Satellite Events

This workshop will introduce envipath.org, an internationally unique resource for storing and predicting microbial biotransformation pathways of organic contaminants in different environments including soil, sediment, activated sludge and pure and enrichment cultures. Key elements of the enviPath database are biotransformation pathways, reactions, transformation products, and biotransformation reaction rules. It currently contains three major data packages with over 700 contaminant pathways altogether.

In the first part of the workshop, theory sessions will introduce the scope and general structure of enviPath, introduce the data packages available in enviPath and explain the algorithms underlying the training and execution of the pathway prediction component of enviPath. These theory inputs will be complemented by hands-on exercises on entering your own data package into enviPath and on producing and extracting own predicted biotransformation pathways for contaminants of interest to you. In the second part of the workshop, a selection of invited speakers will explain how they use enviPath in their research and/or teaching. Finally, the day will be rounded of by short inputs in recent ongoing developments of enviPath, e.g., half-life prediction, automated rule generation, and linking transformation reactions to genes/enzymes.

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Dramatic environmental changes are currently occurring in the Arctic in an unprecedented pace. Both marine and terrestrial environments are affected due to the observed comprehensive changes in the cryosphere of the North. These reported changes are expected to have considerable consequences for environmental systems as well as for the local human populations. Mainly the rapid reduction of the Arctic cryosphere (ice-associated systems) will have consequences for biological systems as well as infrastructures and local societies. A variety of indicators illustrate the environmental stress of environmental and climate changes in the Arctic. This includes foraging behavior of top predators, significant changes in the food webs, invasion of new species and changes in the seasonal migration patterns of species. Also, the indigenous people of the Arctic are strongly affected. Thus, traditional hunting routines were abandoned because of changing migration patterns of marine mammals. Along the Arctic coastlines, many communities plan to abandon their locations and move inland due to extensive erosion problems. Furthermore, hygiene issues and water shortage reduce the living quality in many communities.

At the other hand, the declining sea ice and cryosphere provides new opportunity for access to fossil resources, mineral mining, and shipping routes. The circum-Arctic nations are therefore looking towards the North for economic opportunities as well as fearing environmental changes. During the seminar, Arctic experts will discuss the major challenges and interlinkages for the environmental protection, local communities, and economic opportunities. The potential for conflicting priorities will be highlighted and discussed based on case studies. Potential solutions, and future research priorities with respect to the appropriate sustainable response will be elucidated.

NVP’s recent strategic vision on challenges in Arctic environments and societies will be discussed.

For details see:  The “Global Arctic”

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Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) include more than 4700 substances identified by a specific C.A.S. number but, despite their large use for decades in industrial and consumer products and environmental persistence, for most of them there is still little information on uses, behavior, occurrence, and effects on the environment.

For this reason, PFAS, as a class, represent a relevant challenge on multiple levels, such as i) developing analytical methods for their analysis in environmental matrixes at sub-trace concentrations (also required by the Directive 2020/2137/EU), ii) identifying the nature and toxicity of their precursors and degradation products, iii) developing technological solutions for their removal and elimination from water and soil, and iv) investigating their bioaccumulation in plants and animals.

Furthermore, the development of suitable and effective regulation and management strategies has proven to be quite difficult, especially due to multitude of substances containing one or more C-F moieties deemed as “essential chemicals”, and thus exempt from most restriction measures provided by the legislation on chemicals actually in force (e.g. REACH).

During the seminar, leading experts will present and discuss the latest developments regarding these challenges, with a special focus on their interconnection.

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This Satellite Event will focus on the developments in technologies and their applications for the characterisation and enumeration of micro and nanoplastics within diverse matrices. Research presented will be of an interdisciplinary nature and technologies will include Raman, SERS, FTIR, laser light scattering, mass spectrometry and microfluidics among others. The intended audience will include researchers working in those fields as well as those interested in sampling, sample preparation and analysis of micro and nanoplastics either as researchers or equipment developers and manufacturers.

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Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly and almost ubiquitously present in the environment, where they may pose a risk to corresponding ecosystems and, in the longer run, even remain as prominent markers of the anthropocene. Assessing their exposure requires reliable and quantitative analytical methods at mostly trace concentrations. However, widely established quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) measures in analytical chemistry are not yet regularly and fully implemented in MP analysis. Moreover, due to the different nature of particulate in comparison with elemental or molecular analytes, these measures may need adaption or even expansion when applied to MP analysis.

In this Satellite event, we will present and discuss a series of concepts, examples and recommendations how to translate and implement established QA/QC tools into MP analysis of complex matrices. These include among others the selection and use of different surrogate standards (e.g. coloured, isotope-labelled, fluorescent or metal doped) along different steps of the analytical chain to account for, e.g., extraction, pyrolysis or imaging efficiency, the development and use of controls such as fresh and aged MP standards and spiked reference materials, as well as inter-laboratory comparisons and ring trials. Whenever possible, one should resort to complementary analytical approaches based in orthogonal instrumentation and detection principles, and determine concentrations based on both on number and mass concentration, and in combination with size distribution. Figures of merits of any validated analytical method include method detection limits, blank levels, (linear) concentration ranges, repeatability and reproducibility, recoveries, matrix effects, etc. Their determination and reporting should (even) more regularly become good analytical practise among analytical chemists investigating MP in complex matrices.

The above aspects will first be presented with input presentations by distinct experts in the field, followed by a moderated discussion with the speakers and the audience. The overall aim of this satellite is to raise awareness about the importance QA/QC in MP analysis, and to provide a conceptual toolbox to facilitate its implementation in our future research.

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This short course is designed to assist scientists, junior and senior in writing successful scientific papers for dedicated journals to build their professional career. The course will show to the participants how to prepare good papers and how they can be written. It will present advice and comments for overcoming usual and common obstacles such as targeting journals, finding an attractive entry for the manuscript, presenting tables and data, and writing a fruitful discussion.

This course was designed with the help of scientists and researchers involved in scientific publishing in environmental and analytical chemistry. The target audience includes scientific writers from undergraduate/doctorate level up to senior experienced scientists who strive to improve their written communication skills.

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Interested in learning more about how to publish your next book? Curious how Springer Nature envisions the future of book publishing? Join the Springer Nature’s ‘Book Publishing and Innovation’ workshop to hear about the 5 easy stages in the publishing process, the latest AI author services, and how we have helped many authors, just like you, publish a book to communicate their ideas to a global audience. Our chemistry book portfolio will also be introduced, followed by a Q&A session to answer all your book publishing questions.

This Satellite Event is offered free of charge.

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