Introduction

The conference was organised by the RSC and run in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, MOD, UK, the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, UK, US Department of Homeland Security, US Army and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, US. 

Over 150 delegates from a wide range of disciplines were brought together who researched a broad range of sensor technologies, providing an extremely valuable discussion forum and dissemination platform. 

The focus of the meeting, and to a large extent much of the work presented, was dominated by current threats to security.  Some discussion of alternative sensors needs also took place, including detection in hospitals, and monitoring of decontaminated areas, and forensic screening, amongst others.

It is apparent from this conference that no one technology will provide a complete sensor system.  A combination of multiple sensor platforms will need to be utilised, which is why such a diverse range of technologies is currently being evaluated.  Cross-discipline projects and collaborations will be crucial to the development of sensor technologies for networks and portable devices for 'in-the-field' use.  
 

The Programme

The programme was in a single session format and comprised 29 oral presentations (invited and contributed) given over 4 sessions on:

• New Advances in Bioanalytical Analysis
• New Optical Methods and Multiplexing
• New advances in Instrumentation
• Biosensors
  

The breakdown of presentations were a mix of UK/US government organisations (9), US/UK industry (3) and academic presentations from the UK, US, Australia and Ireland (17). Thanks are given to all those who contributed.

For further details on the programme, please see the Programme In this section link.

Scientific Committee

We would like to thank the scientific committee for their help in organising the conference:

Professor Timothy Swager, Chemistry Department, MIT, USA
Professor Chris Lowe, Biotechnology Institute, Cambridge University, UK
Dr Andrew Bell, Home Office, UK
Professor Richard Lacey, HOSDB, Home Office, UK
Dr Ian Lawston, DSTL, MOD, UK
Dr Stephen J Lee, Chemical Sciences Division, US Army Research Office, USA
Dr Randolph Long, Department of Homeland Security, USA 
Dr Alejandra Palermo, Science and Technology, RSC, UK

Sponsorship and Exhibition

We are grateful to The Analyst, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, US, the Home Office, UK, the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, UK, ICx Nomadics, US, the Office of Naval Research Global, UK, and the US Army for their generous support of the conference.

Exhibitors:
Ocean Optics, Polypure AS, Uniscan Instruments.