chemical physics in the science of catalysis and design 1996. As Conference Editor, Michael Schreiber of the of new catalytic technologies; non-traditional pathways Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Chemnitz, of solid-phase astrochemical reactions; and the thermo- points out, 65 years after the first papers on excitons by dynamics of extreme states of matter. The paper on Frenkel, research on excitons has now developed into a chemical physics and catalysis was the last scientific truly multidisciplinary field. Excitons play a key role in communication by Prof. K.I. Zamaraev (immediate excitation and energy transfer processes in many mol- Past-President of IUPAC) before his untimely death in ecules, molecular aggregates and crystals, as well as in June 1996. macromolecular and biological systems. Included is a selective personal perspective on Solubility phenomena exciton research, presented by R.S. Knox of the Depart- ment of Physics and Astronomy and Rochester Theory The May 1997, 69(5), issue of Pure and Applied Chem- Center for Optical Science and Engineering, University istry contains the texts of the plenary and specially in- of Rochester, New York state. Exciton studies have pro- vited lectures presented at the 7th International gressed through many stages that correspond to those Symposium on Solubility Phenomena, held in Leoben, in atomic studies, including electronic structure, interac- Austria, on 22–25 July 1996. The symposium was held tions with other particles, determination of oscillator under the auspices of the IUPAC Commission on Solu- strengths and ionization rates, bonding into excitonic bility Data, in conjunction with the University of Leoben. molecules, condensation and thermal equilibration. Nine lectures are published: Experimental studies in Driven by huge advances in computation and experi- high temperature aqueous chemistry at Oak Ridge Na- mental techniques, exciton research has essentially tional Laboratory; Phase changes and chemical reac- evolved from a study of structures to a study of dynam- tions in solid aqueous solutions; Mechanisms of ics, Prof. Knox told delegates. ‘After 65 years, the crystallization and transformation of calcium carbon- exciton survives as neither a museum piece for text- ates; Improvement of polymer solubility—influence of books nor a purely spectrographic detail. It continues to shear and of pressure; Solubilities of the common L-α- challenge both theorists and experimentalists, it has at- amino acids as a function of temperature and solution tained considerable technological significance, and it pH; Solubility data in physicochemical data collections participates decisively at the very beginning of earth’s and databanks; Use of semi-empirical electrolyte theo- food chain’, he concludes. ries for modelling of solution chemical data; Solubility The other published lectures include: Dynamics and data requirements and new experimental methods in at- instabilities of an exciton in the phonon field and the mospheric aerosol research; and Thermodynamic correlated absorption–emission spectra; Excitons in databases and equilibrium calculations in metallurgical semiconductor nanostructures with disorder; Spin processes. splittings in nanostructures without inversion symmetry; Hawking process in solids—quantum generation of Excitonic processes phonon bursts by a strongly excited mode; Non-linear phenomena in organic multilayers; Photosynthetic light- The June 1997, 69(6), issue of Pure and Applied Chem- harvesting; Relaxation processes and self-trapping of istry contains the texts of nine of the invited lectures pre- excitons in rare gas solids; and Parity-broken and -un- sented at EXCON ‘96, the 2nd International Conference broken self-trapped excitons in alkali halides. on Excitonic Processes in Condensed Matter, held in Kurort Gohrisch, Saxonia, Germany, on 14–17 August News

Measurement technologies in dor (Bahia), Brazil. The course was organized and coor- atmospheric chemistry dinated by Prof. Tania Tavares, Head of the Laboratory and a Titular Member of the IUPAC Commission VI.2, A workshop and short course on ‘Instrumentation and Atmospheric Chemistry. Several other members of the Measurement Methodologies in Atmospheric Chemis- Commission also took part by serving as lecturers and/ try’ was conducted during the two weeks 4–15 Novem- or demonstrators. ber 1996 at the Laboratory of Environmental Analytical The objective of the workshop was to broaden theo- Chemistry of the Federal University of Bahia, in Salva-

170 Chemistry International, 1997, Vol. 19, No. 5 CHEMRAWN in Montevideo Prof. Patrick Moyna of the University of Montevideo writes:

As a result of extensive discussion in the CHEMRAWN Committee and with all the Chemical Societies in Latin America, there is considerable support for a CHEMRAWN-style conference to be held in Montevi- deo. The conference, proposed for 15–20 March 1998 under the title ‘Chemical Studies Applied to Environ- mental Evaluations’, will be aimed at improving the evaluation and understanding of changes to the envi- ronment and the implementation of sensible measures Prof. Tania Tavares in Brazil to conserve it. Montevideo is at the heart of the recently established Mercosur economic region (which includes retical and practical knowledge in atmospheric meas- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and will urement techniques among professionals of different shortly be extended to include Bolivia; there is an initial scientific backgrounds in Third World countries, espe- association with Chile and negotiations have begun cially those that are to some extent connected with with Peru, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela). WMO Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) stations. The The conference goals are to enable experts in Latin syllabus included morning lectures and afternoon labo- America to analyse the present situation and to ex- ratory practice, as well as a field measurement cam- change experiences and help foster use of best prac- paign at the site of the Brazilian GAW station. Subjects tices and to prepare recommendations for future work, taught included the behaviour and reactions of atmos- establish monitoring networks and build up the con- pheric constituents, gas phase, particulate and liquid cepts and practice of quality assurance and control. phase sampling and measurement techniques, Emphasis will be placed on the need for collaboration spectroscopy, chromatography, fundamentals of quality between government, environmental agencies, industry assurance and control, and meteorological concepts and academic institutions. required for data interpretation. Support from and collaboration with other relevant This was the first course of its kind, which offered IUPAC Divisions and also UNESCO, IOCD and RAQAL laboratory instruction in addition to lectures. The course are considered essential for the success of the confer- was open to anyone who had a good command of Eng- ence. lish and who was engaged in work related to chemical For further information, please contact: Prof. Patrick analysis of components in the air. Twenty-six persons Moyna, Facultad de Quimica, University of Montevideo, from eight different countries attended: Argentina, Brazil CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay. Tel.: +598 2 94 1884. (four different states), Chile, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Fax: +598 2 94 1906. Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico. The lecturers, who were either analytical or atmospheric chemists, aside from two meteorologists, came from Brazil, Croatia, Ger- COSPAR scientific assembly many, The Netherlands and the USA. The 32nd COSPAR (Committee on Space Research Sponsors of the workshop, in addition to IUPAC’s established by the International Council of Scientific Un- Chemistry of the Environment Division, included the ions) Scientific Assembly is scheduled to be held on 12– American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Atmospheric 19 July 1998 in Nagoya, Japan. The programme is Chemistry and Environment Education Committee of intended to cover around 80 meetings and symposia, the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Pro- on topics including: gramme (IGAG), the Inter American Institute for Global • The Earth’s surface, meteorology and climate Change Research (IAI) and the Global Change System • The Earth–Moon system, planets and small bodies for Analysis, Research and Training (START). of the Solar System Judging from the comments of the participants, the • The upper atmospheres of workshop has been highly successful and fully met all the Earth and planets, includ- the objectives. Prof. Tavares is to be thanked for a very ing reference atmospheres substantial effort that made this project a success. • Space plasmas in the Solar Peter Warneck System, including Chairman, Commission VI.2, Atmospheric planetary magnetospheres Chemistry • Research in Astrophysics

Chemistry International, 1997, Vol. 19, No. 5 171 • Life sciences as related to space in Molecular Biology Technology’, • Materials sciences in space is to be held in Singapore on 15– • Fundamental physics in space 18 March 1998. This will focus on • Satellite dynamics improved DNA diagnostics and • Scientific ballooning define the role of the clinical • Space born geophysical data for global change chemistry laboratory of the future. studies The organizers wish to bring to- • Science and engineering aspects for Solar System gether scientists specialized in exploration the field of molecular diagnostics for discussion and Abstracts are invited by 9 January 1998, and papers preparation of recommendations for better clinical use will be published in Advances in Space Research. of these new technologies. They also plan to offer inter- For more information, please contact: COSPAR Sec- ested clinical chemists a high level course in molecular retariat, 51 bd de Montmorency, 75016 Paris, France. diagnostics after the Conference. Tel.: +33 1 45 25 06 79. Fax: +33 1 40 50 98 27. E-mail: For further information, please contact: Ursula Steeb, [email protected]. Information is also avail- IFCC-Roche Conference Secretary, Roche Diagnos- able on the WWW at http://www.mpae.gwdg.de/ tics, Bau 223/315, Postfach, CH-4070 Basel, Switzer- COSPAR/COSPAR.html. land. Tel.: +41 61 6872516. Fax: +41 61 687 25 10. E-mail: [email protected] IFCC/Roche establish Human Genomics Conferences ‘Dictionary of Substances’ goes online The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry The Dictionary of Substances and their Effects, pro- (IFCC), an Associated Organization of IUPAC, and duced by the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), is Roche Diagnostics have agreed to establish a series of now available as an online file (file 307) on Dialog, an conferences ‘Human Genomics: the Basis of the Medi- online service of Knight-Ridder Information Inc. The cine of Tomorrow’. They aim to highlight progress in mo- online file provides a pay-as-you-go access option, lecular genetics and its potential in diagnosis and complementing the print and CD-ROM versions already therapy. The first conference, entitled ‘Recent Progress available from the RSC. The dictionary is a specialist reference source of toxicological and environmental data on over 4000 chemicals, updated twice a year.

Names and Addresses Full details (names, addresses, telephone/telex/ Fax numbers and E-mail) of the officers of IUPAC IUPAC colleagues deceased bodies were published in The IUPAC Handbook 1996–1997. The IUPAC Secretariat has been no- UK: Prof. G. Gee (13 December 1996), Commis- tified of the following changes: sion on Macromolecules (1953–1961, 1965– Dr David L. Berner (Secretary, Commission on 1969). Oils, Fats, and Derivatives), 10 East Pointe, UK: Prof. M.L. McGlashan (18 July 1997), Fairport, New York 14450, USA. Tel. and Fax: Interdivisional Committee on Nomeclature and +1 (716) 223 9388. Symbols (1969–1975), Physical Chemistry Divi- E-mail: [email protected] sion Committee (1969–1973), Commission on Dr Patrick T. Holland (Secretary, Commission on Physicochemical Symbols, Terminology and Agrochemicals and the Environment), Units (1963–1979), Commission on Thermody- HortResearch, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, namics (1965–1969). New Zealand. Tel.: +64 (7) 838 5045. E-mail: [email protected] USA: Prof. C.G. Overberger (17 March 1997), Prof. Waldfried Plieth (Chairman, Commission Executive Committee/Bureau (1977–1985), on Electrochemistry), Inst. für Physikalische CHEMRAWN Committee (1976–1986), Presi- Chemie und Elektrochemie, Technische dent of Macromolecular Division (1977–1979), Universität Dresden, Mommsenstraße 13, D- Macromolecular Division Committee (1967– 01062 Dresden, FRG. 1977), Commission on Polymer Characteriza- Prof. Rolf D. Schmid (Chairman, Commission on tion and Properties (1977–1980), Commission Biotechnology), on Macromolecules (1965–1967). E-mail: [email protected]

172 Chemistry International, 1997, Vol. 19, No. 5