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04-Mar-2009 - LGC invites abstracts for the BERM12 symposium

12th international Biological and Environmental Reference Materials symposium – deadline for abstracts is
27 March  

LGC is pleased to announce that the 12th Biological and Environmental Reference Material (BERM) symposium will take place in Keble College, Oxford on 7-10 July 2009. Normally held every three years, this major, well-established international event is aimed at chemical and biochemical reference material producers and users across the world. This will be the first time that the event has been held in the UK.

A scientific programme for the symposium has been developed and will provide an opportunity for delegates to address many issues relating to the development and use of reference materials. The symposium covers a number of themes including: environment and energy; health, medicine and forensics; food; international developments; QA/QC and the user; as well as reference materials: challenges and trends.

The 2009 symposium will focus sessions on a range of chemical and biological applications, generic issues of RM production or use, and future challenges and trends. The programme and venue have been developed to facilitate flexible attendance at lectures, poster sessions or the exhibition and to ensure ample time for informal networking.

Dr Steve Wood, Chairman of the Organising Committee for BERM12, and LGC’s Head of Reference Materials and Calibration Services, commented: “BERM provides a unique opportunity for key players to meet and discuss their concerns about the development, distribution, accreditation and use of reference materials. We are particularly pleased that BERM will be held in the UK. This is a ‘first’ for BERM and we are confident that this important event will enable reference material suppliers, accreditation bodies, legislators and other stakeholders to obtain a broad overview of the current position and new advances in the field.”

The symposium will include presentations from a number of international speakers from key organisations including NIST and IRMM and from countries including the US, Japan, Italy, Hungary, Ireland and The Netherlands.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is 27 March 2009, with notification of the acceptance of presentations given by 9 April 2009. Submissions must include the presentation title, authors, organisation/affiliation and an abstract which should be in English with a maximum of 300 words.

Submissions for abstracts should be sent by 27 March 2009 by email to berm12@lgc.co.uk. To register online or for further information on the BERM12 symposium please visit the BERM12 website at http://www.berm12.com

 

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