September 11th changed much about the world--including the way that victims of mass tragedies are identified. Join Ira Flatow in this hour of Science Friday for a talk with Robert Shaler, Former Director of the Forensic Biology Department for the New York City Medical Examiner's office. He led the effort to use DNA to identify victims of the attack, examining over 20,000 samples in an attempt to identify those who died.

Plus, a look at federal funding for science in 2006. Though in recent years medical research has recieved substantial increases, this year's funding picture looks somewhat different. We'll talk about what branches of R&D may win out this year. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Kei Koizumi
Director, R&D Budget and Policy Program
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Washington, DC

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Robert C. Shaler
Former Director of the Forensic Biology Department, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York
Author, "Who They Were: Inside the World Trade Center DNA Story... " (Free Press, 2005)
Director, Forensics Program
Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Penn State University
State College, Pennsylvania

Books/Articles Discussed:

"Who They Were: Inside the World Trade Center DNA Story... " by Robert Shaler. Free Press, 2005.

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

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This segment produced by Annette Heist