About the Symposium

The UP Diliman Institute of Biology (UPD-IB) first offered Biology 397 Forensic Biology Seminar Series as a graduate course in November 2012. The course covered fundamental topics in forensic sciences which included DNA analysis, botany, microbiology, crime scene investigation and legal/ethical issues in forensics.

Bio397 also provided opportunities for students to work with the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute (UPD-NSRI-DAL) and the Program on Forensics and Ethnicity of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC-PFnE) to co-organize a forensic symposium that was open to the public. The 1^st Forensic Science Symposium (FSS2014) was held at the NSRI Conference Room on 11 February 2014 with the theme “Forensic Science in the Philippines: Status, Challenges and Opportunities”. The following year, the 2^nd FSS (FSS2015) adopted the theme "The Next Generation/The Now Generation" and focused on the use of DNA technology in disaster victim identification.

For this year, the organizers have combined the 3^rd FSS (FSS2016) with the celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the establishment of UPD-NSRI-DAL on 16 May 2016, and have adopted the theme "DNA as a Catalyst for Change". Speakers were especially selected from amongst the institutional collaborators of the UPD-NSRI-DAL as well as those who gave invaluable support in their own professional capacities from 1996 to 2016. The lectures would take us back to 1996 when DNA forensics was relatively unknown in the Philippines, through the years of struggle to engage the various stakeholders in activities aimed at demonstrating the utility of forensic science, and finally to the present when different scientific fields such as genetics, environmental biology, pathology, anthropology and medicine are being utilized to help criminal investigations, to settle civil disputes and/or to aid Philippine courts by providing objective evidence relevant to a particular case. Four international experts, namely Dr. George Sensabaugh Jr., Professor Emeritus, Forensic and Biomedical Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley; Mr. Christopher Asplen, former  Director of the US National Commission on DNA Evidence and currently the Attorney in charge, Life Sciences Practice, Hill Wallack LLP; Pn. Nor Aidora Saedon, Head of the Crime Unit, DNA Forensics Section, Department of Chemistry, Malaysia; and Ms. Sheila E. Dennis, former Assistant Director, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York City and currently a DOST-PCIEERD Balik Scientist at the UPD-NSRI-DAL, would share their  valuable insights on the contribution of forensic science in strengthening the criminal justice system in different parts of the world.

Welcome to FSS2016!

Topics and Speakers:

May 16, 2016 (Monday)
The Impact of Forensic DNA Analysis on the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Assault Cases
Dr. George Frank Sensabaugh Jr.
Professor Emeritus, Forensic and Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Berkeley

The Impact of DNA Forensics in the Criminal Justice System
Mr. Christopher H. Asplen, Esq
Attorney in charge, Life Sciences Practice, Hill Wallack LLP

The Use of Wildlife Forensics (DNA Barcoding) in Determining Species Identity of Pangolins
Dr. Perry S. Ong
Professor, Institute of Biology, College of Science, UP Diliman

DNA and Child Sexual Abuse Cases in the Philippines
Dr. Bernadette J. Madrid
Executive Director, Child Protection Network, Inc.

Forensic Pathology Practice in the Philippines
Dr. Raquel Del Rosario-Fortun
Chair, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, UP Manila

“Dead men tell no lies”
Dr. Francisco A. Datar
Professor, Department of Anthropology, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman

May 17, 2016 (Tuesday)
DNA Profiling in Malaysia: Applications to Islamic Laws and Ethnic Traditions
Pn. Nor Aidora Saedon   
Head, Crime DNA Unit, DNA Forensics Section, Department of Chemistry, Malaysia

Government Efforts Against Human Trafficking: Gains and Challenges
Prosecutor Darlene R. Pajarito
Executive Director, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, Department of Justice

Disaster Victim Identification: Beyond World Trade Center
Ms. Sheila Marie E. Dennis
DOST-PCIEERD Balik Scientist, DNA Analysis Laboratory, NSRI, UP Diliman

Disaster Victim Identification in the Philippines
Dr. Wilfredo E. Tierra
Head, Disaster Victim Identification
Assistant Chief, Medicolegal Division
National Bureau of Investigation

Filipino Population Genetics: Another Aspect of UPD-NSRI-DAL Research
Mr. Frederick C. Delfin
University Research Associate, DNA Analysis Laboratory, NSRI, UP Diliman

DNA as a Catalyst for Change
Dr. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria
Head, DNA Analysis Laboratory, NSRI, UP Diliman
Director, Program on Forensics and Ethnicity, Philippine Genome Center, UP
Senior Lecturer, Institute of Biology, College of Science, UP Diliman

Location Map:

Organizers:

The 3rd Forensic Science Symposium 2016 is organized by the DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD-NSRI-DAL), Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippine Diliman (UPD-CS-IB) and the Program on Forensics and Ethinicity of thePhilippine Genome Center (PGC-FnE).

<!--[if gte mso 9]> <w:LsdException Locked="fa</p>