Professor Arian van Asten accepts professorship
On Friday 13 September, Prof. Dr. Arian van Asten delivered his inaugural lecture at University of Amsterdam titled 'About the Value of Truth'. Van Asten is a professor by special appointment of forensic analytical chemistry at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science. He will combine this professorship with his work as the head of the Department of Science, Interdisciplinary Research, Statistics and Knowledge Management (WISK) at the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI).
Can investments in forensic research be justified?
Why do developed countries spend large amounts of money on forensic research and expertise? Are these investments profitable and justifiable? On which aspect should forensic innovation be focused in the coming years to be able to contribute even more to a secure and just society? Van Asten's inaugural lecture centred on these key questions.
Analysing the value of forensic research
By regarding forensic institutes as technologically high-quality providers of information, it will be possible to perform a detailed analysis of the value of forensic research and the various fields of expertise. Van Asten introduced two new parameters for this purpose.
A more in-depth analysis will make it possible to extract the factors that determine the added value of forensic research: evidentiary value, relevance, quality, speed, and costs. Van Asten explained the importance of these factors.
Defining a forensic innovation programme
This analysis will make it possible to define a valuable and powerful forensic innovation programme on the basis of the requirements in the criminal justice system and the rapid scientific and technological developments. This was illustrated in the area of forensic analytical chemistry, the field of expertise of the chair to which this inaugural lecture relates.
Two inaugural lectures
In addition to Van Asten, Prof. Dr. Maurice Aalders, professor of forensic biophysics, also delivered his inaugural lecture on Friday 13, titled 'The Truth Revealed'. Aalders is attached to both the UvA and the Academic Medical Center (AMC).
Establishment of an expertise centre for forensic innovation
Before the two inaugural lectures, the Co van Ledden Hulsebosch Centrum (CLHC) was officially established. Van Asten and Aalders together constitute the board of directors of this virtual and interdisciplinary expertise centre for forensic innovation.