Human remains are rarely just scientific evidence; they carry the power to shape politics, identity, prosecute and hold strong cultural memory long after a person dies. Forensic anthropologist and professor Katharine Kolpan discussed the ethical and cultural dilemmas surrounding human remains at the Renfrew Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Dec. 9. She emphasized that forensic identification is often technically straightforward, but its public meaning is complicated by ideology, memory and cultural beliefs about the dead. Kolpan then described how human remains can spark intense emotional and political reactions. Despite the scientific focus of forensic anthropology, Kolpan said these stories show how the dead continue to influence the living.