Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to Stockholm, Stockholm University and the EuCheMS 12th International Conference on Chemicals and the Environment – ICCE 2009. It is a pleasure to welcome you to a conference with such a broad chemistry based program. As organizers of the conference we are proud to have a program that covers so many important fields concerning chemistry in the environment, including the contributions of traditional chemistry disciplines, the study of specific and topic environmental compartments, and developing areas that are pushing forward our ability to also solve and prevent environmental problems. The program covers, as you will see, methodological developments in chemical analysis and advances in Green chemistry (Sustainable chemistry). Furthermore, it includes a session on Chemistry in conservation, archaeology and art. ICCE 2009 has gathered chemists to talk chemistry and share recent developments in chemistry within an environmental framework. With numerous international conferences, symposia and workshops dealing with environmental issues, we find it highly appropriate to establish an improved platform, a meeting place, for chemists active in environmental research. We hope ICCE 2009 will fulfil this objective and contribute to the further development of this vision in the future. In this context, EuCheMS ICCE 2011 will welcome you to Zürich.

Chemistry is the basis of life. The fine tuned interactions between chemicals and biological responses are related to both direct and indirect reactions of chemicals in the environment. Hence we have a great responsibility not to distort the homeostasis of life in all its various forms on Earth. It is also our duty to develop sustainable solutions for the production and use of chemicals in general, and in particular for anthropogenic compounds and refined natural chemicals/products. As phrased by Sweden and by others, an objective for the environment and for year 2020 is “The environment must be free of man-made or extracted compounds and metals that represent a threat to human health or biological diversity”. As chemists, we can contribute with new and better solutions for the future and we are indeed able to describe, warn and propose solutions for minimizing risks due to the use of chemicals.

Finally, you are particularly welcome to Stockholm at Midsummer time. This is the peak of the summer in Sweden with hopefully good weather, lots of flowers in bloom and some traditional food. The Friday after the ICCE 2009 is Midsummer Eve, a day filled with traditions all over the country. Maybe you will have a chance to stay a few days extra to celebrate Midsummer with us.

For the ICCE 2009 Organizing Committee

With Best Wishes 

Åke Bergman
Conference Chair