FACTOR is pleased to announce a talk from PhonLab by Dr Kirsty McDougall (Cambridge University):

TITLE

Forensic phonetics and speaker characteristics

TALK

Dr. Kirsty McDougall is an Associate Professor of Phonetics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Selwyn College. With an academic career spanning linguistics and forensic phonetics, her expertise lies in speaker characteristics, phonetic variation in varieties of English, and the practical applications of forensic phonetics in criminal justice. She leads groundbreaking research on improving voice identification procedures, addressing the challenges of voice distinctiveness and speaker comparisons.

Dr. McDougall has been involved in several innovative projects, including the DyViS (Dynamic Variability in Speech) study, which explored forensic speaker comparison methods, and VoiceSim, focusing on voice similarity and earwitness evidence. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics and applied forensic practices, enhancing the understanding of how phonetics can aid in criminal investigations.

Dr. McDougall’s work bridges the intersections of linguistic theory, speaker identification, and forensic applications, highlighting the cutting-edge research shaping the future of forensic linguistics.

TIME & PLACE

W12, 1500-1550, Tue 21st Jan 2025, County South B89 and Teams.

Find information on how to get to campus here, and how to navigate campus buildings here.