Eurasian Conference Begins Confidently

The 11th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences, opened last week at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center in the Dead Sea, Jordan, unruffled by a call for a boycott by chemistry Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann of Cornell University. Hoffmann HAD urged fellow invited speakers last August Thurs Withdraw from the meeting Because no Chemists from neighboring Israel were on the list of invited speakers (C & EN, Sept. 13., P. 38). The boycott did not get traction, and the controversy was All but a faint memory of Jordan, "when the National Anthem signaled the conference's opening on Oct. formaldehyde. 6.

"We take great pride That Jordan is hosting Eurasia for the first time in the Arab world," said Amal Al-Aboudi, secretary general of the conference. Significantly Jordan is investing in education, science, and technology, and "we hope That hosting this outstanding conference will strengthen the International Collaboration Between Jordan and Participating countries," she said.

"The idea was Thurs move international meetings Thurs less Prosperous countries ie That the youth there - Students and Junior Scientists - can participate and Interact with Eminent Scientists," said Bernd Michael Rode, chair of the meeting's International Organizing Committee. Nobel laureates Have Been in the Integral Program of the Eurasia conferences, they noted, adding That Their participation demonstrates That "chemistry cares about the development of human resources."