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Invitation:

Soil, energy, measurements and food safety research

JRC\'s scientific support to policy making in a snapshot

(4 & 5 May 2010, Brussels & Geel, Belgium)

Who? European Commission's Joint Research Centre

What? International launch of the soil atlas for the Northern Circumpolar region, exclusive insights on low carbon energy technologies for the future, food safety and authentication, plus a guided visit of JRC-IRMM laboratories (including the underground lab for low-level radiation measurements).

When? Tuesday 4 May (afternoon) and Wednesday 5 May (morning)

Where? European Parliament in Brussels and the JRC Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) in Geel, Belgium

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is a Directorate General of the European Commission and employs around 2700 staff located in 7 different research institutes in 5 different countries. It provides customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union.

What will be on offer? (detailed programme to be distributed prior to the event)

• Attendance to the Financial Times' energy conference: transforming Europe's energy future (afternoon session) - JRC speakers


• JRC's research overview at the JRC exhibition (European Parliament)


• Press point (in the European Parliament) with Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science – presentation of the soil atlas for the Northern Circumpolar region


• Welcome dinner together with JRC scientists, experts in a varied range of disciplines (full list to be distributed prior to the event)


• Visit of laboratories at JRC-IRMM (Geel)
  
  1. Laboratory for food and feed safety
  
  2. Underground laboratory for ultra-low-level radiation measurements

RSVP

Places on the overall programme are limited to 15 international members of the press. We would be delighted if you could represent your media outlet and country. Please inform us of your intention to participate by Thursday April 15.

Further information: Elena González Verdesoto, JRC Press Officer. Tel: +32 2 299 98 62

E-mail: elena.gonzalez-verdesoto@ec.europa.eu

For more information: www.jrc.ec.europa.eu & http://irmm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

Energy research

The JRC has longstanding expertise in energy research, covering a wide range of topics: renewables, nuclear energy, energy technologies, energy efficiency, etc. JRC scientists manage SETIS (http://setis.ec.europa.eu/), the Strategic Energy Technologies (SET-Plan) Information System. It provides reliable and updated research results on the status, forecasts and R&D investment figures for low-carbon technologies.

Soil atlas for the Northern Circumpolar region

This atlas brings together soil data for all the northern countries, to better understand and protect soil resources in these areas. Soil in the northern latitudes has a global perspective and importance, particularly, for global climate change and the carbon cycle. Special attention is given to the impact of cold climates on soil characteristics and on the relationship between climate change and soils' properties (e.g. carbon dynamics, carbon sinks and sources, methane emission).

Food safety

Food scandals in recent years triggered an overhaul of food and feed safety regulations in the EU, highlighting the need to have a high-quality, well-functioning measurement system in Europe for food control. The JRC develops and validates testing methods, and benchmarks the testing abilities of analytical laboratories worldwide.

The JRC-IRMM explores state-of-the-art techniques for the detection of allergens in food and the authentication of foodstuffs, to protect the wellbeing of consumers and give them the opportunity of an informed choice when purchasing food.

Low-level radiation measurements

In order to measure extremely low levels of radioactivity, the JRC-IRMM operates a laboratory 223 metres underground (where the background radiation is 10,000 times lower than at the surface). You will have a unique opportunity to visit it and learn how this specialised equipment is used by scientists in a variety of applications, from measuring radioactivity in mineral water to investigating whether food is grown organically or not.

News from JRC IRMM to be released during the visit

• Comparison of methods to determine radioactivity in mineral waters and interlaboratory test. A future refinement of European legislation will require the monitoring of radioactivity in mineral waters as it is the case currently for drinking water. IRMM is working to determine radium-226 and radium-228 in mineral waters.

Recent activities and research results from JRC-IRMM:

• Determining the source of plutonium contamination (16 March 2010)


• Nuclear physics unveils secrets of Bronze Age sword (25 Feb 2010)


• IRMM method to detect chocolate fraud becomes international standard (4 December 2009)

Logistical support

A final detailed programme and further logistical support around your participation will be sent to you in advance.

Closer to the event, we may suggest specific interview partners for you and provide background media materials to help inform your work.

Best regards,



Elena González Verdesoto

Press Officer - Joint Research Centre (JRC)