The FBI and Academia


September 12, 2013

The FBI partners with academia to ensure it develops and implements state-of-the-art technology and research.


Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI partners with academia to ensure it develops and implements state-of-the-art technology and research. I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau, and this is FBI, This Week.

The cooperative agreement between the FBI and West Virginia University is one way the Bureau expands its biometric capabilities. Biometrics, such as fingerprints, are biological characteristics which help identify individuals. Steven Martinez, the executive assistant director of the FBI’s Science and Technology Branch, says the relationship has resulted in an increase in the speed and accuracy of identifying unknown criminals and terrorists.

Steven Martinez: That results in public safety. If we can resolve a match quickly—or more quickly than we have in the past—that might make the difference between life and death. It really can have those kinds of stakes.

Halpern: Dr. Fred King is the vice president of research at WVU...

Fred King: These are students who have a greater sense of purpose, where they’re going into this endeavor because they believe they can do more service to mankind.

Halpern: WVU has provided a gateway for academic partnerships with other universities in at least seven states.

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