I’m planning on going to an interesting-looking conference in December where my wife Felicity will be one of the presenters.

The Innocence Project New Zealand (IPNZ) is a joint venture between Victoria University of Wellington and University of Otago. It was recently established as non-profit group of scientists, writers and lawyers aimed at investigating possible cases wrongful conviction in the New Zealand legal system.

The IPNZ has announced that registration for their first international conference is now open. It will be held at Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, on 13th-15th December 2007.

The IPNZ Conference 2007 will offer a cross-disciplinary examination of scientific evidence in the courtroom. We are bringing together prominent scientists and legal experts whose work has influenced the criminal justice system. The conference is designed for lawyers, judges, politicians, policy makers, police, scientists, students and members of the general public: in short, everyone who has a stake in the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Speakers will include:

• Prof. William Thompson (University of California, Irvine), an expert in DNA testing
• Dr. Simon Cole (University of California, Irvine), an expert on fingerprint evidence
• Jackie McMurtrie (University of Washington), a professor of law and director of the Innocence Project Northwest
• Dr. Yvette Tinsley (Victoria University of Wellington), a Senior Lecturer in Law
• Prof. Harlene Hayne (University of Otago), an expert in children’s memory
• Prof. Neil Brewer (Flinders University), an expert in eyewitness identification procedures
• Dr. Maryanne Garry (Victoria University of Wellington), an expert in human memory distortions
• Christopher Stevenson (Barrister), a practicing Barrister in New Zealand
• Assoc. Prof. Felicity Goodyear-Smith (University of Auckland), an expert in child sexual abuse

Registration is NZD$110.00 (NZD$35 for students) and is available from their website.