Forensic Symposium

21st International Forensic Science Managers' Symposium

Held every three years, this important forum brings together laboratory managers from INTERPOL countries across the world.

It presents advances in scientific methods and suggests ways to apply them in criminal investigations.

• Date: 04-06 November 2025
• Location: INTERPOL General Secretariat, Lyon, France

This triennial symposium brings together forensic laboratory managers from INTERPOL member countries across the world. It will take place at INTERPOL’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France, from 4 to 6 November 2025.

Objectives of the symposium

The objectives of the symposium are:

• Unite managers from law enforcement, judicial authorities, and private forensic laboratories to address current and emerging challenges in forensic examination and management.
• Present the latest scientific developments, methodologies, and trends across multiple forensic disciplines — including DNA, fingerprints, facial analysis, firearms, drugs, digital forensics, gunshot residue, paint and glass, fibres, explosives, toxicology, fire debris, video and imaging, generative AI, digital and document evidence — delivered by leading experts in the field.
• Promote networking and foster international collaboration, enabling participants to share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and support one another.

Language

To support effective interaction, the Symposium will be conducted in English, with live interpretation available in French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Organising Commitee

Frederique Coutat – Co-Chair (FRANCE)

Paul Reedy – Co-Chair (USA)

Rebecca Bucht (FINLAND)

Jack Yuk-Ki Cheng (CHINA)

Gregory Czarnopys (USA)

Fernando Fernandes de Lima (BRAZIL)

Zeno Geradts (NETHERLANDS)

David Love (USA)

Max M. Houck (USA)

Samiah Ibrahim (CANADA)

Myrna Kalsi (KENYA)

Niamh NicDaéid (UK)

Justice Tettey (UNITED NATIONS)

Linzi Wilson-Wilde (AUSTRALIA)

Susan Hitchin (INTERPOL)

François-Xavier LAURENT (INTERPOL)

Preliminary program

3 general sessions: Criminalistics, Forensic Chemistry and Identification Sciences

4 thematic sessions: Visualizing the future, Quality assurance, Frugal forensics and Management

INTERPOL Forensic Updates

Closing Plenary: "Future-Ready Forensics: Upholding Integrity in a Changing World."

Registration process

Managers from law enforcement, judicial authorities, and private forensic laboratories from our 196 INTERPOL member countries can register through their National Central Bureaus (NCBs). All participants attending the conference must register no later than 3 October 2025.

Posters

The Organizing Committee is seeking posters that will serve to supplement the thematic sessions.

The poster presentations facilitate interaction between the author and the attendees in an informal and conversational manner. It is anticipated that the poster sessions will be held after the coffee and lunch breaks each day, thus allowing for multiple short presentations throughout the week.

While space is limited, participants may submit an abstract when registering. Poster acceptance will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

Review Papers

This triennial symposium serves as the premier forum for the presentation of reviews of the 16 main forensic science evidence types published over the previous three years. The collection of reviews presented during the symposium provides an invaluable resource for forensic science organizations worldwide, particularly for those who are facing challenges in accessing forensic science information.

Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium 2022 Reviews are available here:

Interpol review of toxicology 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100303.

Interpol Review of Gunshot Residue 2019 to 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100302.

Interpol questioned documents review 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100300.

Interpol review of paint, tape, and glass evidence 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100306.

Interpol Review of Drug Analysis 2019-2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100299.

Interpol review of forensic firearm examination 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100305.

Interpol review of the analysis and detection of explosives and explosives residues, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100298.

Interpol review of digital evidence for 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100313.

Recent advances in forensic biology and forensic DNA typing: INTERPOL review 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100311.

Interpol review of fingermarks and other body impressions (2019 – 2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100304.

Interpol review of forensic video analysis, 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100309.

Interpol Review Paper of Marks and Impression Evidence 2019-2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100308.

Interpol review of fire debris analysis and fire investigation 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100310.

Interpol review of forensic management, 2019–2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100301.

Interpol review of fibres and textiles 2019-2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2022.100307.