On September 21 and 22, 2023, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in collaboration with the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), will host “Scientific Evidence and the Courts” at AAAS headquarters in Washington, DC. This event will examine critical issues regarding the admission and use of scientific and technical findings in the United States justice system.
The conference will mark the 100th anniversary of Frye v. United States (1923) and the 30th anniversary of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (1993), two key federal court decisions on establishing a judge’s role as gatekeeper when determining the admissibility of scientific evidence and expert witness testimony at trial. Yet, application of the Frye or Daubert standard remains inconsistent across both federal and state courts, potentially allowing for unreliable evidence and testimony to enter trials, increasing the likelihood of unjust outcomes, such as wrongful convictions, and other violations of constitutional rights.
Presenters and attendees will examine the history of scientific evidence in the courts, assess current practices, and identify ways to improve the use of credible, trustworthy scientific evidence, and of expert witness testimony, by federal and state courts going forward. In addition, this two-day conference will feature sessions on evolving fields of science beginning to make an impact on the courts, such as artificial intelligence, climate science, and statistical modeling.
The research to be presented and discussed at this conference, and the needs for future research that will be identified, directly relate to improving the justice system’s accurate and effective use of scientific evidence, and to building public trust in the judiciary
Viewing Party Details:
On Thursday and Friday, September 21 and 22 from 9am – 6pm, Georgia Tech’s Law, Science, and Technology Program in the School of Public Policy will be hosting a viewing party for AAAS’ Scientific Evidence and the Courts 2023 conference. More information on the conference is below, and you can click here to view the conference program. We will have a livestream of the conference set up in Rich 209, and you are welcome to join us for any or all of the conference. You do not need to register with AAAS to attend this viewing party, though we will ask you to sign in, and your name and contact information will be shared with AAAS at the conclusion of the conference. Space is very limited, so please arrive early for your desired sessions so you can secure a seat.