Just Science

Latest Episodes:

Just Mass Shooting Attacks Dec 16, 2021

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In episode three of our Firearms Research mini season, Just Science sat down with Mark Pope, Director of the Policing Research Program within the Center for Policing Research & Investigative Science, and Dr. John Hollywood, a senior operations researcher at RAND and the Director of the Center for Quality Policing, to discuss mass shooting attacks. From Sandy Hook, to Las Vegas, to Parkland, there has been an uptick in deadly mass shootings in the past decade. In their new study, Hollywood and Pope extend their research on terror plots to look at mass attacks more broadly and their effect on the public. Listen along as our expert panel discusses their research, as well as the educational toolkit they created to house their findings in this episode of Just Science. This episode of Just Science is funded in part by the National Institute of Justice's Improving the Understanding of Mass Shooting Plots [Awards 2019-R2-CX-0003 and SCON-00000321] and RTI International's Applied Justice Research Division.

Just School Safety Tip Lines Dec 10, 2021

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In episode two of our Firearms Research season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Josh Hendrix, a researcher at RTI International’s Center for Community Safety & Crime Prevention and an expert in school safety and violence prevention, to discuss school safety during an age of mass shootings. Dr. Hendrix has performed in-depth analysis on the efficacy of school tip lines, an anonymous means for students and teachers to report suspicious activity. Listen along as he discusses the data surrounding school shootings, as well as strategies to prevent them from occurring in this episode of Just Science. This episode of Just Science is funded in part by the National Institute of Justice's Improving the Understanding of Mass Shooting Plots [Awards 2019-R2-CX-0003 and SCON-00000321] and RTI International's Applied Justice Research Division.

Just Advanced Capabilities In Firearm And Toolmark Analysis Dec 02, 2021

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In episode one of our Firearms Research mini season, Just Science sat down with Nicole Jones, the Director of the Forensic Science Translation and Implementation Program in the Center for Forensic Sciences at RTI International, and John Grassel, a Program Manager for RTI’s Center for Forensic Sciences and co-Director of the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE), to discuss toolmark analysis and advanced capabilities in firearms. The FTCoE serves as a bridge for the forensic community to support adopting innovative, technological solutions. 3-D imaging technology for firearms and toolmark examination is an example of an emerging technology the FTCoE evaluates. Listen along as these experts discuss the FTCoE’s dissemination efforts on firearm evidence collection and analysis, and their upcoming firearms and toolmark research forum on January 11-14, 2022 in this episode of Just Science. This episode of Just Science is funded in part by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence and RTI International’s Applied Justice Research Division.

Just Literature On Stress & Resiliency In Forensic Science Nov 12, 2021

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In episode four of our Workforce Resiliency mini season, Just Science sat down with Donia Slack, the Director of the Research, Technology, and Evaluation Program in RTI’s Center for Forensic Sciences, to discuss the literature gaps within resiliency and vicarious trauma research. Discussions on how post-traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout can affect first responders and justice practitioners have increased over the years, but research gaps remain on the level of stress forensic scientists experience. Listen along as Donia Slack discusses the literature on stress, her upcoming doctoral research, and strategies to bolster workforce resiliency for forensic scientists in this episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Workforce Resiliency For Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Part 2 Nov 05, 2021

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In episode three of our Workforce Resiliency mini season, Just Science continues our conversation with Dr. Cara Berg Raunick, a women’s health nurse practitioner and the Director of Clinical Quality and Advancement at Health Care Education and Training, on vicarious trauma experienced by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs). On last week’s episode, Dr. Berg Raunick discussed the realities of vicarious trauma, its effect on SANEs, and how those effects – anxiety and depression, for example – can hinder SANEs from providing critical care to survivors of sexual violence. Listen along as Dr. Berg Raunick continues detailing her research methods and findings on vicarious trauma among SANEs in this episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Workforce Resiliency For Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Part 1 Oct 29, 2021

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In episode two of our Workforce Resiliency mini season, Just science sat down with Dr. Cara Berg-Raunick, a women’s health nurse practitioner and the Director of Clinical Quality and Advancement at Health Care Education & Training, to discuss vicarious trauma experienced by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). Vicarious trauma – the cognitive changes someone experiences after witnessing traumatic events – affects nurse examiners profoundly, particularly those providing care in the aftermath of sexual violence. According to Dr. Berg-Raunick, the ramifications of SANEs experiencing vicarious trauma could be devastating to the practice of medical forensic examination. Listen along as Dr. Berg-Raunick discusses her journey through anti-sexual violence practice, the effects of vicarious trauma in her own life, and her research findings in this two-part episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Standardizing Sexual Assault Kits Sep 24, 2021

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In episode eleven of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Maureen Platt, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Waterbury, CT, Denise Covington, Program Manager at the Gail Burns-Smith Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner’s Program, Danielle Lindgren, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Coordinator and Forensic Science Examiner, and Bonnie Bentley, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney in Connecticut, to discuss standardizing sexual assault kits. The standardization of sexual assault kits limits variability in the collection and processing of different cases, allowing for more reliable evidence-gathering by those who investigate these crimes. Listen along as this expert panel from Connecticut, a state that has achieved success in standardizing sexual assault kits, has used standardization to improve the efficacy of investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases in this episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences

Just Crossover Offending Sep 17, 2021

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In episode ten of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell, researcher and professor at Cleveland State University, and Mary Weston, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Director of the Cold Case Unit at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, to discuss the complexities surrounding crossover offending in sexual assault cases. Do serial rapists have a consistent modus operandi? According to Dr. Lovell’s research and Mary Weston’s experience as a prosecutor, serial offenders rarely stick to a script, making it harder to bring them to justice. Listen along as our guests use their research and experience in the courtroom to demystify crossover offending and provide strategies to better investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases involving serial offenders in this episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

Just Advocating For Older Survivors Sep 10, 2021

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In episode nine of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Ms. Marya Simmons, founder and CEO of Shift in Notion Consulting, to discuss considerations for supporting older survivors of sexual assault. Shift in Notion Consulting is focused on developing and implementing strategies for supporting all victims of sexual assault, regardless of gender, age, or sexual orientation. As Shift in Notion’s CEO, Marya Simmons works tirelessly to ensure that law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, and volunteer support networks have the tools and training they need to provide empathetic, trauma-informed services to the most vulnerable populations. Listen along as she discusses elder sexual assault and best practices for supporting older victims in this episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Considerations For Older Survivors Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

In episode eight of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Patricia Powers to discuss considerations for sexual assault cases involving older victims. During her professional career as a prosecuting attorney, Patricia Powers specialized in cases involving sexual violence, domestic violence, child and adult abuse, and much more. Now, she works as an attorney advisor at AEquitas, developing and refining best practices for prosecuting sexual assault cases including those with victims from marginalized and vulnerable populations. Listen along as she discusses considerations for the effective prosecution of sexual assault cases involving older victims in this episode of Just Science. This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

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