Organizers of the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (Pittcon 2007) said today that 22,213 conferees and exhibitors representing more than 85 countries attended the event, held Feb. 23-March 2 in Chicago. In all, 1085 companies used 2376 booths to showcase their newest instruments, products and services for laboratories in the analytical, materials characterization, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Of those, 148 companies exhibited for the first time. A comprehensive technical program featured more than 2100 presentations distributed among invited symposia and contributed oral and poster sessions. Twelve symposia were dedicated to acknowledging the accomplishments of outstanding scientists who received awards at Pittcon. The American Chemical Society, Division of Analytical Chemistry -- which for the first time held its spring meeting in conjunction with Pittcon -- arranged four invited symposia, six contributed sessions and an undergraduate poster session on environmental and nanobiotech topics. Organizers said this partnership between The Pittsburgh Conference and ACS-DAC will continue at Pittcon 2008. Conferee networking sessions, a new feature that provided additional networking opportunities for conferees, were very well attended. "Attendance surveys report that attendees found the sessions very beneficial, and as a result of the new program’s tremendous success, plans are already underway to expand the program for 2008. Solicitation for new topics will begin in early spring," the organizers said in a statement. The annual Pittcon Science Week program featured educational programs and workshops for local science teachers, lectures and demonstrations for Chicago-area students and science education grants to Chicago schools. The Pittcon 2007 Science Education Award ($24,800) was presented to the Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative High School, Chicago. Workshops were attended by more than 100 elementary school students and 200 middle school students each day. More than 750 students attended the Thursday science lecture and demonstration “Science You Can See,” by Dr. Gregg Gould, a chemistry professor at the California University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Pittcon Organizing Committee. Other grants included the Teacher Excellence Awards, Equipment Grants and 2007 Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grants. “Pittcon maintains its core purpose and mission as a nonprofit conference and exposition while incorporating new trends to add value for our conferees and exhibitors,” said Pittcon 2007 President Beth Kirol. “Preliminary results confirm that the new initiatives we implemented this year in program, short courses, registration and the exposition have been very positive and have greatly contributed to the success and positive feedback of Pittcon 2007.” John Varine, President of Pittcon 2008, added, “We are very pleased at the progress being made in New Orleans and are looking forward to another successful conference and exposition, March 2 to March 7, 2008.“ For more information, visit: www.pittcon.org.