SEClab invites students, researchers, practitioners and staff to a Guest lecture by Dr Colin Armstrong, from Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia on the theme “Forensic Science and Information Systems”.

Time: June 16 at 16.00
Place: Lecture hall C, Forum, Isafjordsgatan 39

Background: Dr Colin Armstrong’s research in forensic science at the University of Western Australia encompass the design and evaluation of a meta model for organizing and managing forensic evidence processes. From the statement “Evidence is the basis for our decision making” meaning that evidences have to be seen in relation to the law, the forensic science is in main focus; forensic scientists use scientific processes ultimately to produce data eventually to become evidence. However, the understanding of law enforcers and the judiciary of what constitutes evidence is not necessarily the same as that of forensic scientists. Within information science the understanding is that raw data organized with some purpose in mind brings information – and parts of that information may in turn be used for decision making. So, in order to form processes adequate for organizing scientific data into information and further into sound basis for decision making within a court specific, detailed and voluminous data must be collected and undergo various systematic procedures. The vision is to have an information system for collecting, processing, storing, maintaining and presenting the decision making material. This would call for at least some common references, vocabularies and definitions to use; however, even though we live in a globalised world, laws and legal systems differ and the area suffers from few and scattered policies, standards and taxonomies to be applied for the management of forensic evidence. Therefore, this piece of research potentially breaks new ground s and contributes with widening – yet structuring – the field of knowledge of forensic science.

The main research question answered is What necessary components are needed for such a tactical management model. The sub questions answered during the cause of the research concern What are the underlying criteria or attributes, How can these be organized into a tactical model, and How do the components of the model interrelate to contribute to the whole model.

About the lecturer: Dr Colin Armstrong is presently a lecturer at the School of Information Systems at Curtin University, where he lectures and advises master students in information security and forensics. Prior to his university career he was the communication specialist with the Flying Doctors in Australia. He holds a BSc in Communication and IT from Edith Cowan University, a Master by Research in Information Systems from Curtin University and a PhD from the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Western Australia.

Welcome!