Written by Elin Gjengedal, Chair Norwegian Chemical Society - Division Analytical Sciences  - 24 July 2008.

First, I want to thank EuCheMS for sponsorship of the 4th Nordic Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry organised on the 15-18 June 2008 in Leon, Norway. The conference was very successful, both scientifically and socially.  Especially the younger scientists became enthusiastic over getting the opportunity to meet with world leading scientists.  

The participants found the presentations up to date and instructive.  The schedue of events was relatively tight. Inadditionto 35 oral presentations, the conference offered 21 "short courses" of about 2 hour's duration during the four day meeting.  The short courses were most attractive for the younger chemists, but were of course open for every participants attending the conrference and free of charge.  

There were 24 posters presented.  The Division of Analytical Sciences honoured the two best posters to young scientists Emese Kapolna, National Food Institute, Denmark and Sascha Nowak, University of Munster, Germany won the award and NOK 2.000 each.

The attendance counted 104 participants, mainly from the Nordic countries but also from Belgium, Germany, Spain, Latvia, Israel, Austria, Italy, USA, Hungary, Switzerland, Russia, UK, South Africa, France, The Netherlands, Portugal and Romania.  Ten companies had exhibitions of scientific instumentation, literature and consumables.

The organising committee has no arrangements for publication of proceedings.  A more exrtensive report will be submitted to a Norwegian periodical for chemists ("Kjemi").