22 May 2000

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS MEET IN LISBURN

Over 30 European scientists will converge on Lisburn this week for an international workshop, hosted by the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) on 25 and 26 May.

The workshop will look at methods of determining the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in seawater. High levels of these nutrients have serious consequences for marine environments with the growth of algal blooms.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Diarmuid McLean, Director of Scientific Services at IRTU said: "It is important that we protect our marine environment and to do so we must be able to monitor and reduce the concentrations of nutrients in it. It is essential that we are able to carry out our analytical work as accurately as possible and this workshop will help develop international best practice."

This is the first time the workshop, organised by European and UK marine monitoring groups, has been held in Northern Ireland and is recognition of IRTU's leading work in this area.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The workshop is being jointly organised by QUASIMEME (Quality assurance of information for marine environmental monitoring in Europe) and the UK NMCAQC group (National Marine Chemistry Analytical Quality Control).

QUASIMEME is the leading organisation within Europe providing opportunities for laboratories involved in marine environmental monitoring to demonstrate quality assurance. The UK NMCAQC group is made up of representatives of the major UK organisations involved in marine chemistry environmental monitoring.

Further information on this event can be obtained from David McMullan or John Lyle, telephone 028 92 623000.