A Unique Industry-Academic-Government Nexus for Forensic Science Discovery: The Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science and the NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers Program

Wednesday, March 10, 2021: 8:30 AM - 8:50 AM

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Description

The Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) advances pre-competitive research across a wide range of scientific and engineering fields by enabling engagement between industrial, academic, and governmental partners. Each IUCRC involves 1) academic researchers at one or more university who conduct fundamental research of interest to a specific industrial sector, and who receive funding from NSF for administration of the Center, and 2) industry and government partners in that sector who provide membership funds and scientific input in support of specific fundamental research projects with clear pathways to applied research and commercial development. Since 2017, the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS), an IUCRC co-sponsored by NSF and the National Institute of Justice, has supported research across a number of forensic disciplines, including forensic chemistry, to advance fundamental knowledge that can be leveraged to develop new technologies and investigative approaches for forensic practice. CARFS has also provided numerous training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for students who represent the next generation of forensic scientists. This presentation will provide an overview of CARFS and the IUCRC Program in the context of NSF’s suite of innovation programs and the broader federal ecosystem. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the United States Federal Government.