Can we put an end to wrongful convictions?
In the courtroom, forensic science is often leaned on by a jury to provide a conviction of guilt. We know, however, that the legal system doesn’t always get it right, both in Australia and abroad. With justice at stake, it raises the question, ‘why are our court rooms still getting it wrong?’ In the science world, the revelation of many surprising false discoveries led to the ‘open science’ movement which gave scientists the ability to verify (and often improve) each other’s work. So, why aren’t we doing the same in the forensic science world? In this talk Jason will discuss how the ‘open science’ approach could provide solutions to many of the problems that have plagued forensic science and bring an end to wrongful convictions.
Bio
Former barrister Jason Chin’s research explores the intersection of science and law. He’s particularly interested in what psychological research can tell us about how the law operates. Most recently, Jason has been looking into the Open Science movement – an effort to increase transparency in the world of science – and how this can provide important guidance to courts. Jason’s research aims to prevent courts from making mistakes, including wrongful convictions, and build society’s confidence in a legal system that always gets it right.
8:00pm @The Sussex Hotel, 20 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000
Also speaking at this location at 6:30pm is Hala Zreiqat
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