Vol. 26 No. 1
January-February 2004

Spectroscopy

by Carmen Cámara and Luis Fermín Capitán-Vallvey

The Colloquium Spectroscopicum Internationale (CSI XXXIII) took place in Granada (Spain), from 7–12 September 2003. The conference was co-chaired by Profs. Alfredo Sanz-Medel (Oviedo University) and Javier Laserna (Málaga University).

Prof. J. Winefordner receiving the CSI XXXIII award from Prof. Javier Laserna.

About 514 participants from 40 different countries attended the event. After Spain (with about 200 participants), the countries with the highest representation were Germany (39 participants), the United States (29 participants), and Japan (21 attendees). The contributions (504) were presented in 97 lectures and 407 posters. In addition to the above-mentioned countries, Turkey and Brazil contributed significantly to the CSI with posters.

More than 30 internationally recognized scientists from the different fields of spectroscopy delivered plenary and invited lectures in different simultaneous sessions devoted to most of the branches of molecular and atomic spectroscopy.

A special additional feature of the conference was the presentation of five “Hot Topics” sessions covering some of the cutting-edge trends in applied spectroscopy. The sessions, which were organized by well-known experts in each Hot Topic, had a total length of about three and a half hours. The session titles, followed by the names of each organizer, are listed below:

• “Trace Analysis and Microanalysis with Lasers: Still the Ultimate Choice?”; Nicolo Omenetto (USA)
• “Modern Applications of NMR to the Study of the Structure, Dynamics, and Interactions of Biomolecules”; Jesús Jiménez Barbero (Spain)
• “Miniaturization, Chips, and Microfluidics for Chemical Analysis”; Andreas Manz (UK)
• “Mass Spectrometry in the Post-Genomic Era: Proteomics”; Ryszard Lobinski (France)
• “Chemical Imaging”; Renato Zenobi (Switzerland)

The CSI XXXIII award was given to Prof. Jim D. Winefordner (University of Florida, USA), “for pioneering work in developing analytical atomic and molecular optical spectroscopy from empirical approaches to fundamental physical approaches and for his contributions to the progress of spectrochemical analysis.” Prof. Winefordner received the award from Prof. J. Laserna in a special session, during which Ben Smith presented a history of Winefordner’s laboratory.

The CSI XXXIII poster session featured 407 posters.

The conference also included an instrument exhibition featuring 14 instrument manufacturers and 3 spectroscopic publishers. The exhibition offered an opportunity for people from industry and academia to interact closely, exchanging ideas and experiences. Additionally a highly successful vendor session, chaired and organized by Dr. J. Brenner, was specially arranged for the conference. This workshop highlighted technical-scientific presentations given by experts from different instrument manufacturers. The aim of the session was to demonstrate the current status of commercial instrumentation and accessories in spectroscopy and to provide conference participants with the opportunity to discuss current specifications and performance. The high number of attendees surpassed the organization’s expectation.

Before the CSI Conference in Granada, a pre-symposium took place in Zaragoza on “Sample Introduction in Atomic Spectrometry: New Strategies,” chaired by Prof. J. R. Castillo (Zaragoza University). In addition, a post-symposium was held in Almuñécar (Granada), on “Speciation of Elements in Biological, Environmental and Toxicological Sciences,” chaired by J. I. García-Alonso (Oviedo University).

During the CSI Conference in Granada, the CSI Continuation Committee organized a National Delegates’ Meeting. One of the most important items on the agenda was the decision regarding the venue for CSI XXXV in 2007. Two bids were received (China and Hungary), and after voting (attendees from 30 countries participated in the meeting), it was decided that China would host the CSI XXXV in 2007.

The local organizing committee did an outstanding job of carefully designing an attractive and successful social program. A night visit to the wonderful Alhambra, the premier season concert of the Symphonic Orchestra of Granada, and a friendly reception at the rector’s office of the university were the most notable events. The gala dinner served as an excellent end to this outstanding conference.

Finally, four poster awards sponsored by the Journal of Analytical and Bioanalytical Spectrometry, the Journal of Analytical and Atomic Spectrometry, and the Thermo Electron Corporation (Spain) were given to presentations of significant, innovative analytical research in analytical spectrometry.

The CSI XXXIV will be held in Antwerp, Belgium, 4–9 September 2005, at the University of Antwerp <www.csixxxiv.ua.ac.be>.

Dr. Carmen Cámara <[email protected]>, a full professor of analytical chemistry at the Unversity of Madrid, was a member of the organizing committee of the CSI colloquium. Dr. Luis Fermín Capitán-Vallvey <[email protected]>, full professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Granada, was a member of the organizing committee of the CSI colloquium.