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[B][B][B]双击或划选（[/B][B]点我安装在线划词[/B][B]），即可查看单词的详细解释，并收录生词进 [/B][B]生词本[/B][/B] [/B]
[B]The CSI Factor (1/2)
Scientists give American judges a "CSI" education[/B]
Earlier this year some of America's top judges spent a week at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory with some of the country's top scientists. They came together to get familiar with the science behind some of the complex issues they encounter in the courtroom.
The judges, mostly from Maryland and Ohio, got a crash course in nanotechnology, synthetic biology and environmental biotechnology-all subjects they may have to tangle with in highly technical cases.
By receiving this instruction, "judges are empowered to do better, understand the issues better and guide the process better," said Rufus King III, chief judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. "Judges need to be gatekeepers to keep junk science out of the courtroom."
The program is part of the Advanced Science and TechnologyAdjudicationResourceCenter's (ASTAR) mission to train more science-literate judges.
"This is our only chance to talk to scientists outside the context of a particular case so that we can ask questions," said Judge Joan Zeldon. "They are wonderful teachers ... so it's a great privilege."
Jurors' high expectations
Science is finding its way into the courtroom more and more, and jurors have come to expect scientific evidence to back up a case. Terry Hazen, head of the lab's ecology department, calls it the "CSI factor."
"[Jurors] have become so acclimated to seeing DNA evidence," he said.
In order to manage their courtrooms effectively in the midst of progressive scientific research, around 50 judges came to Berkeley to get a handle on the science they could face in cases with environmental issues, such as the legality of using genetically modified bacteria for hazardous waste clean up.
"It's good for them to understand whether to exclude a certain expert or allow certain evidence and help them make better decisions," Hazen said.
Vocabulary Focus
crash course (n. phr) ---a course that teaches you a lot of basic facts in a very short time
tangle with (phr. v) ---to become involved with, usually through disagreement or difficulty
gatekeeper (n) ---a person who allows or prevents people from accessing something
acclimated (adj) ---changes to suit different conditions of life, weather, etc.
Specialized Terms
CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) (n. phr) ---（警务部门的）犯罪现场调查组；电视剧（CSI犯罪现场）a division of a police department; also a series of television shows
[B]nanotechnology[/B] (n) ---纳米科技the science and technology of building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules
[B]adjudication[/B] (n) ---判决judgment in a competition or argument or a formal decision about something
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发表于 2016-8-6 08:21:49