What qualifies someone to testify as a forensic expert? A government position, institutional affiliation, professional experience, or certificate may support a claim to expertise—but none of these is sufficient on its own.

In this episode of The Forensic Lens Podcast, I examine why forensic expertise must be demonstrated through sustained preparation, specialized competence, and methods that can withstand scrutiny. The discussion explores the limits of short training courses, the illusion of authority created by prestigious institutions and titles, and the danger of mistaking general professional background for proficiency in a specific forensic examination.

Credentials establish only part of the picture. Forensic conclusions must also emerge from transparent procedures, proper documentation, accepted standards, and work that other qualified practitioners can replicate or reproduce. A genuine expert should be able to explain not only what they concluded, but how they reached that conclusion—and where the evidence stops.

Expertise is not established by saying, “Because I say so.” It is demonstrated by saying, “Let me show you how.”

📖 Read the full article on Agham Road.

🌐 Learn more about my work here.

#TheForensicLens #ForensicScience #ExpertWitness #ScientificStandards #ForensicExpertise