A Special Message from the SSAB President

Hello, and welcome to the official home of SSAB at West Virginia University. As the field of biometrics continues to grow and evolve, new and extraordinary developments are occurring every day. WVU is uniquely positioned to be at the center of this ongoing excitement and to provide the industry with graduates who are aware of biometrics and its applications. On February 6, 2008 the FBI made WVU its national academic leader for biometrics research! This great achievement allows for more opportunities for students and faculty alike, including the members of SSAB.

SSAB is actively working alongside the FBI to complete a biometric data collection project housed at WVU. The goal of approximately 1,000 subjects is well on the way to being met through the hard work of students and faculty alike. Our organization has enjoyed being involved in this project, and our members have learned a great deal from hands-on experience with biometric devices and forensic techniques.

Last semester five of our members traveled to the Biometrics Consortium Conference in Tampa, FL—the largest biometrics conference in the United States. Those students acted as representatives of SSAB, WVU, and ultimately the state of West Virginia in establishing relationships with respected biometrics organizations. SSAB hopes to continue in this tradition, made possible through generous funding provided by the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (LCSEE), the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR), and the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

SSAB also visited the National Biometric Security Project in Morgantown, WV, and this semester plans to travel to the FBI: CJIS center, NSA, and other distinguished locations that are at the forefront of biometric activity. We look forward to continuing our success by increasing membership, becoming more involved in university activities, and establishing lasting relationships with other organizations.

This is an exciting time for the university and for biometrics, and I invite anyone with an interest in the subject to become involved. Students from any major are encouraged to join, as it provides different perspectives and opinions for all of our members. As SSAB grows you will have an opportunity to become involved and shape its future. Feel free to contact any of the officers if you have questions, and don’t forget to check the site for updates about upcoming events and meetings. I look forward to seeing all of you!

Thank you,

Christofer Justin McGinnis
President SSAB