The DNA you leave behind with every touch, the street cameras that record the way you walk, the information you share online. What can happen with this data behind the forensic scenes? 

In this minor we will take you behind those forensic scenes in three projects:

Project 1 – DNA: Exploring opportunities and challenges of rapid analysis at the crime scene
In this project, you’ll take on the role of a policy advisor working on the cutting edge of forensic innovation. You investigate a real-world challenge linked to the development and application of new DNA technologies at crime scenes that enable rapid on-site assessment and analysis of DNA traces.

These technologies raise a wide range of practical, legal, ethical, and societal questions. Your team will explore some of these questions through (mainly literature-based) research. Based on your findings, you will provide evidence-based recommendations to support responsible decision-making in the Dutch criminal justice system.  

Project 2 - Open Source Intelligence: Becoming a methodical, ethically aware digital investigator
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is the process of collecting, processing and analyzing data from (semi-)publicly available sources. In this project, the focus is on online sources and digital data. The amount of data that is being pushed on to the internet every second of every day is immense nowadays. How can you use this information to your advantage in a forensic context? That is what we will show you in this project, mainly focusing on two topics: geolocating (extracting information from photos or videos to be able to pinpoint the exact location it was taken) and Social Media Intelligence (extracting information from social media platforms).

You’ll receive a case from a (fictional) client and work with your peers to set up and carry out an investigation to get answers about this case for your client. Because this project focuses on a forensic context, accuracy, thoroughness, and adherence to legal and ethical standards are essential. The evidence you gather must be reliable and robust enough to stand up in formal investigations or legal proceedings. This project is therefore focused on applying OSINT as a real research method.

Project 3 - Biometrics: Conducting experimental research on gait, face, or fingerprints
Biometrics is all about identifying people based on what makes them unique, from physical traits to patterns in behavior. In this project, you’ll explore three biometric areas that play a key role in today’s scientific and forensic world: gait, facial recognition, and fingerprints.

How do these biometric systems actually work? What methods, tools, and technologies are used, and how reliable are they? You’ll critically examine their strengths, limitations, and real-world forensic impact when identifying suspects.

Stepping into the role of a scientific researcher, you will dive into current literature, spot gaps or weaknesses in existing research, and decide which unanswered question deserves attention. You’ll then design and carry out your own experiment to help close that gap and contribute to advancing scientific practice.

Things to keep in mind when choosing this minor

• The minor involves you doing a lot of research, mainly desk research, but also experiments;
• You will conduct a lot of this research in an interdisciplinary project team.
• The research skills you develop in this minor are useful in the forensic field and (way) beyond.
• You won’t be doing laboratory or crime scene investigation work.
• Various experts from the field tell you about their work and/or research almost weekly in guest lectures.
• All educational activities (classes, assignments) and study materials are in English.
• You are expected to come to our campus in Amsterdam two times a week (on average).
• The minor is full time. 

Communication and information
The digital learning environment Brightspace is used for communication. You can also find (links to) all the relevant materials and information there. Please subscribe to the Brightspace page before the minor starts. You can access Brightspace via: https://dlo.mijnhva.nl/. To log in, use your AUAS (= HvA) email address and corresponding password. If you do not see the minor as a course yet, navigate to the Course Selector. Search for the course: ‘Forensic Research Skills’. Make sure to select the page for the right semester.

For questions about the content of the minor, you can contact the minor team via minor-frs-ft@hva.nl. Note the minor team cannot help you with questions about enrollment. For questions about that, please contact minoren-techniek@hva.nl

Project DNA - After this project, you can:

1. Understand the fundamental principles of DNA and its application in forensic investigations, including its advantages and limitations within the context of the Dutch legal system.
2. Apply the CRAAP test to select reliable and relevant sources that meet the necessary quality standards for your research.
3. Critically analyze information from different sources to identify key insights on DNA use in Dutch criminal cases from different perspectives
4. Provide evidence-based policy recommendations on the use of DNA data in the Dutch legal system, based on your analysis.
5. Communicate about your research clearly, persuasively, and coherently to a policy audience

Project OSINT - After this project, you can:

1. Identify relevant security risks in your OSINT investigation and develop a strategy with appropriate measures that address these risks without causing unnecessary hinderance to your investigative aims.
2. Develop a structured investigative process that integrates relevant and feasible OSINT tools, methods, and sources to achieve your investigative aims.
3. Weigh ethical concerns against investigative interests to make informed decisions in an OSINT-investigation.
4. Systematically search for information in digital open sources by applying advanced search techniques, tools, and methods, identifying the most suitable strategies tailored to the investigative objectives.
5. Preserve collected digital data by maintaining its authenticity, accessibility, and usability over time, ensuring it remains independently understandable and suitable for use in legal proceedings.
6. Process and analyze collected information by reviewing and interpreting it to develop substantive findings that support decision-making and case-building.
7. Verify the accuracy and validity of online information by systematically assessing the source, the digital item, and the content, and comparing them for consistency.
8. Divide tasks strategically between investigators to avoid unnecessary duplication while ensuring comprehensive coverage of all investigative steps.
9. Maintain a log of all steps taken during your OSINT investigation to ensure transparency and traceability in both the investigation process and the integrity of the data.
10. Present your findings, insights and conclusions in a client-focused written report that includes safeguards to minimize security risks.

Project Biometrics - After this project, you can:

1. Describe the current state of knowledge on a specific, forensically biometric relevant topic based on literature, to identify gaps in existing research.
2. Formulate a specific research question based on the identified gap to guide the research.
3. Evaluate the reliability and relevance of information you find during your research within a forensic context.
4. Select appropriate research methods to design an experimental study that is feasible and ethical. 
5. Collect data from an experiment and employ statistical techniques to analyze this data.
6. Report about research you conducted in a correct, coherent, and concise way, in an oral form.

Admission rules of the Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER) of your own programme apply. The minor is open to students from all educational backgrounds, no specific prior knowledge is required. Students with no background in (forensic) science and/or biology are offered additional materials to catch up on some basics. Since the minor is in English, at least some affinity with this language is desirable.

To improve your knowledge about the project topics, you will individually dive into different types of materials such as scientific articles, book chapters, videos, etc. (Links to) These materials will be made available via Brightspace. You can also find (links to) all the relevant materials and information there. Please subscribe to the Brightspace page before the minor starts. You can access Brightspace via: https://dlo.mijnhva.nl/. To log in, use your AUAS (= HvA) email address and corresponding password. If you do not see the minor as a course yet, navigate to the Course Selector. Search for the course: ‘Forensic Research Skills’. Make sure to select the page for the right semester.

The timetable will be available via rooster.hva.nl, no later than two weeks before the start of the minor.

Contact time:
We meet twice a week on campus (circa 8 hours in total). There will be lectures from the minor team, but also guest lectures from experts from the (forensic) field, and tutorials and workshops in which we work on the assignments. Together with the study materials, the classes help you gain knowledge and skills, as well as provide the necessary guidelines for conducting your research. It is therefore vital you are present at all classes.

The assessment of this minor consists of 1 test per project for which you receive a grade (0-10). These tests are:

• DNA: Policy recommendations
• OSINT: Research report 
• Biometrics: Poster presentation 

Note that each test includes both an individual and a group component. To receive the 30 ECTS for this minor, you need to get a grade of ≥5.5 for each of the projects. 

There is one resit opportunity for all projects per semester. For the final project, the resit opportunity falls outside the semester in which you take the minor, and is offered within the next month.

If a student fails to successfully complete the minor in the period in which they took the minor, it is possible to finalize the minor in a following period in which the minor is given. If a minor is no longer offered or if the minor has been rewritten, the degree program will offer the student two further opportunities to finalize this minor the following year.

Questions about the minor?
Contact minor-frs-ft@hva.nl.
Contact Brent Maagdelijn: b.p.maagdelijn@hva.nl

Questions about the Kies-Op-Maat procedure?
Contact: Monique Ax-Bervoets, Christian van Dokkum  minoren-techniek@hva.nl

Applications will be processed in the order of receipt of signed learning agreements. There are 15 places available for Kies op Maat students.