2007 Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award for Analytical SpectroscopyThe DASp—German Working Group for Applied Spectroscopy—regularly awards the “Bunsen–Kirchhoff-Preiss” to honour, preferably, the work of young scientists from universities, research institutes or industry who have made excellent contributions to analytical spectroscopy. A life’s work of a scientific personality can also be recognised. The Award consists of an award document and 2500 sponsored by PerkinElmer GmbH. Nominations are sought for the 2007 Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award for Analytical Spectroscopy, which will be presented at CANAS 2007 in March 2007 in Konstanz, Germany. Nominations can only be made by members of the DASp but any scientist meeting the requirements may be nominated. Self-nomination is not allowed. The decision as to whom the prize is to be awarded will be made by a panel consisting of the current members of the board of the DASp. The deadline for nominations is 31 December 2006. Further information from www.dasp.info NIR research wins Spanish prizeThe Agronir project by researchers at the Public University of Navarra has been awarded a prize for the best transfer of research in the Ideactive competition. The research team, lead by Carmen Jarén Ceballos with Arantza Ursua and Gloria Bergera, used NIR spectroscopy to quantify nutritional components in foodstuffs such as fats, proteins and carbohydrates, as well as parameters such as humidity and ash. The research is now being turned into a business project. Australian lead turns up off ItalyA team of geologists have observed “anthropogenic influence” in hydrothermal deposits. Examining deposits retrieved from the site of an underwater volcano near Italy, the discovered lead that did not come from the underlying rocks or from any possible natural source in the nearby region or anywhere in Europe. Using a multi-collector ICP-MS they determined the isotope ratios of lead and found that the lead came from a mine in Australia. It is thought that the lead was mined in Australia and shipped to Europe, where it was added to petrol, burned by cars and emitted into the air. From there it entered the sea, travelled with water into the earth and re-emerged via the hydrothermal vents. Pollution from lead originating in Australia is well-known in Europe, but this is the first time it has been seen in a hyrdothermal formation. The work was published in Marine Geology, doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2006.03.003 Nanotechnology WorldIM Publications has launched a new online publication: Nanotechnology World. This publishes frequently updated news of research, products, people, financial matters, patents, nanotechnology in action and events. A library of applications and articles on nanotechnology is being developed. www.nanotechnologyworld.co.uk |
Aspectrics has launched a new
website: www.aspectrics.com
Bio-Rad is offering a series of free web seminars on the latest approaches in metabolomics, spectroscopy and ADME/Tox. www.knowitall.com Bruker AXS has acquired Keymaster Technologies, which develops and manufactures portable, hand-held XRF systems. www.bruker-axs.com Bruker AXS has been awarded an R&D 100 award for its XFlash QUAD detector, four-channel 40mm2 silicon drift detector. www.bruker-axs.com Centice has been awarded an R&D 100 award for their MMS Raman spectrometer. The MMS technology uses an encoded wide area aperture instead of a slit, providing high throughput without sacrificing signal-to-noise. www.centice.com CSMA has been involved in a European project aimed at developing a food analysis tool capable of detecting toxins. Using techniques including XPS and ToF-SIMS to examine the extreme surface of materials, CSMA has been looking at different ways to activate surfaces in order to immobilise proteins. Tony Kinsella of CSMA says, “As well as producing a new technique for food safety test laboratories, the project also has the potential to see a consumer friendly ‘dipstick’ test product developed which could, for example, be useful for people that suffer from food allergies.” www.csma.ltd.uk Koheras and LG-Laser Technologies are to trade under the same name after the 2004 acquisition of the majority of LG-Laser Technologies by Koheras. LG-Laser Technologies GmbH will now be known as Koheras GmbH. www.koheras.com Mesophotonics is working with the UK’s Home Office Scientific Development Branch to develop a solution for accurate and reliable testing for illicit drugs using the company’s Klarite substrate for SERS. www.mesophotonics.com Optiglass is one of five UK organisations to be accredited as a Reference Material Producer by UKAS, the UK Accreditation Service. www.starna.com Pittcon 2007 has launched a new, re-designed website. www.pittcon.org Sionex, a company commercialising chemical and biological sensors and systems, announced at the 15th International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry meeting an Early Technology Access Programme for its microAnalyzer system. This will enable user and potential OEMs to investigate applications. www.sionex.com Thermo Electron is offering two new training courses in support of the iCAP 6000 series ICP emission spectrometers. www.thermo.com/elemental |