400 researchers to gather at NIR spectroscopy conference in Umeå

The conference focuses on spectroscopic techniques and calibration methods that are applied to secure the content and quality of agricultural products, paper and forestry raw materials, food and provisions, medicine, etc. In other words, it deals with the central methods for several significant industries. Near infrared spectroscopy, or NIR, is an established method for applying the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

- Today we see a development in which advanced data analyses and image analyses of microscopic images are combined with spectroscopic information. For example, it provides an opportunity to obtain new information regarding how active pharmaceutical compositions in tablet form can be packaged in order to have the best effect. It displays how the distribution of biological material in plants occurs and it is important for medical diagnoses of the changes in human body tissue, for instance. NIR spectroscopy has led this progress in many respects, says Lars Österlund, research director at FOI (Swedish Ministry of Defence) and the conference chairperson.

The conference opens on Sunday 17 June with inaugural speeches by Umeå Municipal Commissioner Marie-Louise Rönnmark and Peter Flinn, Chairman of the International Council for Near Infrared Spectroscopy, among others.

- It is with tremendous satisfaction that we can state that Umeå, in collaboration with Vaasa on the other side of the Gulf of Bothnia, has succeeded in hosting such an important conference such as NIR2007, continues Lars Österlund. It is the largest conference of its kind. It is recognition of the research activity in the region, as well as evidence the drawing power the region has for hosting conferences.

Thailand will be the venue for the next conference in two years. A number of internationally renowned experts in the field will be presenting at the conference. Approximately 30 noteworthy instrument manufacturers, component manufacturers, consulting companies, and software companies will display their products in a separate exhibition at the conclusion of the conference.

Contact: Prof. Lars Österlund, FOI Umeå Tel: +46 (0)90-10 69 10 Mobile: +46 (0)702-56 24 25
E-mail: lars.osterlund@foi.se

Basic Facts: The word spectroscopy literally means to look at a spectrum. Historically, spectroscopy referred to a scientific branch in which visible light was used for the theoretical research of the makeup of matter and for qualitative and quantitative analyses. Recently, however, the definition has extended with the development of new methods developed that utilise several other forms of radiation in addition to visible light. Frequently, spectroscopy is applied in physical and analytical chemistry for the identification of substances through the spectrum discharged from or absorbed by them. Spectroscopy is additionally widely used in remote sensing and astronomy. It is a science, which gives us knowledge about the design and structure of everything from stars and the universe to daily provisions. Swedish researchers have been very successful in this field. In 1924, Manne Siegbahn received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of X-ray spectroscopy and his son Kai Siegbahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1981 for his contributions to the development of high-resolution electron spectroscopy. Today, Sune Svanberg in Lund is a leader in the application of laser spectroscopy. Chemometrics is the application of statistical or mathematical methods to chemical data and is often used in NIR spectroscopy. Umeå researcher Svante Wold, who was one of the pioneers in the field of chemometrics, coined the term in 1971.

Editor: Carina Dahlberg