The launch of an online, open access, peer-reviewed journal with areas for refereed research papers, short technical reports, case histories, letters, and abstracts and proceedings from FORREST and associated conferences.

3. The creation of online databases for trace evidence prevalence to aid in operational work.

4. The development of a comprehensive integrated research strategy for the evidential process.

To become a member of FIRN you must be an academic, practitioner, or postgraduate student with a legitimate interest in forensic science research or teaching. FIRN is managed by a Board drawn from the membership and the Board’s role is to provide strategic direction to FIRN, coordinate its numerous projects, and to act on behalf of the membership.

For information about FIRN's board members please see the FIRN management board page »