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.

Invited speakers will include Professor Kiyotaka Ninagawa of the Okayama University of Science in Okayama, Japan, as well as Professor Michael Gaft of the OLDS Laser Detect Systems Ltd. in Petah Tikva, Israel.

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

The proceedings of this conference will be published by the American Institute of Physics (AIP) in their conference series.

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

• Micro-Raman, general
• Micro-Raman, studies of materials
• Micro-Raman, investigations of extraterrestrial materials
• Luminescence studies, general
• Luminescence studies, dating of Earth and planetary materials
• Luminescence studies, cathodoluminescence of terrestrial material
• Luminescence studies, cathodoluminescence of extraterrestrial material
• Luminescence studies, quantitative aspects of mineral luminescence
• Luminescence studes, thermoluminescence properties of planetary materials
• Characterization of shock metamorphism by CL and micro-Raman techniques
• Combination of micro-Raman and luminescence techniques
• In situ planetary Raman and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy
• Raman and luminescence studies combined with other analytical techniques
• New developments in optical spectroscopy and luminescence techniques

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.

Researchers in scientific disciplines appropriate to the purpose and scope of this workshop are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentation.

All abstracts, whether invited or contributed, must be submitted electronically to the Lunar and Planetary Institute via the electronic submission form by 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Standard Time on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 (see timezone map). Abstracts will be limited to two pages, including graphics, tables, and references, and MUST be submitted in PDF format. Templates and detailed instructions for formatting and submitting your abstract are provided.

Note:  It is in your best interest to submit early to allow for possible technical problems or delays in transmission. Please do not wait until the last minute to access the system; access to the web form will terminate at 5:00 p.m. CST.

KEY POINTS:
Abstract Deadline:
   Wednesday, January 14, 2009
   5:00 p.m. U.S. (CST)

   see time zone map
 

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, 2009.

The registration fee for this conference will be €150 for professionals and €100 for students.  The deadline for registration in advance of the conference is January 31, 2009. Registration after that date will be onsite only, at an increased fee of €175 for professionals and €110 for students.

Participants from outside Europe for whom it is difficult to make a money transfer may submit the registration form by the deadline but pay the reduced fee on site.

* Note:  Registrations can only be made by electronic bank transfers (bank orders). No credit cards or checks will be accepted. To register, use the downloadable registration form provided.

Participants are strongly encouraged to book their hotel accommodations as soon as possible.  A limited number of rooms have been reserved (81.5 Euro/night/person) at the Hotel Intercity Mainz; refer to Spectroscopy2009 when making your reservation.

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.

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-Planck-Institut für Chemie
Abteilung Geochemie
Joh.-J.-Becherweg 2
(Universitätscampus)
D-55128 MAINZ, Germany
Phone: +49-6131-371-051
Fax: +49-6131-305-483
E-mail: gross@mpch-mainz.mpg.de