What is the origin of the word "forensic"? "Forensic" is from the Latin forensis, meaning "of or before the forum." It is also often interpreted as a public discussion or belonging to debate or discussion--a leftover from ancient Roman times (for more about ancient Romans and forensics, see the chapter "History of Forensic Science"). Is there a difference between the terms "forensics" and "forensic science"? In today's usage, there is little difference between the terms forensics and forensic science. The term "forensic" is essentially a synonym for "legal" or "related to the courts"; plus, the word is closely related to the scientific field. This is why the terms--including in some dictionaries--are commonly used interchangeably. Does forensic science only pertain to law enforcement and criminal cases? No, not all forensic science is about law enforcement and prosecution of criminal cases. These ideas have been, no doubt, propagated by certain media for over a century--from books and magazine articles to modern television and movies. And although many of the advances in forensic science have benefited from criminal case methods and analyses, it also pertains to civil and legal matters, along with determining why certain non-criminal events and actions occur (such as transportation-related accidents). Why is forensic science considered to be multidisciplinary? Forensic science is multidisciplinary because there is no one single science that answers all forensic questions, especially in the collection and analysis of evidence. Forensic investigators and experts from many disciplines are needed to solve a forensic puzzle--from biology (for example, for an autopsy) to accounting (for example, in a white-collar-crime case). In fact, according to the American Academy of Forensic Science, "There is literally no end to the number of disciplines that become 'forensic' by definition." And in the future, they predict there will even be more specialties that become part of the term "forensic." What are some of the scientific disciplines used in forensic science? There is a long list of scientific disciplines that are used in forensic science. Some examples are biology, geology, pathology, genetics, chemistry, cryptanalysis, psychology, and ballistics. And within these examples are often subfields. For example, in chemistry a person may be an expert in the analysis of drugs and poisons, while another person may be an expert in the analysis of paints, tools, and other physical items. What are some scientific fields that are "nonforensic"? Although many methods and techniques used in forensics are from various scientific fields, there are some sciences that are not as applicable. For example, the term "forensic astronomy" has often been used to describe people who use astronomy to determine ancient constellations. But it is not as well recognized or widely needed as other scientific fields involved in forensic science. Why are various facets of forensic science often necessary in terms of crime and accidents? There are several reasons why various facets of forensic science are often needed, especially in terms of crime and accidents. For example, there is often a lack of eyewitnesses at a crime scene or accident--and if there are such witnesses, many people are unreliable in terms of giving evidence. This is usually because people may be partial to a certain aspect of the crime or person who commits a crime, or they are subjective in what they witness. Another reason for needing forensic science is historical--it can often be used to solve "cold cases" that occurred years before. Why is scientific evidence the best tool to use in forensic science? Because scientific evidence from forensic methods and analyses cannot "lie," the results are most often impartial and objective--unlike many eyewitness' reports or interpretations of events. In most cases, this makes forensic science the best tool to resolve criminal, civil, or other legal matters. Excerpted from The Handy Forensic Science Answer Book by Patricia Barnes-Svarney, Thomas E. Svarney All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.