What is causing the signal?

Organised by

NOSE II and the Club Micro-Capteurs Chimiques (CMC2 is a chemical sensors non-profit organisation), namely Patrick Mielle (Vice-president of CMC2).

Introduction

Activity Report by Patrick Mielle

The previous European Schools and Short Courses in the framework of the European Network of Excellence on Artificial Olfaction NOSE and NOSE II were very successful. After the theory and applications of sensor technologies, data management, pattern recognition and related topics, this educational event provide basic knowledge on the samples and sample management.

In accordance with the NOSE II Steering Committee decisions, the second NOSE II Short Course was held in La Londe-Les-Maures (Côte d'Azur, France), from September 1 st to 5 th, 2003 as the fourth public event of the NOSE II network. The first Short Course was held in Bressanone (Italy) February 24th to March 1 st 2002, the first and second Workshops respectively in Roma (Italy) and Linköping (Sweden). As an outcome from the first Short Course questionnaire, the Steering Committee decided to focus this second Short Course on sampling and e-nose related techniques, either instrumental separative and sensory. Practical examples complete case study and hands-on experience was also considered of a great importance.

This second NOSE II Short Course was entitled 'What is causing the signal?'

The five teaching days were accordingly filled with lectures on topics related to basic understanding of thermodynamics, analytical instruments, olfaction and sample representativity, tentative correlation with sensory and analytical techniques and the feedback from experienced industrial users of these systems.

However, the agenda left large time for informal meetings and intense discussion among the participants.

52 participants registered for the event, despite the vacation period in some EC countries.

Twelve lecturers, known as experts in their field were selected to be representative of both academic and industrial world and were invited by the organisers to give a total of 24 lectures. In addition to the lectures, a round table discussion was scheduled before the course conclusion.

The local organisation was lead by Patrick Mielle, supported by the Club Micro-Capteurs Chimiques (CMC2), a national chemical sensor non-profit organisation.

In the following subsections the short course is discussed in detail.