First International Conference on Soft Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry and Applications to Trace Gas Analysis

The need for quantitative and rapid detection of chemical compounds in complex environments and at ultralow concentrations provides significant challenges to analytical chemistry for applications in many areas. Soft chemical ionisation mass spectrometric techniques can be used to address some of these challenges, and hence are key technologies for many analytical applications, ranging from atmospheric chemistry through to homeland security.

The aim of this conference is to provide a forum for discussions on research, instrumentation and applications of soft chemical ionisation mass spectrometric (SCIMS) techniques, with a particular focus on the technologies of PTR-MS, IMS, IMS/MS and SIFT-MS, covering many of areas of applications, but with an emphasis on fundamental research and development, atmospheric chemistry, homeland security, and the environmental, food and health sciences.

A key purpose of the conference is to bring together scientists and technologists from academia, industry and government who use SCIMS technologies in an informal setting to network and share details on recent advances and applications. An objective of this meeting is to facilitate closer collaboration and to improve the exploitation of novel concepts between disciplines and technologies.

Young scientists (e.g. Early Stage Researchers and PhD students) at the beginning of their research careers are particularly encouraged to attend and contribute to the meeting, either with a poster or with an oral presentation.

Dornbirn is situated in the beautiful Vorarlberg region of Western Austria near Lake Constance, just a few kilometres from the Swiss border, offering scenic tours of the Alps. There are excellent and fast train connections from many nearby major cities, including Zurich, Munich and Innsbruck.

The conference will begin Monday morning (8:45 am) and finish Wednesday late afternoon (5 pm). The program includes invited talks by distinguished leaders using SCIMS covering various research fields; including environmental science, atmospheric chemistry, food science, health science and homeland security. The conference will also include invited short talks and a poster session. (Please state in any abstract submission if you wish to be considered for a talk, a poster or both.) For young researchers, there will be an interactive session on careers within academia, industry and the government.