Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee
The committee's main function is to provide the Home Office’s Chief Scientific Adviser with independent advice on the estimation of chronological age in the living.
Membership
Established in late 2022, the Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee (AESAC) is formed of 7 independent members including the chair.
The committee members were appointed following an open recruitment competition replacing the interim committee.
The committee is chaired by Professor Lucina Hackman.
The members of the AESAC committee are:
- Professor Lucina Hackman (Co-Chair), Professor of Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee
- Mr Stuart Boyd (Co-Chair), Lead MRI Radiographer and Service Manager, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
- Dr Sally Andrews, Independent Forensic Odontologist
- Professor Tim Cole, Professor Emeritus of Population, Health and Practice, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London.
- Dr Tabitha Randell, Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Chair of the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
- Professor Denise Syndercombe-Court, Professor of Forensic Genetics, King’s College London
- Dr Allison Ward, Consultant Paediatrician (Community Child Health), Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Mr Liam Way, Policy and Practice Improvement Consultant & Registered Social Worker.
Member biographies
Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee member biographies
Members’ register of interests
Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee register of interests
Terms of reference
It is within the committee’s responsibility to provide the Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) with independent advice with respect to the following:
- scientific and associated ethical advice and guidance on existing and emerging scientific approaches that could be utilised for the purpose of age assessment in the living;
- recommendations for best practice guidance on any existing and proposed scientific method(s);
- issues raised by key stakeholders relating to the implementation of scientific methods to assess chronological age in the living.
Publications
Governance
- The Committee operates under the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees (CoPSAC) published by the Government Office for Science; this code sets out the general responsibilities of the Committee and its members. Members should also abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life.
- Recommendations and final advice shall be the responsibility of a majority of committee members.
- The work of the committee will be reported to the Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser.