Spectrochemistry 2011 - European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry Spectrochemistry 2011

On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to invite you to participate in the next European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, which will be held at the Congress and Conference Center of the World Trade Center (WTCZ) in Zaragoza (Spain) from January 30 to February 4, 2011. The European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry has positioned itself as a privileged forum for the discussion of the most relevant advances, as well as the challenges remaining, in Plasma Spectrochemistry. The next edition will feature lecture and poster sessions covering the latest in plasma fundamentals, laser-assisted methodologies, isotopic analysis, imaging and speciation techniques, metallomics and nanotechnology, among other topics. A number of selected free short courses will also be programmed. See you in Zaragoza!.rrProf Juan R. CastillorrChairman of 2011 European Winter Conference on Plasma SpectrochemistryrrThe meetingrrThe first Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1980. Since then, a total of 30 meetings have been organized considering those celebrated in America, Europe (since 1985) and more recently in Asia (since 2006), thanks to the growing popularity reached by the first editions. Attendance has grown from 170 in 1980 to more than 600 with world-wide scientific participation representing 30 countries. Technical sessions comprise lectures and posters describing application, fundamental, and instrumentation developments with popular electrical plasma sources. The inductively coupled plasma (ICP), glow discharge sources, microwave induced plasma, direct current plasma, and laser-assisted plasma spectrochemistry are featured. New spectrometric instrumentation, novel sample introduction systems, plasma system automation, sample preparation approaches, elemental speciation, spectroscopic standards, quality assurance, new diagnostic characteristics, and theoretical treatments are highlighted.rrSome in the field consider the Winter Conference one of the technically most significant meetings convened on these topics. A summarized chart of the thirteen European Winter Conferences organized so far can be found below.rrYear Placer1985 Leysin, Switzerlandr1987 Lyon, Francer1989 Reutte, Austriar1991 Dortmund, Germanyr1993 Granada, Spainr1995 Cambridge, Englandr1997 Gent, Belgiumr1999 Pau, Francer2001 Lillehammer, Norwayr2003 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germanyr2005 Budapest, Hungaryr2007 Taormina, Italyr2009 Graz, AustriarScope of the ConferencerrThe aim of the conference is to provide a forum to encourage the exchange of ideas and knowledge about recent developments and state-of-the-art knowledge in main areas of analytical plasma spectrochemistry. The conference will bring together international participants experienced in fundamental aspects, instrumentation and applications to examine recent progress in this continuing growing field. Plenary conferences related to fundamentals, Laser-assisted plasma spectrometry, stable isotope analysis and speciation will be presented by distinguished scientist. Invited Lectures and oral communications, including topics such as sample introduction, micronebulization, sample preparation, glow discharge atomic and mass spectrometry, nanotechnology, imaging or metallomics, will be scheduled.rrAlso a number of short courses will be offered to all participants (registration required at no extra cost) during the meeting related to the main topics of the conference. The aims of these short courses are to provide plasma users the possibility of learning more about theoretical and practical issues as well as obtain specialists recommendations for methods improvements.rrA Workshop on Analytical Control Laboratories using plasmas will be scheduled. The Workshop attempts to bring together Plasma users from public and private Analytical Laboratories to promote information exchange, offering lectures and seminars on specific topics.