Aims of the Meeting
Aluminium is everywhere. But why ? How did it come to be concentrated in the Earth's crust and why considering that the crust has been recycled several times during the existence of our planet is aluminium predominantly still found in these mineral forms ? What are the geochemical controls which continue to keep aluminium out of the biosphere ? Are these controls the reasons behind the paradox that is the ubiquity of this element. For example, in the natural selection of the elements of life (thanks to RJP Williams for this breathtakingly simple but immensley powerful Darwinian tool) the ‘principal of the economical utilisation of resources’ should have dictated a role for aluminium in the evolution of life on Earth. Perhaps it did and this role has long since departed or perhaps the evolution of life proceeded as it has because of the absence of biologically available aluminium. What is evident in what should now be known as ‘The Aluminium Age’ (cf. Bronze or Iron Ages of Man's recent past) is that the metal is escaping its inert stores and it is finding its way in ever increasing amounts into all aspects of life on Earth. Is there a cell in your body that does not include an atom of aluminium ? The passage of this mostly silent traveller from soil solution to each level of every food chain can be viewed as either ominous (let natural selection begin !) or benign. However, what it should not be is unknown and this gap in our knowledge is alone more than should be required to justify our research into this most fascinating of all elements. To understand aluminium you have to get inside the element and understand it from its history to its present day meanderings. This is what we aim to promote at Keele Meetings. To bring together our disparate community under one roof to discuss and digest the life of this element and this element in life. Come and join us, it is a fascinating journey which, at least in the mind of this Meeting Organiser, is only just beginning.
As usual submissions of new research in all aspects of aluminium in life (including silicon in life) are invited, for example:
Aluminium and Silicon Geochemistry (Including Soil Chemistry)
Aluminium Interactions with Microorganisms
Aluminium Interactions with Algae and Plants
Aluminium Interactions with Invertebrates and Vertebrates
Analytical Aluminium Chemistry
Inorganic Aluminium Chemistry
Bioinorganic Aluminium Chemistry
Clinical Aluminium Chemistry
Aluminium Biochemistry
Aluminum in Food, Cosmetics and Drugs
Aluminium in Health and Disease (Man and Laboratory Animals)
Silicon Deposition in Biota and Man
This list is by no means exhaustive and the final programme will as usual be governed by the quality of the submissions. The Keele Meetings on Aluminium have gained a reputation for the dissemination and discussion of high quality research. They are also considered to be informal and friendly meetings at which old acquaintances are renewed and new friendships and collaborations are born. I do hope that you will join us at The Sixth Keele Meeting in Portugal and share with us your latest research on our favourite metal, aluminium.
Call for Papers
The Keele Meetings on Aluminium are organised to provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of new and previously unpublished research. Papers are invited in any area of aluminium research. The content of the Scientific Programme will as is usual for Keele Meetings be organised according to the nature of the contributed papers. The agenda will be set by the most timely research in the field. Submissions are sought for both Platform and Poster presentations. Both of these involve some degree of oral presentation. Platform presentations are allocated 30 minutes. Only 20 minutes should be used to present research. Each Platform presentation will be followed by a 10 minute discussion period. This emphasis on discussion is a key element of the Keele Meetings and Session Chairs will enforce these times with the utmost rigour ! Participants presenting Posters will be allocated a 5 minute oral slot within an appropriate Platform Session to ‘advertise’ their Poster.
Prizes are available for the ‘Best Postgraduate Presentation’ (Platform or Poster) and ‘Best Poster’. All presentations, Platform and Poster, will be eligible for submission for publication in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. The Keele Meeting Issue of JIB will be a regular issue of the journal (see for example, JIB 97, Number 1) and all submissions will be subject to peer review.
If you are interested in presenting your research at the Sixth Keele Meeting on Aluminium please send a 150 word abstract of your presentation to Dr C Exley, Birchall Centre for Inorganic Chemistry and Materials Science, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK. Abstract submission by email (cha38@keele.ac.uk) attachment using WORD is preferred.
Deadline for submission of abstracts is 31st October 2004.
Please be prompt.
