FAQ

Yes. Although SoFIGG is a registered charity in Scotland, membership is open to individuals based anywhere in the world, provided they meet the relevant criteria. Our membership includes individuals from a range of countries, primarily across Europe but also beyond.

While our first annual symposium will be held in the United Kingdom, we also offer online events and maintain a virtual network that is accessible irrespective of geographical location. That said, as a Europe-based organisation, our current focus and the scheduling of our online activities reflect European time zones.

Indeed, the absence of a dedicated European body for forensic investigative genetic genealogy was one of the primary motivations for the establishment of the Society.

In the UK, it is a common practice for professional societies to require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the profession. While there are currently no formal degree programmes specifically in forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG), given the field’s relative youth, we recognise that many current practitioners do not hold degrees in related disciplines such as genetics or forensic science.

However, the Society requires at least a Bachelor’s degree (or a statement of comparability, vide section below) – although not necessarily in a directly related subject – as a minimum qualification for associate or full member status. This requirement reflects a balance between maintaining professional standards and ensuring accessibility. It also aligns with practices across European professional communities, where the vast majority of practitioners do have higher education qualifications.

We anticipate that as FIGG becomes more established and gains broader academic recognition in Europe, more targeted educational pathways will emerge. Individuals interested in FIGG who do not have a Bachelor’s degree are welcome to join as affiliate members.

Statement of Comparability

In many jurisdictions, Bachelor’s degrees were not awarded until relatively recently. Other prospective members may have completed independent academic or professional courses. Applicants who have completed substantial university-level study may wish to submit their academic transcript(s) to UK ENIC (the UK national information centre for global qualifications and skills, managed by Ecctis for the UK government’s Department for Education) and request a Statement of Comparability.

If UK ENIC determines that the studies you have completed are comparable to a UK Bachelor’s degree, this will be accepted as sufficient evidence that you meet the educational requirements for associate or full membership of SoFIGG.

Yes – the Society is open to anyone with an interest in forensic investigative genetic genealogy. If you are not currently practising in the field, you are welcome to join as an affiliate member (which is the tier all members join initially). We also offer membership categories specifically designed for those who are active FIGG practitioners.

FIGG practitioners work on forensic investigations (e.g. unidentified human remains, suspects of violent crimes) and are involved in all three core aspects of FIGG work:

• Genealogical research
• Genetic analysis (e.g. working with DNA kits & matches, analysing relationships)
• Investigative methods (e.g., OSINT or identifying DNA matches)

Professionals who contribute only to one area — for example, performing bioinformatics analyses only, or building family trees without integrating genetic-genealogical analysis — are not considered FIGG practitioners for the purposes of professional tier membership but are much valued members of the SoFIGG community and are encouraged to join as affiliate members.

Yes – full-time undergraduate students are eligible for a discounted affiliate membership, available at £29 per year (as of 2025). Proof of current student status will be required at the time of application.

Yes. SoFIGG is committed to fostering an inclusive community of FIGG practitioners, researchers and supporters across diverse regions and backgrounds. We recognise that financial barriers can disproportionately affect prospective members in countries classified by the World Bank as upper-middle, lower-middle or low income. To support equitable access, we offer reduced membership fees for affiliate (£29), associate (£49), and full members (£69) from these regions.

Yes, SoFIGG welcomes the support of organisations and companies through a supporting membership for legal entities, available at an annual contribution of £1,000. This membership provides support for SoFIGG’s initiatives, increases visibility of your organisation within the FIGG community (supporting members are listed publicly on the website) and creates more opportunities for collaboration.

It is important to emphasise that such support does not influence SoFIGG’s academic independence. Our commitment to transparency, intellectual honesty, and open discussion remains central: for example, if a speaker at a SoFIGG event offers constructive criticism of a supporting member’s product or approach, that perspective will be given a fair platform. We believe this independence ensures that our activities retain credibility, rigour, and the trust of both our members and the wider community. If you are interested in supporting SoFIGG through the supporting membership please contact us at contact@sofigg.org.

Although we announce available volunteer opportunities on our website, we do welcome expressions of interest at any time. If you would like to contribute, you are encouraged to send us your CV along with a brief outline of how you might be able to support the Society. We will keep your details on file and contact you should a suitable opportunity arise.

FIGG has been described under numerous names: genetic genealogy (GG), investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), forensic genetic genealogy (FGG), investigative forensic genetic genealogy (iFGG), and finally forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) – the term adopted by SoFIGG due to its inclusion of the equally important forensic and investigative aspects of FIGG analyses.