Plasma prize awarded

The fourth European Award for Plasma Spectrochemistry is to be awarded to Dr Annemie Bogaerts, professor of physical chemistry at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. The "Plasma Prize" is donated by Agilent Technologies and is awarded every two years to promote analytical plasma spectrochemical developments and applications in Europe.

This year's prize recognizes Dr Bogaerts' work on modelling the mechanisms of laser ablation of solid samples followed by analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or optical emission spectroscopy (LA–ICP–MS and LA–ICP–OES). These working models for understanding complex processes are proving highly useful to fellow researchers.

"We've been developing computer models for analytical plasmas and laser ablation for quite a few years, to assist experimental developments and improve analytical applications," said Dr Bogaerts. "I consider this award as recognition of the analytical community for our work."

Dr Bogaerts will receive the award at the European Winter Plasma Conference in February in Graz, Austria, where she'll also be invited to present a lecture.

For more details about the European Winter Plasma Conference, visit the website at www.winterplasmagraz.at

For more about Agilent Technologies visit the company's website at www.agilent.com