The Lessons, Connections, and Inspiration I Found at ISHI 2025
Being selected as Promega’s first UK ISHI Student Ambassador marked the start of an exciting and unforgettable journey. Attending the conference not only allowed me to present my research internationally for the first time, but also to meet practicing forensic scientists and inspiring experts. A particular highlight was getting the chance to interview Dr Vanessa Lynch, whose work is driving meaningful change around the world, most notably in South Africa, my home country. Overall, these experiences have left me with lasting memories and strong professional connections which have made this opportunity one that I cannot praise highly enough.
I first heard about the student ambassadorship from my supervisor Dr. David Ballard. Having attended several ISHI conferences himself, he gave very positive and enthusiastic accounts of these events and highly encouraged me to apply. I was also lucky enough to meet a previous US student ambassador for ISHI, Ahana Chatterjee, when she spent some time as a visiting researcher in London. The way she described the support she was given by the Promega team and the insight and further understanding of the forensic field she obtained from the conference really excited me and motivated me to apply.
The application process included writing a motivational essay and an interview. I was understandably nervous before the interview, but as soon as it began, the warmth and friendliness of the interviewers immediately put me at ease. This made the entire process extremely enjoyable and served as a promising and encouraging indicator of how positive the rest of the experience would be.
After being awarded the position, Promega UK kindly covered my travel expenses to their stunning offices in Southampton, where I was given a personal tour of their laboratories, had the opportunity to meet their amazing and welcoming team in person, and had a professional headshot taken to accompany the announcement shared on their social media platforms. I cannot agree more with what Ahana told me before I even applied, working alongside the Promega team has been a privilege. Their kindness, continuous support, and guidance throughout the entire process have been invaluable. Not only did they check in with me at every stage, but they also created personalised business cards to help me connect with other professionals and printed my research poster so that I could present my work to some of the leading research and practicing forensic scientists in the field.
When I arrived in Florida, the conference itself was even better than I imagined. This included hearing from experts in the field on the power of whole genome sequencing for forensic investigations to learning how reporting officers prepare reports for court cases. The workshops were not only very informative but were also structured and run in a very practical and enjoyable way. The slide sets were provided to make notes on, and the sessions were broken down into sections, with each speaker having the opportunity to share their own experiences and how things are done from their perspective.
In the “Report to Court” workshop, we heard not only from forensic scientists but also from defence attorneys, prosecutors, and judges. This provided a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of what information is essential in a report, how it should be communicated clearly to all parties involved and which points require further explanation to prevent miscarriages of justice, to ensure fair and just court proceedings.
Furthermore, the main talks covered a wide and compelling range of topics, from how forensic science has been used to solve cold cases to deeply personal accounts of the devastating consequences of wrongful convictions. Jeffrey Deskovic’s story, detailing how he overcame his wrongful conviction and transformed his incredibly challenging experience into a mission to help others, was particularly inspiring. His advocacy work has contributed to the exoneration of more than ten wrongfully convicted individuals and has left a lasting impression on me.
As previously mentioned, a major highlight of the conference was the opportunity to interview Dr Vanessa Lynch. Speaking with her allowed me to truly appreciate the deep passion and unwavering dedication she has for her work. Her determination and strong mindset have enabled her to drive real and lasting change, including playing an instrumental role in building South Africa’s national DNA database to help address the country’s high crime rate. She is now extending this work across Africa, tackling gender-based violence and strengthening forensic capabilities to bring meaningful change to millions of people. Her passion is truly contagious and has inspired me to one day return and contribute to building Africa’s forensic infrastructure.
The overall conference experience was so special, allowing me to build lifelong connections and amazing memories! Attending the conference dinner at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center was something I will never forget. Being able to see the different species of turtles and learning about the incredible facilities dedicated to rehabilitating them was a powerful testament to the hard work and dedication of those committed to protecting wildlife and preserving a healthy environment.
My key takeaway from this entire experience is that no matter the odds or the curveballs life throws your way, it is possible to make a real difference in the world. By following your passion, putting in consistent effort, and accepting the support of others, meaningful change can be achieved, whether through advancing forensic science, advocating for the wrongfully convicted, or protecting injured wildlife.
