The Battlefield Forensics Programme invites researchers and practitioners to submit abstracts (maximum 500 words) for an edited volume on battlefield forensics, to be published by IOS Press/SAGE as part of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme Series. The deadline for abstracts is 6 November 2026.
Funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, the multi-year Battlefield Forensics Programme brings together leading governmental, multilateral, and academic institutions to advance understanding and practice in this evolving field.
Battlefield forensics may be defined as the application of scientific methods to collect, analyse, and disseminate information, intelligence, and evidence within crisis or conflict zones. It encompasses forensics activities both of military and of civilian actors, and supports tactical decision-making, operational security, and accountability in conflict environments.
Relevant topics include (but are not limited to):
- battlefield evidence collection and preservation,
- drone forensics,
- countering maritime hybrid threats,
- war crimes investigations and prosecutions,
- and the implications of artificial intelligence and other new technologies.
The editors are particularly interested in work that explores case studies in historical or ongoing armed conflict or grey zone situations, draws upon authors’ first-hand experience and expertise, or has clear relevance for practitioners and policymakers.
Full papers should be in English and approximately 6,000-8,000 words (including footnotes).
Abstracts (maximum 500 words), along with brief bios (maximum 200 words), should be sent to rikke.rietveld.365@cranfield.ac.uk and wellsw@theiij.org by 6 November 2026.
For selected abstracts, full papers will be due by 1 March 2027. Further information here.