Sponsored By
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
   (Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie)
Lunar and Planetary Institute

Hosted by
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie,
   Abteilung Geochemie

Conveners
Arnold Gucsik,
   Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie,    Abteilung Geochemie, Mainz,     Germany
Jens Götze,
   TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institut    für Mineralogie, Freiberg, Germany

Local Organizing Committee
Rosemarie Gross,
   Max Planck-Institut für Chemie
Arnold Gucsik,
   Max Planck-Institut für Chemie
Ulrich Ott,
   Max Planck-Institut für Chemie

CONFERENCE LOCATION AND DATE

The Conference on Micro-Raman Spectroscopy and Luminescence Studies in the Earth and Planetary Sciences (Corals I) will be held April 2–4, 2009, at the Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Abteilung Geochemie, in the beautiful and historical Mainz, Germany.

KEY POINTS:
  When:  April 2-4, 2009
  Where:  Mainz, Germany

The primary aim of the conference is to assess the state of the art and reliability of micro-Raman spectroscopy as well as luminescence-based spectroscopy and microscopy and related techniques in the Earth and planetary sciences.

The conference will be organized to maximize transfer of knowledge among the participants. The scientific program will provide a comprehensive overview of recent results and development trends in optical and luminescence spectroscopical research applied to the Earth and Planetary Sciences.

The meeting is a sequel to meetings on optical microscopy and luminescence studies started in 2001 by Jens Götze in Freiberg, Germany.

Oral sessions will be held from Thursday morning, April 2, to Saturday noon, April 4. A poster session will be held on Friday afternoon, April 3. Posters will be displayed for the entire meeting.

The sessions are expected to cover a wide range of topics including

• New developments in optical spectroscopy and luminescence techniques
• Cathodoluminescence (CL) applied to petrology, mineralogy, sedimentology, and igneous and metamorphic rock studies
• Micro-Raman spectroscopy applied to petrology, mineralogy, sedimentology, and igneous and metamorphic rock studies
• Cathodoluminescence and micro-Raman studies on extraterrestrial materials
• Thermoluminescence properties of meteorites
• Characterization of shock metamorphism in minerals by CL and micro-Raman techniques
• Planetary in situ applications of micro-Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence techniques
• Application of luminescence techniques in archeometry and geochronometry

A call for abstracts will be included in the second announcement, to be posted November 21, 2008..

The conference will include invited and contributed talks and contributed poster presentations. Oral presentations will be limited to 15 minutes including discussion. Plenary lectures will be 30 minutes including discussion. Computer projection will be available.

The official language of the conference is English.

The dimensions for poster presentations are 90 cm (35 inches) wide and 115 cm (45 inches) high.

The conference will begin with a welcome reception on Wednesday evening, April 1. A wine and spirit tasting will be included with the Friday afternoon poster session. In addition, an optional visit to the Kupferberg Champagne Cellars is being planned for Thursday evening, April 2. Details will be given in the second announcement.

Registration information will be provided in the second announcement. The estimated registration fees will be 150 Euro (professional) and 100 Euro (student).

Participants are requested to book their own accommodations. For finding and booking hotels in Mainz, please visit these websites:

www.hotelsingermany.com/cities/mainz_frm.htm

www.staedte-info.net/mainz/hotels/

Mainz is located about half an hour by train or car from Frankfurt International Airport, which is served by most of the world’s major airlines. Please visit the transportation website for details on how to get from the airport to Mainz and the Max-Planck-Institut.

In order to help conference organizers plan the meeting, and to subscribe to a notification list to receive updated information about the conference, please submit the electronic indication of intent form by September 15, 2008.

For further information regarding the format and scientific objectives of the meeting, contact

Arnold Gucsik
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie
Abteilung Geochemie
Joh.-J.-Becherweg 27
(Universitätscampus)
D-55128 MAINZ, Germany
Phone: +49-6131-305-278
Fax: +49-6131-305-483
E-mail: gucsik@mpch-mainz.mpg.de

For further information regarding accommodations and meeting logistics, please contact

Rosemarie Gross
Max-PlanckInstitut für Chemie
Abteilung Geochemie
Joh.-J.-Becherweg 2
(Universitätscampus)
D-55128 MAINZ, Germany
Phone: +49-6131-305-281
Fax: +49-6131-305-483
E-mail: gross@mpch-mainz.mpg.de