Special Symposia
Aerosol Drug Delivery
Convener: Warren Finlay
Engineers and aerosol scientists working on inhaled therapeutic aerosols are invited to present and discuss all aspects of the latest research in the field of inhaled therapeutic aerosols, including, but not limited to, aerosol drug delivery, aerosol delivery devices, formulations (powders, propellants, aqueous systems), aerosol transport and deposition in the respiratory tract, and related underlying aerosol science and mechanics. Presentations by leading researchers in engineering and the physical sciences from both academia and industry will provide a current snapshot of this exciting interdisciplinary field. The unique aerosol science focus of this meeting makes it a must-attend event for those involved in advanced research or development with inhaled medical aerosols.
Atmospheric Aerosol Nucleation and Growth - Molecular Clusters to Nanoparticles to Climate
Conveners: Shanhu Lee and Robert McGraw
Atmospheric aerosol nucleation controls the number of new particles formed from gas phase species and the growth of these small particles may directly affect climate. Observations of new particle formation were made in various atmospheric conditions including forests, urban and remote areas and free troposphere. Some of these measurements also had simultaneous measurements of aerosol precursors and chemical speciation of nanoparticles. Laboratory studies were also made to mimic atmospheric conditions to identify organic and inorganic chemical species that participate in aerosol nucleation and growth and to reduce the uncertainties in aerosol precursor concentration. Nucleation parameterizations based on these new observations have also been developed to reduce the uncertainties in modeling predictions and these improved parameterizations have been incorporated in regional and global aerosol models to address the effects of new particles on climate. Significant advances have been achieved in aerosol instrumentation in terms of measuring chemical composition and size of molecular clusters and small particles. These recent studies have made substantial progresses towards reducing the large discrepancies existing between atmospheric, laboratory and modeling studies of nucleation. We invite abstracts from various disciplines to discuss scientific findings of aerosol nucleation and growth and examine the discrepancies between different studies and the future directions in this highly demanding atmospheric aerosol science field.
Biodefense
Conveners: Joe Wander and Edward Stuebing
Abstracts are invited within a comprehensive range of topics relating to the roles aerosol science and technology play in military and homeland defense against biological threats. Example topics include, but are not limited to, bioaerosol detectors and identifiers, bioaerosol viability (generation, collection, assays for preserved viability, and protective factors), aerosol generation and characterization for biodefense testing, bioaerosol filtration and inactivation (air purification), bioaerosol dispersion and aggregation, inhalation and health effects of pathogenic aerosols, simulant aerosols for biodefense testing, containment for bioaerosol testing, and bioaerosol sampling (inlets, aerosol concentrators, collectors, and sample concentrators).
Fundamentals and Applications of Electrospray
Convener: Weiwei Deng
Electrospray is an elegant, inexpensive and flexible technique to generate electrically charged aerosols with monodispersed droplets/particles from a few nanometers to hundred micrometers. This booming area has made significant impact to the nanotechnology and biotechnology, evidenced by John B. Fenn's 2002 Noble Chemistry Prize for his electrospray related work. Based on the success of last year's special symposium on the Applications of the Electrospray, this year we will continue the communication between electrospray researchers and general aerosol scientists who are interested in this unique aerosol generation technique. We also expand our scope to the electrospray fundamentals which eventually will bring this technique to the next level.
Nanomaterials for Energy Applications
Conveners: Junhong Chen, Mark T. Swihart and Richard L. Axelbaum
Energy supply has arguably become one of the most important problems facing humankind. The grand energy challenge is evidenced by dwindling fossil fuel supplies and the major concern about global warming from greenhouse gas emission with increasing fossil fuel consumption. Nanomaterials and nanotechnology are promising to provide revolutionary solutions for sustainable energy. Topics covered by this symposium include experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies on aerosol nanomaterials for energy applications, which include, but are not limited to, solar-to-electricity conversion, hydrogen production by splitting water, catalysis, fuel cells, batteries, capacitors, and thermoelectric devices.
Recent Advances in Biomass Burning Emission Measurement and Modeling
Conveners: Antony Chen and Hans Moosmüller
Biomass burning emissions reflect the complexities of fuels and combustion conditions. Such complexities make it difficult to estimate the contribution of biomass burning emissions to ambient aerosol and trace gases concentrations and their environmental impact on local, regional, and global scales. As a consequence, the 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights uncertainties in biomass burning emission inventories and the potential role of biomass burning aerosol in cloud droplet activation and absorption of ultraviolet and visible radiation. Recent advances in biomass burning research stem from deploying more specific and/or higher temporal resolution measurements to revisit the optics, hygroscopicity, morphology, molecular structure, and speciation of fresh and aged biomass burning aerosol. These measurements provide insight into aerosol formation during combustion and subsequent interactions in the atmosphere.
As new information has recently accumulated, the purpose of this symposium is to bring researchers in this field together to discuss recent findings and their applications. Major topics include: 1) biomass burning emission characterization; 2) linking emissions to ambient concentration through transport and atmospheric transformation; and 3) local, regional, and global effects of biomass burning. The symposium also seeks to identify future research needs by stimulating discussion between experimentalists and modelers.
