First DNA•VIEW Latin America workshop – August 18-22, 2008

Mass victim identification and other topics

What? This is a chance to learn about DNA•VIEW from the author and to interact with (mainly) Spanish-speaking colleagues. I have in mind several reasons to attend:
  1. potential users of DNA•VIEW interested in a preview
  2. experienced users interested in advancing their expertise
  3. establish contacts with other Latin American users
  4. intensive first course in using the software (mainly for the host lab, FAFG)
  5. general interest in mass victim identification, i.e.
    • mass graves and killings from the civil strife of the 1980's
    • mass disasters
Where?

facilities of FAFG


FUNDACION DE ANTROPOLOGIA FORENSE DE GUATEMALA
Primera Calle 1-53
Colonia el Sauce
Zona2
Guatemala City
Guatemala
(phone ++502-2232.6771)
When? The first two days will be basic DNA•VIEW training mainly for the benefit of FAFG staff. Others may observe, but much of the first day will be installation and technical issues.
The remainder of the week will be a combination of
  • presentations on DNA•VIEW
  • teaching in forensic mathematics, including mass identification screening and kinship
  • informal meeting and training oriented towards individual problems

The five-day syllabus (August 18-22), 9am-4pm, and approximate schedule

  • Monday – Set up of DNA•VIEW and FAFG databases
    The session is open but the focus will be on FAFG and FAFG data. The LA Workshop begins on Tuesday, 19 August.
    • 9-10am. Installation
    • 10-11am. Data in DNA•VIEW; resolution with laboratory data
    • 1-4pm. Basic operation, Data (profile) import, Paternity casework
  • Tuesday – Mathematical foundation, Kinship (body ID etc), Mutation
    • 9am – Brief welcome from the DNA Lab Director and orientation of the building (e.g. coffee, water, kitchen, bathrooms).
    • 9:10-4pm or as needed – DNA•VIEW instruction and lectures (Charles Brenner)
    • 12:30-1:30 – lunch provided by FAFG
  • Wednesday – Mass identification/Disaster screening
      12:30-1:30 – lunch provided by FAFG
  • Thursday – Crime stains including mixtures
      12:30-1:30 – lunch provided by FAFG
  • Friday – additional time – 9am-?
Price? admission is free by advance reservationnote. Pay your own travel and expenses.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested. No need to say for sure that you will come, but it will be most helpful for planning if you can give me a preliminary estimate in the form:

  • How many people might come from your organization,
  • approximately the probability that they will come
and update the information as your plans solidify.

I'm trying to encourage people to respond quickly even if their intentions are vague because probabilistic data is pretty good for inital planning, certainly lots more helpful than no data! For example, if I learn from 20 people that each one is 30% to come, I can reasonably estimate 6 chairs. I know – it sounds like statistics, which is unfortunate.

And please give me a few words about the nature of your interest if you can

Note – if attendance exceeds my expectations then it may be necessary to ask for participants to help pay for larger meeting space. That would not be very much per capita.
By whom? Presented mainly by Charles Brenner. email chb@dna-view.com
Hosted by FAFG
Charles Brenner, home page of Forensic Mathematics