We learned a great deal about the everyday operations of fingerprint bureaus, examiners’ workflow, and how expertise might develops. We are looking forward to visiting each of the forensic branches across Australia in the coming months to test some of these ideas and discuss them further with other examiners.

“The Fulbright Program was the first treaty between our nations, even before our ANZUS Alliance. And Fulbright’s spirit remains the bedrock of our relationship. We are bound by common values. In a world with billions of people, there will never be enough laws, or guns, or fences, or bombs to keep us secure. It is the social ties – the faith that other people value their lives and their children and want peace just as we do – on which humanity’s future rests. These things are not legislated – they are formed through what Fulbrighters do – the thousands of interactions and tender connections among people.”

Me and Ambassador Bleich at Parliament House

I presented at the UCLA Workshop on Law, Science & Evidence, the International Association for Identification Conference, and the European Academy of Forensic Science, and took out Best Presentation at the International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences, partied at the Australian Embassy and took Second Place in the Best Illusion of the Year Contest. I attended the NIJ Conference, met with Senator Rockefeller’s Staff on Capitol Hill, gave two talks at Harvard, and had two papers published and volunteered in New Orleans.

I learned a great deal from chats with Simon Cole, Beth Loftus, Barry Scheck, Bill Thompson, Gary Edmond, Jeremy Wolfe, Jernnifer Mnookin, Michael Risinger, and Itiel Dror. I visited San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Florida, New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, Boston, Tasmania, Amsterdam, Manchester, The Hague, and had a white Christmas in Colorado.

From the Department of State: “President Obama has identified climate change and the environment as key priorities of his administration. Under his leadership, the U.S. Government is committed to domestic action through clean energy, vehicle and appliance efficiency, and environmental standards. Climate change is a global challenge that demands contribution and leadership on every level – national, civic and local. At the 2012 New Orleans seminar we will focus on efforts of cities, organizations and individuals who have answered President Obama’s call to action by developing innovative, local solutions to environmental challenges.”

The effect seems to depend on processing each face in light of the others. By aligning the faces at the eyes and presenting them quickly, it becomes much easier to compare them, so the differences between the faces are more extreme. If someone has a large jaw, it looks almost ogre-like. If they have an especially large forehead, then it looks particularly bulbous. We’re conducting several experiments right now to figure out exactly what’s causing this effect, so watch this space!

Featured in Nature and New Scientist. Click for more.

Update: My travels, thanks to the Gregory Schwartz Enrichment Grant, were more productive and beneficial than I could have predicted. I attended a conference, visited cultural and historical sites in New York and Washington, DC, and met with the staff of Senator Jay Rockefeller on Capitol Hill.

At the Annual Conference of the National Institute of Justice in Arlington, Virginia, I made contact with US academics in my field and fingerprint representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The conference theme was broad, so attending was a good opportunity to see how my research fits with broader justice issues.

I travelled to Washington, DC, via New York and visited the NYU campus in Manhattan. In DC, I visited several cultural and historical sights. Because of Gregory Schwartz’s interest in history, I felt compelled to visit the National Archives and “Study the Past”, as inscribed on a sculpted figure standing beside the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance; I viewed the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the Rotunda. Still on the tourist trail, I visited the Washington Monument, World War Two Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, National Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, White House and Department of Justice. And, whilst touring George Washington University, I visited Fulbright Hall—renamed in his honour in 1996. These visits have enriched my US cultural experience.

The highlight of my trip was meeting with Senator Jay Rockefeller’s staff on Capitol Hill. Rockefeller is introducing a bill— the Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2012—to promote research and reform in the forensic sciences. The content of the bill is exactly aligned with my research agenda, and my Fulbright plans in particular. The staff asked for copies of my published research and asked me to formally comment on the legislation in preparation for Senate Committee markup. I was honoured to make a contribution and hope my suggestions make it into the next round!

(Credit: Mark Lobo Photography)

The Chair of the judging panel, Professor Zlatko Skrbis from UQ, said while it was an unenviable task, the decision on the winner was unanimous. “Science is not like an independent republic in which people speak jargon. Matthew had the whole package. His ideas were clear and he was incredibly engaging,” Professor Skrbis said. [Full story here]

Thank you to the people who helped develop my 3MT: Jason Tangen, Will Harrison and Melanie McKenzie. I had a great time in Perth and very much appreciate the hospitality and harbour cruise provided by UWA!

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