Scientists gather in Inverness for environmental conference

see full size image
Prof Stuart Gibb

Over 120 delegates from around the world will gather in Inverness next week to discuss some of the planet’s most topical environmental issues.
 
The European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry will welcome experts from academia, research institutes and industry to exchange information and ideas on advances in environmental chemistry and technology.
 
The four day conference will take place at Eden Court from Tuesday 29 November to Friday 2 December. The meeting is being organised by North Highland College UHI’s Environmental Research Institute, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
 
Topics on the agenda will include the role of peatlands in storing carbon dioxide, the recycling of marine plastic waste and how resistance to antimicrobial pharmaceuticals is threatening our ability to treat infection and disease.
 
Delegates will also have the opportunity to experience some Highlands and Islands culture during the event. The conference’s programme of social activities includes excursions to Loch Ness and Glen Ord Distillery and a ceilidh in Strathpeffer. Attendees will also be greeted by some Highland cows. Dosan the 28th and Dosan the 30th will travel from Leys Castle Estate to give delegates a Highland welcome. The visit is being arranged through Quality Meat Scotland, supporters of the event, and will be the first time cows have visited the Inverness venue.
 
Speaking about the event, Professor Stuart Gibb, director of the Environmental Research Institute, said: “We are honoured to be hosting this year’s European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry and are excited to welcome some of the world’s most preeminent experts in environmental chemistry to Inverness.
 
“The Association of Chemistry and the Environment believes that environmental problems are best addressed through collaboration between scientists with different specialisms. I hope that providing a forum where scientists from fields such as biology, industrial chemistry, soil science and toxicology can exchange ideas will help us to develop solutions to some of our most important environmental challenges.”
 
Provost of Inverness Cllr Helen Carmichael will welcome delegates to the European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry. She said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome so many expert minds that work on world-wide environmental issues to the Highlands of Scotland where we greatly prize our very special and unique environments from the Caithness peat bogs to the many miles of marine coastline that surround our area. I hope that cordial discussion and sharing of ideas bears fruit from the conference and that the delegates also take time out to experience our beautiful Highland hospitality and environments while they are here. I extend our traditional Gaelic greeting ‘Ceud Mìle Fàilte` - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to all the delegates.”

Eden Court chief executive Colin Marr said: “I’m delighted to welcome back the European meeting of Environmental Chemistry conference to Eden Court. Their return here is a milestone for Eden Court as a conference venue as EMEC was our very first conference when we re-opened after our extensive development in 2007. That conference took a leap of faith for them as Eden Court was a building site when they confirmed their booking, but the fact that they have returned, I think, speaks volumes.

“In the intervening years we have hosted hundreds of international, national and local conferences including major political party conferences, the World Canals conference and the Scottish Renewables conferences among many others. I’m delighted that we are making such a success of our conference business and that in doing so we generate millions of pounds of revenue every year for businesses throughout Inverness and the Highlands.”
 
The European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry is hosted by a different organisation each year on behalf of the Association of Chemistry and the Environment. Last year’s meeting took place in Torino, Italy, and delegates will travel to Portugal in 2017.