I’ve been to two conferences this year and both have started with an event involving the tasting of alcoholic beverages. I approve of this trend! Last night we were treated to a pre-dinner whisky tasting which went down well with the travel weary, hungry bunch. This evening we have the curious delight of an emergency service themed disco after dinner. Oddly I left my costume on the train…which has to be the conference goers equivalent of my dog ate my homework. Never let it be said that conferences are boring or dull.

This morning saw several fascinating talks from a potted history of the scientific method (Romans included) to the nature of the challenge posed to analytical science by the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. There were several talks given by young scientists from both industrial and academic backgrounds, and an attempt by the RSC (chemistry) to brainwash us into being members/join various networks. Fiona even bribed us with chemistry rock!

Unfortunately the internet access, just like on the train, totally sucks and so I am stuck sitting in the hotel foyer, typing this into a document for a cut paste when the wireless picks up. I have become spoiled in my recent travels by the availability of internet, free or paid, and had anticipated good access so that I could get stuff done in between sessions. Well, I’ve nearly finished my book so we can have a discussion in the near future of the absolutely nonsensical use of science in it. (the author seems to have taken all the buzz words going and mashed them up to create science babble explanations for his plot – no I’m not reading Michael Crichton).