The U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC)'s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently seeking more than 600 experts to participate in a new organization tasked with developing national guidelines and standards supporting improved consistency and quality of forensic science work in the United States. The new group, known as the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), will operate a dedicate Forensic Science Standards Board, as well as 3 resource committees, 5 scientific area committees, and 23 subcommittees focused on different forensics-related subject areas. The establishment of the OSAC is part of a larger effort by NIST to provide essential support to forensic science organizations and practitioners. In February 2013 NIST and the U.S. Department of Justice partnered to establish the National Commission on Forensic Science, which provides specialized guidance to the U.S. attorney general and advice on priority setting for research into forensic science topics.
The OSAC grew out of a proposal for the establishment of subject-specific guidance groups, now known as scientific area committees, on topics related to forensics. The group will develop a framework intended to bolster long-term, multi-discipline coordination in the creation of guidelines and consensus standards on forensic science topics and will make all its publications available to the public.
To apply to participate in the work of OSAC and its related committees and subcommittees, visit the online application page; members of the criminal justice, forensic science, and academic research fields are strongly encouraged to apply. All applications must be submitted by May 11, 2014.
For more information about OSAC and its planned activities, visit the organization's webpage.