Opening welcome - 2006



Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Delegates of the Symposium,

As the chairman of the organising committee I have a great pleasure to welcome you to the sixth Finnish symposium here in Tampere.

The first Finnish symposium was arranged by section for NBC - protection, rescue and civil defence of the Associations of Finnish Chemical Societies 15 years ago also in this city.

Then there weren't even 100 delegates, about 20 of them foreigners.

Today it gives us a great pleasure and surprise that we have more than 400 delegates 300 of them foreigners from 40 different countries. We really appreciate your attention and interest in our symposium.

The program will be quite traditional including lessons, short communications, poster and commercial exhibitions, outdoor demonstrations and social happenings. The official opening of the symposium will take place tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.

The reception at Tampere City Hall will be tomorrow evening at 7.30.

On Tuesday afternoon we will have outdoor exhibition and demonstration near this theatre building and the symposium buffet dinner will be served in the evening at 8 o'clock in this restaurant.

The closing of the symposium will be on Wednesday at 5 o'clock pm.

The equipment exhibition is open daily and the posters are on view on Monday afternoon and during the breaks.

We hope that the oral presentations and the posters which we have both more than 50, are useful, interesting and actual.

We also hope that each out of the 30 exhibitors will establish good relations with potential customers.

In the organising and scientific committee we have had about 20 persons.

They all have done a great and valuable voluntary work for the symposium. I'd like to introduce some of the most important persons behind the symposium.

  • Professor Kari Nieminen, the Grand Old man of NBC- defence Finland. Once again he has born responsibility for the programme and the lecturers of the symposium. Thank you Kari.
     

  • Doctor Paula Maatela, Kari's right hand. With her team she has responded for publishing and editing the book and poster presentation. Thank you Paula and your team.
     

  • Mr Yngve Malmén has also once again responded for the exhibition and the contacts between the organisers and the exhibitors. Thank you Yngve.
     

  • And last but not least. Our lovely and effective secretaries, Mrs Tuuli Haataja and Ms Salla Takala. They both have done a great deal of the practical work necessary for organising. They have taken hundreds of e-mail and phone contacts, posted about thousands letters etc, etc. Without them we would have been in trouble. Thank you Tuuli and Salla for your share.

With these words I'd like to warmly welcome you once again to the symposium 2006. Let's enjoy interesting presentations, delicious food, fresh drinks, beautiful summer nature, the nights of the midnight sun and most of all the pleasant company with good friends.
 
 

Kyösti Tomperi