Abstract Forensic investigations in Italy have no geoforensic protocols or standard protocols to provide the country's law enforcement agencies with the materials to create a multidisciplinary approach to crime scene investigation, using the correct personnel and appropriate tools. Several factors contribute to this situation in Italy, but the main two are: (i) a lack of education, which allows the CSI effect to spread at all levels of society; and (ii) a lack of proper financial and environmental resources to support research. Moreover, the stressful context and psychological pressure of working in such an environment impedes the creation and implementation of proper protocols and standard procedures to the level attained in other more famous forensic sciences.

Abstract One hundred years ago, standards in geological report writing were formalized within the Royal Dutch Shell Group. Chief Geologist Josef Theodor Erb defined these standards in an internal report aimed at geologists working for Shell subsidiaries. His purpose was to raise the level of scientific reporting and to provide a measure of uniformity in geological reports sent to head office from all parts of the world. Ultimately, ‘Uniformity in Geological Reports’ was to allow the chief geologist to readily identify and follow-up on the better business opportunities. With time, Erb’s report developed into the Shell ‘Standard Legend’. Erb’s career is symptomatic of a developing company culture, which he embraced as his life’s goal. Realizing the shortcomings of this narrow personal philosophy of life may have been at the root of the mental problems that led to his death.