The 5^th International Conference on Evidence Law and Forensic Science (“ICELFS 2015”) has successfully held during 2015 July 22-23 in Adelaide Australia, which was jointly sponsored by PRC “111 Plan” of China Evidence Science Innovation and Talent Base and PRC “2011 Plan” of China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization (“CICJC”), while cohosted by China University of Political Science and Law (“CUPL”), International Association of Evidence Science (“IAES”) and University of Adelaide Law School, and organized by University of Adelaide Litigation Law Unit. The ICELF 2015 was attended by more than 220 delegates including evidence scholars and forensic scientists from 15 countries and regions of five continents including China, Australia, U.S., U.K., Swiss, Tanzania, South Africa, etc. The Chinese delegation includes 43 legal scholars and forensic experts from China University of Political Science and Law, Peking University School of Transnational Law, Sichuan University, Southwest China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Jiaotong University, East China Normal University, East China University of Political Science and Law, Ministry Of Public Security, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, Public Security Bureau in Guangzhou, etc. The 25 people CUPL delegation (including 19 professors, 2 full-time researchers, and 4 Ph.D. candidates), led by Professor Baosheng Zhang (Co-Chair of the “2011 Plan” China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization), attended the ICELF 2015. Participants had comprehensive discussions under the theme of ICELFS 2015 – Proof in Modern Litigation: Developments and Reforms in Evidence Law and Forensic Science.

(Mr David Caruso - Chief Convener of ICELFS 2015, Professor Baosheng Zhang - Co-Chair of Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization, and Professor Ronald J. Allen – President of International Association of Evidence Science gave their opening addresses respectively.)

（Photo Gallery of Chinese Speakers at ICELFS 2015）

Since 2007, four ICELFS, cohosted and co-sponsored by Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science - CUPL and Key Laboratory of Evidence Science of the Ministry of Education, had been biennially convened in Beijing. ICELFS has been growing into a biennial communication feast for the evidence law jurists and forensic scientists in China and around the world. ICELFS 2015 is the inaugural convention of ICELFS outside Beijing, which indicated that the interdisciplinarity and internationalization of ICELFS has made a major breakthrough.

Two-day Pre-Conference Workshop was elaborately prepared before the Conference, which included observing trial sessions at the Supreme Court and District Court of South Australia, attendance and presentations at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (University of Adelaide) as well as visiting the Laboratories of Forensic Science SA. The laboratory staff elaborately presented their latest research results for the participants.

（Photos of Pre-Conference Workshops）

At the Conference, Mr David Caruso (Chief Convener of ICELFS 2015) made opening remarks. Then, Professor Warren Bebbington (Vice Chancellor and President, The University of Adelaide), Professor Baosheng Zhang (Co-Director, Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization), Professor Ronald J. Allen (President, International Association of Evidence Science), and Professor John Williams (Dean of Law, The University of Adelaide Law School) delivered their opening addresses respectively. Following the welcome ceremony, the opening plenary discussed the topic of “the Nature of Evidence and Forensic Proof in Modern Litigation”, in which speakers included Professor Baosheng Zhang, the Honorable Chief Justice Christopher J. Kourakis (Chief Justice of South Australia), Professor Ronald J. Allen (President, International Association of Evidence Science), Professor David Balding (Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne), the Honorable President Christopher Maxwell (President of the Court of Appeal of Victoria), Professor Paul Roberts (Professor of Criminal Jurisprudence, University of Nottingham), Professor Gary Edmond (Australian Research Council Future Fellow, The University of New South Wales), and the Honorable Chief Justice Mohamed C. Othman (Chief Justice of Tanzania).

（The highlights of the conference）

Besides the topic in the opening plenary, the Conference Proceedings have 21 sessions within a period of two days, critiquing contemporary issues in evidence law and forensic science including “DNA Evidence: Technology, Presentation and Revolution”, “Validation and Reliability of Modern Forensics”, “Forensic Advances in Proof of Pen and Hand”, “Training and Communicating Visual Expertise”, “Systems and Standards of Proof in Modern Litigation”, “The Maintenance of Rights in Modern Criminal Justice”, “Forensic Identification Evidence: Methods and Proof”, “Testimonial Evidence in Criminal Proof: Common and Civil Law Comparisons”, “New and Emerging Medical Forensics”, “Miscarriages of Justice: Lessons of Proof and Practice”, “Reasoning and Efficiency in Modern Litigation”, “Electronic Data Preservation, Recovery and the Internet in Modern Litigation”, “Evidential Issues and Proof in International Arbitration”, “Unlawfully Obtained Evidence in the East: the effect of Western Ideology”, “Expert Influence and Lay Assessment in Modern Litigation: The Treatment of Experts and the Future of Juries”, “Forensic Evidence Frameworks: a Global Review of Forensic Standards and Legal Frameworks”, “Comprehending Forensics within the Courtroom: Judge and Jury Challenges”, “Proof and Evidence Preservation in International Conflict and Security”, “Law and Forensics of Character and Misconduct Evidence”, “Criminal Psychology and Mental Functioning: the Legal and Forensic Response”, and “How to Cross-Examine Forensic Scientists: A Guide for Lawyers”. Every Chinese delegate spoke at the conference for 15 to 20 minutes, and there were 10 Chinese scholars who also played the role of co-chair in 12 parallel sessions.

After the first day of the conference proceedings, all delegates were warmly invited by Mr. Martin Haese, Mayor of Adelaide, to attended the grand Conference Reception at the Adelaide Town Hall. During the dinner, the Chief Justice of Australia, Robert S. French gave a speech named “The Intersection of the Era of Evidence Law and Forensic Science” for 30 minutes. The Speaker of the South Australian Parliament, Mr. Michael Atkinson, Professor Baosheng Zhang, head of the China delegation and Mr. David Caruso made remarks respectively at the Conference Reception.

（Mayor of Adelaide Mr. Martin Haese held a welcome party at the Adelaide Town Hall.）

（Chief Justice of Australia, Robert S. French delivered a speech at the Conference Reception）

（Professor Baosheng Zhang made a remark at the Conference Reception.）

The Fifth Council Meeting of the International Association of Evidence Science was held at the Henry Basten Room, Mitchell Building of the University of Adelaide in the afternoon of 2015 July 23. Professor Ronald J. Allen (President of IASE) took the chair. All IAES council members who attended the meeting agreed that nine scholars from eight countries formally became new members of IAES, including Professor Paul Roberts (University of Nottingham), Professor Thomas Yunlong Man (Peking University School of Transnational Law), Mohamed C. Othman (Chief justice of Tanzania), Chris Pearman (Director of Forensic Science of SA), etc. In addition, the council unanimously passed the proposal that the 6th ICELFS will be held in Maryland, United States in 2017 and the organizer will be the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland.

[The group photo of the 5^th board meeting of IAES. The clockwise direction from the top left corner of the second row: Assistant Professor Zhuhao Wang (Associate Executive Director of IAES from China University of Political Science and Law), Professor Zhongzhi Long (Sichuan University), Professor Paul Roberts (University of Nottingham), Associate professor Zhong Zhang (China University of Political Science and Law), David Caruso (Associate Executive Director of IAES from University of Adelaide), Chris Pearman (Director of Forensic Science of SA), Mbarouk S. Mbarouk (Justice of Appellate Court of Tanzania), Andrew Ligertwood (Emeritus Fellow, University of Adelaide), Professor Ronald J. Allen (President of IAES, Northwestern University Law School), Mohamed C. Othman (Chief Justice of Tanzania), Professor Baosheng Zhang (Executive Director of IAES, China University of Political Science and Law), Professor Edward L. Imwinkelried, (University of California, Davis, Law School)]

The ICELFS 2015 is the inaugural conference outside China which CUPL as a sponsor co-hosted with foreign collaborative units. For the first time in history of CUPL, a delegation of 25 professors and students have attended an international academic conference overseas and every delegates addressed speeches respectively. The successful convening of the conference benefits from the strong support by the Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science - CUPL, International Office of Cooperation and Exchanges - CUPL, Scientific Research Department of CUPL as well as other departments and schools in CUPL. It also benefits from the sponsorship of the “2011 Plan” of China Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization and the “111 Plan” of China Evidence Science Innovation and Talent Base, and the efficient work of the organizer committee and the student working group in Australia. Additionally, the conference received supports from the Law Foundation of SA and the Fisher Jeffries Barristers & Solicitors.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Baosheng Zhang summarized the achievements of the ICELFS 2015 from five aspects, namely cross-disciplinary, cross-border, cross-cultural background, cross the justice system and common orientation. At the after-conference party, delegates took photos together and made an appointment to meet again in Maryland in 2017.

[The clockwise direction from the top left corner: Professor Baosheng Zhang gave souvenirs of CUPL to Professor John Williams (Dean of Law School of University of Adelaide), Christopher J. Kourakis (Chief justice of SA), John Sulan (Justice of SA), and Martin Haese (Mayor of Adelaide) respectively.]

（The collections of the splendid moments of ICELFS 2015）

 

Note I: The Name List of the Organizing Executive Committee of ICELFS 2015

 

Mr David Caruso	Law School of the University of Adelaide	The Chief Convener of the conference, associate executive director of IAES
Professor Baosheng Zhang	China University of Political Science and Law	The principal of Chinese Delegation, executive director of IAES
Professor Ronald J. Allen	Northwestern University Law School	President of IAES
Emeritus Professor Andrew Ligertwood	Law School of the University of Adelaide	Vice President of IAES
Assistant Professor Zhuhao Wang	China University of Political Science and Law	The Chief Coordinator of the Chinese Delegation, associate executive director of IAES
Professor John Williams	Law School of the University of Adelaide	Dean of law School of the University of Adelaide

 

Note II: The Name List of the Chinese Delegation of the Conference (listed in no particular order)

 

Baosheng Zhang	Professor (Head of Delegation)	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Zhong Zhang	Associate Professor (Deputy Head of Delegation)	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Zhuhao Wang	Assistant Professor (Deputy Head of Delegation)	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Xu Wang	Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Zhiyuan Guo	Professor	Criminal Justice College of China University of Political Science and Law
Dong Zhao	Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Jinian Hu	Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Hongqi Wu	Associate Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Hongxia Hao	Associate Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Yuanfeng Wang	Associate Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Gefei Ji	Associate Professor	Civil, Commercial and Economic Law School of China University of Political Science and Law
Li Yuan	Associate Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Shanshan Zhao	Associate Professor	Criminal Justice College of China University of Political Science and Law
Zhenhui Wang	Associate Professor	Institute of Litigation Law, China University of Political Science and Law
Luping Zhang	Associate Professor	China University of Political Science and Law, China University of Political Science and Law
Bing Li	Assistant Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Run Ni	Assistant Professor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Xiaodong Xu	Engineer	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Yuanli Han	Engineer	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Jing Wang	Engineer	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Lu Zhang	Doctor	Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law
Xiaodong Dai	Ph.D Candidate	China University of Political Science and Law
Qiang Liu	Ph.D Candidate	China University of Political Science and Law
Peng Chai	Ph.D Candidate	China University of Political Science and Law
Shanzi Hong	Ph.D Candidate	China University of Political Science and Law
Zongzhi Long	Professor	Sichuan University School of Law
Weimin Zuo	Professor	Sichuan University School of Law
Yunlong Man	Professor	International Law School of Perking University
Chuanming Fan	Assistant Professor	East China Normal University Department of Law
Fei Zheng	Assistant Professor	Law School of Beijing Jiaotong University
Xi Zheng	Associate Professor	Law School of Beijing Foreign Studies University
Rongliang Ma	Associate Professor	Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security
Aiyan Zhang	Professor	Shandong University of Political Science and Law
Zhefeng Xu	Engineer	Guangzhou Public Security Bureau
Lei Yan	Assistant Professor	Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Wei Guo	Associate Professor	Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Zhihui Jia	Professor	Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Yanlin Yu	Assistant Professor	Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Ruchao Chen	Associate Professor	Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Jinyou Yang	Engineer	Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Xiaoming Chen	Postgraduate student	East China University of Political Science and Law
Fan Yang	Deputy Director	Arbitration Institute of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission

 

Attachment I: Proceedings of ICELFS 2015

 

Attachment II: The opening address of Professor Baosheng Zhang

 

Attachment III: The closing address of Professor Baosheng Zhang

 

 

 

(News Reporters - Xiaodong Dai, Peng Chai,  Revised by Zhuhao Wang)