The 14th European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry

The 14th European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry was held in Zaragoza (Spain), from January 30th to February 4th, 2011. This conference continues the successful tradition that was started overseas 31 years ago by Prof. Dr Ramon Barnes, and that now counts with biannual European, Asia-Pacific and American versions. For this occasion, more than 560 spectroscopists from 37 different countries gathered in Zaragoza to discuss the fundamentals and applications related to the use of analytical plasmas.

The conference venue was the Congress and Convention Center of the ‘World Trade Center of Zaragoza’ (WTCZ), which provided more than 3000 m² for the different activities programmed. During the first session, the Plasma Award sponsored by Agilent Technologies was announced. On this occasion, the prestigious award was shared by Prof. Dr Alfredo Sanz-Medel, from the University of Oviedo (Spain), and Prof. Dr Frank Vanhaecke, from Ghent University (Belgium).

During the next days, different sessions were held, organized by topics, such as Fundamentals, Imaging, Nanoscience, Laser ablation/Solid sampling, Glow discharge, Isotopic analysis, Metallomics and Speciation, in addition to a Workshop that focused on the work of Control Labs. These sessions allowed 24 invited speakers to present their most recent work. The list of invited lecturers included Carlos Alejaldre, Gary Hieftje, Annemie Bogaerst, Martin Hassellöv, J. Sabine Becker, Thomas Lippert, Rick Russo, Norbert Jakubowski, Ulrich Borchers, Franz Ulberth, R. Kenneth Marcus, Tamara Gusarova, Barry Sharp, Francis Albarede, Ralph E. Sturgeon, Jurian Hoogewerff, Mark Rehkämper, Rebeca Santamaria-Fernández, María Montes-Bayón, Joseph A. Caruso, Andreas Prange, Naoki Furuta and Charlotte Gabel-Jensen. In addition, 78 oral contributions were presented, as well as more than 300 posters that were displayed in two different sessions (Monday–Tuesday and Thursday–Friday).

In order to help the youngest participants to learn the fundamentals, as well as to favor scientific discussions, four different three hours Short Courses were also included in the program. The courses were free for participants and were given by the most prominent scientists in every field. The course on Plasma Fundamentals was imparted by Sam Houk (Iowa State University), while Detlef Günther (ETH Zürich) discussed the topic of Laser Ablation, Frank Vanhaecke (Ghent University) explained the basis and applications of Isotopic Analysis, and Joanna Szpunar (Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour) introduced Metallomics.

Four prizes were awarded to the posters selected as best by the Jury Members. These prizes were sponsored by Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry and Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. The authors honored with the ABC award were Agata Mendys (Jagiellonian University from Kraków), Esperanza García-Ruiz (University of Zaragoza) and Matthias Ziehe (Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin), while the JAAS Award went to Hidekazu Miyahara (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Earth and Planetary Sciences). In addition, the Richard Payling Prize, given to the best contribution on the topic of glow discharge spectrochemistry and sponsored by Horiba Jobin-Yvon, Spectruma Analytik GMbH, Tofwerk AG, Leco Inc., ThermoFischer and Nu Instruments, was also awarded during the glow discharge session. The winner of this award was Rebeca Valledor (University of Oviedo).

No Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry would be complete without the corresponding social events, which provide opportunities for further discussion and for establishing new cooperations, as well as a means to appreciate the local culture. In this particular edition, the events began on Sunday evening with the Welcome Reception, which took place in the Panoramic Hall of the WTCZ, such that the participants could enjoy a view of the city.

One of the most traditional events of this conference is the Hot Plasma party, which took the conferees on Monday evening to the San Valero Winery, for dinner and dancing. Wednesday was free from communications, and the participants could opt for a Romanesque Tour (including visits to the Loarre Castle, the San Juan de la Peña Monastery and the city of Jaca), skiing in Formigal or playing golf. Finally, on Thursday night, the Conference dinner was held at the restaurant El Cachirulo.

We would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors for their support, as well as for exhibiting their latest products throughout the week but, above all, we would like to thank all delegates for their enthusiastic participation in all events. The current issue of JAAS showcases a selection of the best works presented at the conference. They serve as proof of the scientific quality of the European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry. We'll all have an excellent opportunity to meet again during its next edition, in Cracow (Poland) in 2013.

Prof. Dr Alfredo Sanz-Medel (left) and Prof. Dr Frank Vanhaecke (right) received the Plasma Award, sponsored by Agilent Technologies.

Dr Mark Rehkämper addresses the audience in the World Trade Center of Zaragoza Auditorium.

Members of the Organizing Committee during the Romanesque Tour, at San Juan de la Peña Monastery.

---