The search for the missing and their identification is an ever growing issue recognised by the international community and national governments alike. Investigations are a multi-disciplinary endeavour, and this forum presents examples from across the scientific process of how this work has been successfully undertaken.Finding solutions to the challenges posed by both operational activities in the field, and resolving issues of identification especially from multiple casualty events continues to be a pressing problem. The scale and difficulties with pinpointing disposal sites and the effective and standardised approaches to dealing with mass graves and numerous skeletonised remains require constant development of techniques to make the scientific process more effective.