Challenges of communicating forensic science explored

The College was delighted to welcome Professor Niamh Nic Daeid, award‑winning forensic chemist, to deliver the biennial Ruth Lynden‑Bell Lecture. Her talk explored the growing importance of scientific robustness in legal contexts, particularly as new technologies reshape how evidence is generated, interpreted, and presented. 

Professor Nic Daeid, co-Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee, outlined the Centre’s mission to strengthen the scientific foundations of forensic evidence used in courtrooms. She highlighted the need for rigour, transparency, and care when introducing emerging technologies such as AI and immersive tools. While these innovations offer powerful new ways to investigate and visualise crime scenes, she emphasised the risks of bias, overreliance on visual impact, and misunderstanding the true capabilities of such systems. 

A hallmark of the Centre’s work is its collaborative approach, bringing together police, forensic scientists, legal professionals, and members of the judiciary to develop credible, legally sound applications of new technologies. This partnership model, she noted, is essential to ensuring that scientific advances support justice rather than inadvertently distort it. 

With more than 31 years of experience in forensic chemistry, fire investigation, and international advisory roles, Professor Nic Daeid's uniquely informed perspective is shaped by both scientific practice and real‑world casework. Her contributions to the field have been recognised through numerous national and international awards.

The biennial lecture honours Professor Ruth Lynden‑Bell, an Honorary Fellow of the College and a pioneer in molecular simulation, whose career has championed excellence and career flexibility for women in science. In her introduction to the event, College Acting President Dr Rachel Polonsky paid tribute to Ruth, who died last month, aged 88.