Introducing our New Advisory Committee Members
Interviews written and condensed by Tara Luther, Promega
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The ISHI planning team is excited to announce the newest members of our Advisory Committee. The committee was formed to steer the content and format of the annual symposium to reflect the interests of the diverse stakeholders in the forensic science community.
As we embark on this next chapter, we first want to extend our deepest gratitude to our departing Advisory Committee members. Their dedication, insight, and invaluable contributions have been fundamental to our success and growth. The time, energy, and wisdom they have invested have left a lasting impact, and we are deeply appreciative of their efforts.
As we bid farewell to our esteemed colleagues, we also warmly welcome our new members to the Advisory Committee. Their diverse experiences, fresh perspectives, and enthusiasm are eagerly anticipated. We are excited to collaborate with them and look forward to the innovative ideas and contributions they will bring to our team.
We will be conferring with the Advisory Committee throughout the planning of the ISHI conference. Together, we will continue to strive towards our shared goals and make significant strides in our endeavors. We are thankful to both the departing members and those just joining for their commitment to excellence and for being an integral part of our journey.
Why were you interested in participating in the advisory committee and what do you hope to contribute?
Michelle: ISHI is always one of the most interesting annual DNA meetings. The speakers cover a range of topics and I hope to contribute insight into what the community is interested in hearing and learning more about now. I also look forward to getting a firsthand look at potential presentation abstracts and workshop submissions.
Rhonda: I hope to improve the ISHI meetings and help determine content.
Mike: ISHI has been a go-to meeting for me for over 20 years and I have always had an appreciation of the hard work and dedication of the ISHI team to keep their focus and provide the forensic DNA community with the highest quality program each year. When I was asked to participate in the advisory committee, I didn’t have to think twice. I am honored to be able to “give back” to ISHI and the forensic DNA community by working with my colleagues on the advisory committee to continue the outstanding quality of conference.
Julie: I was interested in participating in the ISHI Advisory Committee because I was excited by the prospect of helping to shape the content of future Symposiums. I hope to bring my experiences as a DNA caseworking analyst and forensic biology manager to the committee; leveraging the opportunities I’ve had and relationships I’ve built throughout my career to help identify the most relevant and timely topics (and challenges) facing forensic biologists today.
Jim: The advisory committee offers a great opportunity to get close to the exciting developments across the full spectrum of forensic genetics and genomics. I hope that my long history and experience in an operational laboratory environment focused on efficient delivery of many of these methods to our police customers will help the committee to prioritise areas of most direct value to the end-user and the justice system.
How many ISHI meetings have you attended and in what capacity?
Michelle: Too many to count! I’d guess I’ve probably attended close to 10 ISHI’s but don’t hold me to that! Typically, I’ve attended as a participant but at this last ISHI in Denver, I was one of a few presenters for a workshop on our Human Factors Working Group.
Rhonda: I have been to 6 ISHI meetings in my career.
Mike: I believe my first ISHI meeting was back in 1999. I have been fortunate to attend ISHI nearly every year with the exception of missing a meeting or two along the way. I was in my third year of my PhD program and was working on my thesis at AFDIL. It was such a great meeting to have everyone focused on DNA. A year or so later, I gave my first presentation in a workshop on my thesis research with mitochondrial DNA. More recently, I have had the honor to chair workshops at ISHI.
Julie: I have attended nine ISHI meetings since 2008 in varying capacities, from regular attendee to workshop chair and mainstage speaker.
- 2023 – attendee, workshop presenter, poster
- 2022 – attendee, workshop presenter, plenary speaker
- 2021 – attendee, workshop chair
- 2019 – attendee, moderator
- 2017 – attendee, poster
- 2015 – attendee
- 2013 – attendee
- 2012 – attendee, workshop speaker and speaker at TL meeting
- 2008 – attendee, speaker at interesting cases breakout and TL meeting, poster
Jim: Sadly, I have only managed to attend a few meetings in the past. I still remember my first, in 1992 in Scottsdale, Arizona as a junior scientist on my first trip to the USA! My most recent ISHI was Dallas in 2015 when I was lucky enough to be able to present our work on the identification of Australian soldiers found on the site of the 1916 Battle of Fromelles using mitochondrial and Y-chromosome markers – a challenging and very moving project and a great tale to tell.
What is your favorite thing about the conference? Do you have any memories from a past ISHI meeting that you'd like to share?
Michelle: The people, by far! ISHI is always a great chance to catch up with people you may only see once per year. Of course, the evening receptions and off-site events are always a highlight too. My most memorable moments are those that involve the perfect mix of learning, laughter, meeting new people and making new connections over a beverage, or two.
Rhonda: My favorite event ISHI experience is always the big party. I recall having a great time at the Red Rocks Vegas event.
Mike: No matter the location or venue, ISHI is a place where I am able to reconnect with friends all over the world. These connections have led to many new collaborations while chatting with colleagues at the poster sessions. I have also truly enjoyed the scientific presentations and workshops over the years. I think the opening plenary talks are truly outstanding and thought provoking. Probably one of my favorite memories was being able to meet and listen to the incredible story of Kirk Bloodsworth, the first DNA exoneration of a man sentenced to death in the US. His presentation was both extremely sad and inspiring.
Julie: My favorite aspect of ISHI is the networking. Not only are the ‘who’s who’ of forensic biology in attendance, but the event feels like a reunion – I get to catch up with colleagues, past interns - as well as meet newcomers to the field.
Aside from my very first ISHI (Hollywood, CA), one of the most memorable ISHI conferences for me was in Grapevine, Texas when John Butler brought his lasso and showed us his trick roping prior to the beginning of a session. Thankfully I still have a video of the occasion so I can relive that moment over and over!
Jim: ISHI, and indeed Promega’s smaller symposia in Europe (which I regularly attend), are great for catching up with old contacts, and always for making new ones. Being based in the UK, it is always interesting to get the slightly different perspective of the US forensic community with the subtle (or not so subtle) differences in legal systems, forensic processes and workflows and culture all playing their part.