Call for Session Proposal and Speakers

Join us in shaping the future of forensic science leadership. Submit your session proposal for the 2027 ASCLD Symposium, taking place April 11–15, 2027 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Deadline to Submit:  Friday, October 23, 11:59 PM ET Notification of Acceptance:  Week of December 7

Why Speak at ASCLD

Speaking at the ASCLD Symposium puts you in front of crime lab directors, forensic science managers, and industry partners from across the country — the very people making the decisions that shape our field. It's a chance to build your reputation as a thought leader, get real-time feedback from your peers, and sharpen your own skills as a communicator and facilitator, all while helping move the profession forward.

Open to everyone.  Submissions are welcome from ASCLD members and non-members alike — including students, exhibitors, vendors, and anyone outside the industry with a session that offers real value to our attendees.

Session Formats

• Pre-Conference Workshop — Held Sunday or Monday, ahead of the main Symposium; choose the length that fits your topic, from a half-day session to a full two-day deep-skills workshop.
• Ask the Expert — An open-format session where a speaker (or panel) states their area of expertise and attendees bring real issues to the stage for live problem-solving.
• Campfire — An open, collaborative conversation around a single topic, with the speaker facilitating discussion rather than lecturing.
• Case Dissection — A deep look at a specific case the speaker worked on — how it went, what worked, and what could have been done differently.
• Deep Dive — A 90+ minute breakout (most breakouts run 20–30 minutes) for an intensive exploration of one topic, with frameworks and advanced strategies.
• Lab — A hands-on, interactive breakout where the speaker provides materials, a workbook, or similar tools for attendees to work through live.
• Panel Discussion — A moderator asking several panelists questions on a specific topic to surface a range of opinions and expertise.
• Plenary Session — A lecture-style session for the full Symposium audience, setting the tone and sharing major announcements.

A note on placement: no format is guaranteed a general session slot in front of the entire Symposium audience — some will be selected as such, at the discretion of the planning committee.

Session Topics

• Advocacy, Grant & Financial Resources — Funding strategies, grant writing, and building support with stakeholders and legislators.
• Being Bold — Taking the leap: a change in your lab or career that paid off.
• Technical & Forensic Disciplines — DNA, toxicology, latent prints, digital forensics, and more.
• Inclusivity — Building fair, welcoming workplace cultures where every team member can do their best work.
• Industry Partners — CFSO, NTVIC, CSAFE, FORESIGHT, and more.
• Innovation — New tools, workflows, or ideas changing how forensic labs operate.
• Leadership — Practical strategies for leading teams, managing change, and building strong lab culture.
• Legal Matters — Case law, courtroom testimony, and legal developments affecting forensic science.
• Lessons Learned — What didn't go as planned, and what your lab would do differently next time.
• Professional Development, Mentoring & Coaching — Growing your people, and your own career, through training, mentorship, and coaching.
• Quality — Accreditation, quality management systems, and continuous improvement in the lab.
• Software, Instrumentation, Technology & AI — Tools, platforms, and emerging technology reshaping forensic work, including real-world AI applications.

Not seeing your specialty listed? We welcome unique, relevant session ideas that offer strong value to our attendees.

What Makes a Strong Proposal

Proposals will be evaluated on:

• Clear, Complete & Organized
• Need for & Interest in Topic
• Originality & Innovation
• Participant Takeaways
• Presenter Credentials & Skills
• Relevance to Theme
• Diversity of Voice & Perspective
• Quality & Technical Merit
• Impact & Applicability

What You'll Need to Submit

• A session title (80 characters maximum)
• Your session format and topic
• A description of your session
• Three learning objectives
• Your full speaker lineup — every speaker who will be on stage, submitted at the time of proposal

You may submit as many session proposals as you'd like. You can also return to edit your title, description, and speaker lineup any time before the deadline. Once submissions close on October 23, all details are locked — no changes to titles, descriptions, or speakers will be accepted after that point, so make sure everything is exactly as you want it before the deadline.

You'll use this form to provide your contact information and all required submission details for review.

Ready to Share Your Expertise?

Click Join Now below to create your account and start your first submission for the 2027 Symposium. Every submitter needs a new account each year — so even if you've spoken at ASCLD before, you'll only already have a login if you've submitted a proposal specifically for this year's Symposium.

Already started a submission this year? Enter your email address and access key below to log back in and pick up where you left off.