(China, 8th) Nearing his nineties, the internationally renowned forensic science expert and lifetime professor at the University of New Haven, Dr. Henry Lee, made an appearance at Fudan University in China on the 7th. “Many media outlets have given me numerous titles, calling me the ‘Chinese Detective,’ ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ or ‘Bao Qingtian.’ In fact, I am just an ordinary person, like everyone else.” Having worked in criminal investigation for 65 years and handled over 8,000 cases, Dr. Henry Lee considers himself primarily a scientist, “simply speaking with science and evidence; I only say as much as the evidence suggests.”
According to China News Service, the eleventh “Pujiang Masters in Science Forum” was held at Fudan University. Dr. Henry Lee was invited to engage in a face-to-face conversation with students and teachers from Shanghai's universities and high schools on the topic of “Life Logic and Forensic Science.” “I will be 90 in two years. Many of my friends are immobile at 90. I'm doing well, able to travel, give lectures, and meet young friends.”
Having taken a 13-hour flight to Shanghai, Dr. Henry Lee appeared energetic, with a brisk gait, sharp thinking, and a humorous and witty manner of speaking. The lecture lasted for one and a half hours, during which he stood the entire time and occasionally interacted with the audience.
How should one live? Dr. Henry Lee offered several keywords: Purpose, Passion, Hard Work, Knowledge, Persist and Believe. In his view, people with dreams and goals have a naturally positive and proactive attitude towards life, which provides continuous motivation. He values knowledge the most: “Only the knowledge in your brain cannot be stolen.”
“Make the impossible become possible”—this is Dr. Henry Lee's life motto. Indeed, Dr. Henry Lee has turned many impossibilities into possibilities: becoming the first Director and Chief Deliberator of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, expanding a simple laboratory into an internationally standardized forensic science research facility with independent operations, making it one of the top forensic science research labs in the U.S.; and becoming the first Asian head at the state level in the U.S. law enforcement community.
Assisting in solving over 8,000 cases
It is reported that Dr. Henry Lee pioneered the use of scientific evidence to convict suspects, introducing DNA technology into case investigations. He has assisted in solving more than 8,000 cases across various U.S. states and 47 countries worldwide. Some criminal cases have become teaching examples in the international forensic science community and law enforcement. He envisions a future where DNA analysis fully integrates with fingerprint and facial recognition biometrics to provide unprecedentedly precise clues for solving cases.
Dr. Henry Lee pointed out, “No case can be solved by one person alone; teamwork is essential.” Dr. Henry Lee and his team strive to employ high-tech methods for material analysis, conducting multiple experiments and crime scene reconstructions to deduce what actually happened at the crime scene. These efforts largely guide investigations, and some even become decisive evidence in identifying the true culprit.
Regarding “Forensic Science,” Dr. Henry Lee stated that practitioners of this science deal with physical evidence. As the discipline continues to grow, the scope of investigations has expanded from witnesses, physical evidence, and crime scenes to include data mining, public information, and intelligence analysis. Many perceive forensic science as a male-dominated field—cool, rational, and technology-intensive; however, Dr. Henry Lee claims that the field now welcomes an increasing number of female professionals who perform just as well as their male counterparts.
Can Artificial Intelligence Replace Humans?
Can artificial intelligence replace humans? On the day of the lecture, when faced with a student’s question, Dr. Henry Lee responded, “AI is powerful but not omnipotent; it cannot replace humans.” He explained, “AI is now extensively applied in forensic investigations, such as in collecting and recognizing physical evidence, linking and tracing evidence, and with new DNA technologies and databases. However, on-site analysis still requires human wisdom and a combination of data analysis; handling an entire case still relies on our experience for judgment.”
According to China News Service, the eleventh “Pujiang Masters in Science Forum” was held at Fudan University. Dr. Henry Lee was invited to engage in a face-to-face conversation with students and teachers from Shanghai's universities and high schools on the topic of “Life Logic and Forensic Science.” “I will be 90 in two years. Many of my friends are immobile at 90. I'm doing well, able to travel, give lectures, and meet young friends.”
Having taken a 13-hour flight to Shanghai, Dr. Henry Lee appeared energetic, with a brisk gait, sharp thinking, and a humorous and witty manner of speaking. The lecture lasted for one and a half hours, during which he stood the entire time and occasionally interacted with the audience.
How should one live? Dr. Henry Lee offered several keywords: Purpose, Passion, Hard Work, Knowledge, Persist and Believe. In his view, people with dreams and goals have a naturally positive and proactive attitude towards life, which provides continuous motivation. He values knowledge the most: “Only the knowledge in your brain cannot be stolen.”
“Make the impossible become possible”—this is Dr. Henry Lee's life motto. Indeed, Dr. Henry Lee has turned many impossibilities into possibilities: becoming the first Director and Chief Deliberator of the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, expanding a simple laboratory into an internationally standardized forensic science research facility with independent operations, making it one of the top forensic science research labs in the U.S.; and becoming the first Asian head at the state level in the U.S. law enforcement community.
Assisting in solving over 8,000 cases
It is reported that Dr. Henry Lee pioneered the use of scientific evidence to convict suspects, introducing DNA technology into case investigations. He has assisted in solving more than 8,000 cases across various U.S. states and 47 countries worldwide. Some criminal cases have become teaching examples in the international forensic science community and law enforcement. He envisions a future where DNA analysis fully integrates with fingerprint and facial recognition biometrics to provide unprecedentedly precise clues for solving cases.
Dr. Henry Lee pointed out, “No case can be solved by one person alone; teamwork is essential.” Dr. Henry Lee and his team strive to employ high-tech methods for material analysis, conducting multiple experiments and crime scene reconstructions to deduce what actually happened at the crime scene. These efforts largely guide investigations, and some even become decisive evidence in identifying the true culprit.
Regarding “Forensic Science,” Dr. Henry Lee stated that practitioners of this science deal with physical evidence. As the discipline continues to grow, the scope of investigations has expanded from witnesses, physical evidence, and crime scenes to include data mining, public information, and intelligence analysis. Many perceive forensic science as a male-dominated field—cool, rational, and technology-intensive; however, Dr. Henry Lee claims that the field now welcomes an increasing number of female professionals who perform just as well as their male counterparts.
Can Artificial Intelligence Replace Humans?
Can artificial intelligence replace humans? On the day of the lecture, when faced with a student’s question, Dr. Henry Lee responded, “AI is powerful but not omnipotent; it cannot replace humans.” He explained, “AI is now extensively applied in forensic investigations, such as in collecting and recognizing physical evidence, linking and tracing evidence, and with new DNA technologies and databases. However, on-site analysis still requires human wisdom and a combination of data analysis; handling an entire case still relies on our experience for judgment.”