Welcome to all of you in the beautiful town of Prague hosting the 44th meeting of EEMS organized in close collaboration with Czech and Slovak EMS and the local organizer C-IN. More precisely, this year’s meeting is the first meeting of the EEMGS, the European Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, the new name of the society starting from January 2015. The previous 43rd EEMS took place in 2014 in Lancaster UK in close collaboration with UKEMS.
We appreciate and are privileged by the opportunity to have the scientific sessions of the 44th EEMGS in the city of Prague and I wish to express my sincere thanks to the local organizers Czech and Slovak EMS and C-IN for the hospitality and support. We have an appealing scientific program following the well established structure of EEMGS meetings: along three tracks that cover the essentials of EEMS i.e. fundamental research, applied research and regulations. However, I hope that you will find some time beyond the scientific programme to enjoy and to experience the famous sights of the historical city of Prague.
My special thanks go to the International Programme Committee, in particular to Jan Topinka (chair), who put together with the committee members an exciting scientific programme with a broad spectrum of contributions by plenary lectures and 14 symposia including a Young Scientists Session and the presentation of the Young Scientist Award lecture. I wish to thank all invited speakers for accepting our invitation and to present up-to-date information on their scientific work. Together the presentations will cover a wide field of subjects and technologies that are of direct relevance to EEMGS. A traditional highlight of an EEMGS meeting will be the Frits Sobels Award lecture presented by this year’s awardee. The facilities of the Clarion Congress Hotel will guarantee optimal conditions for the poster sessions that we consider as a key element of the scientific program, in an open and relaxed atmosphere with ‘ the famous local beer and snacks.’ I would like to encourage the attendants to use this opportunity to discuss the posters of the scientists presenting their (unpublished) scientific results and to use the opportunities to get new ideas, to establish collaborations, meet old friends and make new friends and to benefit from the scientific programme in general.
I would like to thank those who provided sponsorship and I invite all participants to visit the exhibition stands at the meeting. This meeting is financially supported by European organizations and companies. Without this support it would be impossible to organize such a meeting and to keep registration fees at an acceptable level.
Last but not least, I thank the local organizers particularly Jan Topinka and his team, for their great contributions and support to make this meeting successful, for their enthusiasm, efficiency and patience. Together with the conference managers from C-IN they did a great job to make this meeting to a very special and stimulating one.
I thank you all for joining the 44th EEMGS meeting and I wish you a very pleasant and successful stay in Prague.
Leon Mullenders
EEMGS President
More information:
http://eemgsmeeting2015.eu
