Notes and News

FORENSIC SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM scheduled for PITTSBURGH CONFER- ENCE

Dr Ray Williams of Scotland Yard to be Keynote Speaker

The twenty-fourth Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy will be held at the Cleveland Convention Center, Cleve- land, Ohio, March 5-9, 1973. A Forensic Science Symposium is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, March 6. The symposium speakers include Dr Ray Williams, Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory of Scotland Yard, John W. Gunn, Chief of Laboratory Division of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Charles A. McInerney, Director of the Pittsburgh and Al- legheny County Crime Laboratory, and Irving Sunshine, Chief Toxicologist of the Cuyahoga County Coroners Office of Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr Williams will discuss the present and future of f0rensi.c science. In addi- tion to the application of techniques such as mass spectrometry, electron- probe microanalysis and gas-liquid chromatography, he will also discuss fields such as detection of drugs by immunological methods. Reference data on typical forensic materials such as arson debris, biological fluids, paint and glass are being collected into “data banks” to assure proper degrees of com- petence in analysis.

John W. Gunn will emphasize the increase in worldwide traffic of illegal drugs. Forensic scientists participate in an “intelligence mission” since they are the first to encounter new materials being used in the illegal market.

Charles A. McInerney will discuss the education of criminalists. In order to clearly enunciate the principles and applications of this science of “individuai- ization”, and due to the impetus provided by court decisions requiring more concrete evidence, educational programs at the graduate level have been es- tablished. These programs will coordinate existing knowledge, bring uniformi- ty to the field, and raise it to the status of other professions.

Analytical toxicology and the importance of methodological improvements will be discussed by Irving Sunshine. He will point to the involvement of the analytical chemist in helping to improve these methodologies. Sensitivity and specificity have been increased due to the application of such methods as fluo- rimetry, mass spectrometry and gas chromatography. He will also stress the need and use of automated procedures.

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In addition to the Forensic Science Symposium, other aspects of analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy will be covered in the more than 300 technical papers scheduled for presentation at the Conference. The Confer- ence includes an instrument exhibit occupying in excess of one acre. Visitors to the exhibit can see and have described the numerous techniques used by analytical chemists and spectroscopists.

The President of the 1973 Pittsburgh Conference is Mr Joseph Ryan of Har- bison-Walker Refractories Co., Dresser Industries. Inquiries concerning the Conference should be addressed to the following:

Technical Program : Exhibit Mr. Herbert L. Retcofsky Mr Robert Witkowski U.S. Bureau of Mines Westinghouse Research Labs. 4800 Forbes Avenue Beulah Road Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213 Pittsburgh, Pa. 15 23 5

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF LEGAL MEDICINE

The 1973 Annual Meeting of the American College of Legal Medicine will be held at the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco, May 4-6. Sessions will be held on: The Hospital in a Changing Society; Medicine and the Law; Legisla- tion, Medicine, and Law.

The 1974 Annual Meeting of the College will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, May 10-12, 1974.

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND ADDICTIONS

Calender of International Meetings on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, 1973

March 26-30 FREIBURG/Breisg., Germany 1st International Seminar for social workers concerned with the therapy of addicted persons

April 1-5 LIVERPOOL, England International Conference on Alcoholism and Drug De- pendence. Conference theme: Prevention, treatment and after-care.

June lo- 16 BELGRADE, Yugoslavia 19th International Institute on the Prevention and Treat- ment of Alcoholism Provisional programme: Alcoholism and labour; Treat- ment and rehabilitation; Youth and problems of alcohol; Problems of prevention; Sociological aspects; Professional visits to treatment centers.

iune IS-20

August 2 l-26

September lo- 15

October

November 12- 16

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BELGRADE, Yugoslavia 4th International Institute on the Prevention and Treat- ment of Drug Dependence Provisional programme: Epidemiological aspects; Preven- tion and control measures - success or failure; Treat- ment and rehabilitation.

ALBERTA, Edmonton, Canada International Conference on “Politics and Economics of Intoxicant Use”

LONDON, England International Medical Conference on Alcoholism

MONTREUX, Switzerland International Conference on Drug Abuse Education

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico International Conference on Alcoholism and Drug De- pendence

Information concerning all these meetings may be obtained from: International Council on Alcohol and Addictions Case Postale 140, 1001 LAUSANNE, Switzerland

SQUTH AFRICA

TGhe Second South African International Symposium on Forensic Medicine will be held in Cape Town, March 13-16, 1973. Papers will be presented on Unexpected “Natural Death of cardiac, biochemical, endocrine, immuno- haematological and cerebral origins, and in gynaecological and obstetric prac- tice, infants, anaesthetic practice, aircraft pilots, general hospital practice, in exposure to heat and cold and in diving.

PARIS, BRUSSELS, AMSTERDAM

The Pittsburgh Institute of Legal Medicine is sponsoring an International Medical-Legal Seminar in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, from May 18 f-o June 2, 1973. Information from: Cyril H. Wecht, Director, Pittsburgh In- stitute of Legal Medicine, 14 17 Frick Building, Pittsburgh Pa. 1529 I, U.S.A.

CHENT

3rd World Congress on Medical Law, August 19-23, 1973 Provisional programme: I. Medical Practice. II. Medicine, Law and Human Life III. Medical Confidentiality. IV. Medical Science and Legal Proof. V. Narcotic Addiction and Drug Abuse. VI. Health Care.

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Information: General Secretariat, Apotheekstraat 5, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Summaries of papers should be sent before February 28, definite text before May 31.

SWITZERLAND

1st International Conference on Driver Behaviour, Zurich, Qctober 8- 12, 1973. Information from: 10 quai Paul Doumer, Room 9027 (92) Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine), France.