Is it time for a unified forensic science taxonomy?

Abstract

Prompted by disparate data highlighted in responses to a Sydney Declaration survey, this paper examines how forensic science ‘disciplines’ are defined and described by various professional organizations. A considerable degree of disagreement in taxonomic organization of forensic science ‘disciplines’ was uncovered. This paper suggests that the global forensic science community come together to develop and implement a standard taxonomic system for defining, describing and classifying the disciplines/subdisciplines within forensic science. Such uniform taxonomic structure could serve to align education and awareness while at the same time contributing to the goal of professionalization. This taxonomy should be built on a foundation based on underlying forensic science philosophies and principles, such as those delineated in the Sydney Declaration.