Editorial
Introduction
OnbehalfoftheEditorialBoard,Iwouldliketowelcomeyouto thisspecialeditionofForensicScienceInternational.It commem-oratestheconferenceoftheEuropeanAcademyofForensicScience heldinTheHaguefromAugust20thto24th2012andreflectsthe diversityandthescientificlevelreachedduringthe5daysofthis conference.
Itis important tomention that, for this special edition, the reviewprocess differedfrom thenormal reviewprocess of the journal.Allpresentersattheconferencewereinvitedtosubmit theircontributiontothejournalforconsideration.Membersofthe EditorialBoardweregivenaccesstoallsubmissions,exceptwhen theyhadaparticularlinkwiththeinstitutionitoriginatedfrom. Additionalexternalreviewers wereinvitedwhenaninsufficient numberofmembersoftheboardsharedtherelevantexpertise.The board met during the conference and made a first series of decisionsonthecontributionssubmittedbeforetheconference. Thecontributionssubmittedlaterwerereviewedonlineandfinal decisionsweremadeonthebasisofaminimumof3reviews.Every selectedsubmissionwasacceptedbyaminimumof2reviewers.In theend,18contributionswereacceptedand24rejected.Manyof the rejected papers contained good quality material and the correspondingauthorswereencouragedtorewriteor carryout some additional work and resubmit their manuscript for considerationasaregularpaperofForensicScienceInternational.
Althoughthefinalselectionofarticlesinthis specialedition maynot fullyrepresentthe rangeof material presentedat the conference,itdefinitelyreflectsthespiritoftheEAFS2012motto ‘‘TowardsForensicScience2.0’’.Theconferencewasbuiltaround themesthatcoveredawiderangeofforensicactivities,fromthe crime scene to the court: innovative forensic science and technology, innovation of processes in forensic investigations, strengthofforensicfindings,education,trainingandassessmentof professionals in the Criminal Justice System, forensic science cooperation and communication, application of special and
unconventional tools and expertise, scene of crime, databases, andsoilevidence.
Reviewingthecontributionstoselectthosemostsuitablefor publicationwasalotofwork,withthemaingoaltoreachahigh qualityspecialissue.Inthisrespect,themembersoftheboardare gratefully acknowledged for their efforts in reviewing the submitted contributions over the last 8 months: Dr. JoAnn Buscaglia(FederalBureauof InvestigationLaboratory,Quantico, UnitedStates),Dr.JandeKinder(NationalInstituteof Criminalis-tics and Criminology, Brussels, Belgium), Prof. Pierre Margot (University of Lausanne, Switzerland), Prof. Ce´dric Neumann (Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States), Dr.TapaniReinikainen(NationalBureauofInvestigation,Vantaa, Finland), Prof. Claude Roux (University of Technology Sydney, Australia),Dr.JusticeTettey(UnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsand Crime, Vienna,Austria),Prof.Duarte NunoVieira(University of Coimbra,Portugal),Dr.SheilaWillis(ForensicScienceLaboratory Dublin, Ireland) and Dr. Didier Meuwly (Netherlands Forensic Institute,TheHague,Netherlands).AsspecialguesteditorIamalso verygratefultoProf.PierreMargotforhisinvaluableassistancein theeditorialprocess;itwasagreathonorandarareprivilegeto workwithhimagain.
GuestEditor DidierMeuwly* NetherlandsForensicInstitute, P.O.Box24044,2490AATheHague, TheNetherlands *Tel.:+31708886344 E-mailaddress:d.meuwly@nfi.minvenj.nl(D.Meuwly)
ForensicScienceInternational230(2013)1
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