ATW 2010 Call for Sessions and Session Chairs

We are soliciting proposals for Scientific Sessions for ATW’s Annual Workshop to be held on October 3-6, 2010 in Toronto.  All members of the related research community (academia, government, industry) are invited to submit Session ideas and to volunteer as Session Chairs. We welcome past Session Chairs to propose Sessions and also encourage others who are interested to volunteer. Co-Chairs, including students, are welcome.

Please submit your idea(s) to the Platform Program Chair with the following information:

• title of the proposed session
• brief description (2-3 sentences) of the session focus
• estimated number of contributors
• if possible, identify a few speakers who may provide key presentations
• names and contact information (address, telephone, fax and e-mail address) of the individual(s) willing to serve as Session Chair(s)

Deadline: May 15, 2010

The workshop theme is Big Cities – Large Problems – Great Solutions: urbanization and environmental impacts.  In light of this Workshop being held within a heavily-urbanized centre that is only a short walk to the beautiful waters of Lake Ontario, we felt that this theme was appropriate and in great need of enlightened discussion. These waters have undergone many stresses over the years, from the early days of York when raw sewage polluted the Lake, through years of industrialization producing contaminants such as heavy metals and PCBs and now perhaps, full cycle back to sewage issues pertaining to the presence of new and emerging contaminants that are being used by the millions of inhabitants of Toronto.

In keeping with this focus, we particularly welcome sessions that address the following (but are certainly not limited to):

• Science and Policy (Taking it to the field)
• Climate Change/Adaptation/Water Security
• Urbanization Effects on Water Resources
• Industrial Effluent Monitoring
• Metals and Mining
• General Aquatic Toxicology
• Contaminants of Emerging Concern
• Contaminants of Re-emerging Concern
• "Omics" in Toxicology
• Bioaccumulation
• Beaches

1. Critically review submitted Abstracts and organize the flow of the Platform Session
2. Confirm participation with the Presenters
3. Attend a briefing for Session Chairs at the beginning of the Workshop (TBA)
4. Introduce speakers, facilitate discussion during the question period, and ensure that Presentations start and end on time.

For people who have never organized an ATW Session before, Sessions are most successful when the Chair or Co-chairs recruit interested speakers well in advance of the abstract submission deadline. If you anticipate having any talks in your session take more than one 20-minute time slot (e.g. for a panel discussion), please contact the Platform Program Chair soon after submitting your session. Time for such activities may be limited.
All speakers including Session Chairs must pay registration fees.

Please contact Lynda McCarthy, Platform Program Chair:
Ryerson University
Department of Chemistry and Biology
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M5B 2K3
(416) 979-5000 ext. 6378
L3mccart@ryerson.ca