You can watch this hour+ talk here.
Advertisements
Forensic Science – Some Recent Works
“Furthermore, forensic science, as currently practiced, is stressed and inadequately supported. The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ latest census of publicly-funded crime laboratory[sic] reports significant casework backlogs. Important discussions on DNA mixture deconvolution, statistical interpretation, and language for reporting and testimony need Federal attention.”
– Victor Weedn, Professor of Forensic Science, George Washington University, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, March 28, 2017 entitled To Examine the State of Forensic Science in the United States.
A generally acknowledged landmark study was issued by the National Academies Press in 2009 – Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward. Called a “blockbuster” in one publication, this highly influential document has been cited numerous times in the literature. Additional forensic-related reports have been published by NAP
The FBI Laboratory Services contains valuable documentation, among them the Handbook of Forensic Services (Revised 2013).
The Government Accountability Office offers many reports/testimonies on forensic science, even one on nuclear forensics.
The Homeland Security Digital Library has hundreds of relevant reports.
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service offers a separate section on forensic sciences.
The National Institute of Justice has its own Forensic Sciences page replete with links.
New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences houses practitioner-based presentations.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has forensic manuals online.
Links to various forensic science organizations are here.
Children and Reading
The Kids and Family Reading Report (7th edition, 2019) alarmingly reports that “Each edition of the Kids & Family Reading Report has, with the seventh being no exception, revealed a striking downward trend as children grow up: by age nine all three critical measures noted above decrease dramatically; more, they rarely rebound as kids move through adolescence.” (6) To counter this trend, “Creating a literacy-rich environment for children by surrounding them with books and encouraging reading role models – of all ages and types of relationships – makes a difference.”(7) The importance of classroom libraries for early readers is emphasized; numerous figures add to the utility of this report.
County by County Health Rankings in the United States
Utilizing a vast array of metrics from diverse sources, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin have compiled a health profile for every county in the country; the data can be selected at either the state or county level. Here is the New Jersey report; Hudson County’s figures are here. The report’s key findings are also available. You also have the ability to compare counties.
What Keeps College Presidents Up At Night?
A heck of a lot according to the 2019 Survey of College and University Presidents. From admissions polices to funding to the high cost of textbooks to unreasonable demands placed by donors to college closings to foreign ties, there are more than enough challenges to keep presidents going 24/7. An overview of this report, supplemented with charts and links, can be perused here. The findings are based on 784 surveys representing 436 public colleges, 320 private institution, and 28 entities from the for-profit sector.
Online Primary Sources for American History: The Writings of Clara Barton
Clara Barton is an American hero; her list of accomplishments is awe-inspiring. For those who want to capture her thoughts and deeds, the Clara Barton Papers housed at the Library of Congress give us a peek into her world. Diaries, correspondence, speeches, and reports populate this vast collection of 62,000 items. A timeline and a directory of additional resources are supplied.
One should also visit the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum for more primary and secondary source material. And while you are at it, take a tour of her Maryland home.
