 Letter from the PresidentParis, October 2011 Dear Photobiologists, Colleagues, Members of ESP, ESP celebrated its 25th birthday at its last Congress in Geneva in September 2011. Primarily, ESP co-ordinates and promotes all the scientific, technological, medical and societal aspects of photobiology. Over the years, ESP has become a major forum for dissemination of knowledge and exchange of information, that largely passed the frontiers of Europe. Such achievements have relied on the organization of a biennial Congress, the publication of the peer-reviewed Journal Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (PPS), and the Book Series “Comprehensive Series in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences”. Education and training of young scientists have also been a great part of the Society's activities, and in this respect, the ESP Photobiology School has made a true input. Thus, at the dawn of the term 2011-2013, as ESP President, I wish to express my willingness, and that of the other members of the Executive Committee, to continue and strengthen these important activities and increase the audience of our society. The 2010 ESP Photobiology School was a great success, with over 50 attendees from 16 countries. We wish to establish a biennial School and the next one is scheduled for June 18-23, 2012, in Brixen/Bressanone (Italy). The course provides a firm grounding in the basic principles of photochemistry, photobiology and photophysics, and also information in more specialised and applied topics. It has been particularly designed for PhD students, while senior scientists are also welcomed and the course can be particularly useful for those wishing to deepen and widen their photobiology horizons. Attendance certificate and examination certificate for those opting to take the course exam are provided during the course. A priority of my mandate will, indeed, be on educational issues, to build on the efforts that have been made during the last few years. Education and training is essential for the future of the photobiology field, and we wish to offer as many young scientists as possible the opportunity to broaden their scientific perspectives, complementing their development in your laboratories. They are the new generation of photobiologists! The Journal, Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, co-owned by ESP and the European Photochemical Association (EPA), is well established, owing to a constant effort of the Editorial Board, the Ownership Board, the Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry and the authors. New themed issues are already in progress. Incoming books of the “Comprehensive Series in Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences” will be on Environmental Application of Photobiology (M. Trotta, ed.), Diagnosis and Imaging in Medicine (A. Rueck, ed.) and on Nanotechnologies in Photobiology (D. Russell, ed.). I invite you to contribute to the further success of PPS by publishing your research here, and to propose new topics for themed issues or book series. The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) plays an important role in providing recommendations on all scientific matters. It will be partly renewed for the term 2011-2013 and will contribute to the program of our 15th ESP Congress that will take place in Liège (Belgium), August 31 – September 5, 2013 (local chair J. Piette). Lively surrounding districts, cultural and architectural heritage, and wooded hills make this a very charming city. Liège is centrally located in Europe and offers an excellent venue for the ESP Congress, at the Palais des Congrès situated along the river La Meuse. I warmly invite you to participate in the ESP 2013 Congress and contribute to its success! ESP will continue to actively promote cross-society contact and collaboration. Two work groups have been newly initiated, the Sponsorship Work Group and the Membership Work Group, for strengthening ESP and helping to upgrade educational opportunities in particular. The ESP website is yours: your contribution on scientific information, job opportunities, or other current topics, is of major importance. At the beginning of my mandate, I wish to express my faith in the ESP and its impact for the civil society as it deals with issues such as environmental safety, climate change, crop production, disease and cancer diagnosis and treatment, along with basic photobiology. I would like to invite you all, scientists, clinicians and companies engaged in photobiology and photomedicine to join ESP, enrich our society and to benefit from our accomplishments. I thank you for your help and support. Evelyne Sage ESP President Photo: Pedro Lombardi / Institut Curie
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 11 November 2011 10:13 ) |
