Niagara on the Lake beckons for AES experts
Scientists from AES flew the flag for Britain at a prestigious international scientific committee in Canada last month.
They joined a 200-strong delegation of scientists from all over the world who were converging on the Niagara on the Lake resort for the International Standards Organisation (ISO) technical conference.
Sue Owen was Leader of the delegation of UK’s chemistry experts at the two week-long conference, while Dr Ian Barnabas represented the UK as expert in his specialist field of analysis of trace organic pollutants.
Sue and Ian spent the two weeks taking part in a number of expert panels discussing chemical methods of analysis for water quality relating to the Water Framework Directive and looking at the impact of substances such as dioxins and pesticides on the supply and treatment of water around the world.
Sue Owen explained the benefits of taking part in ISO, she said:
“Playing a major role in ISO gives AES invaluable insight into the requirements of future pollution legislation.
“The benefit is mutual however, as the rest of the world also gains from the expertise we have within AES through our continual research and development of new techniques for monitoring pollution. One such example is our method for analysing dioxins in the environment, which became an international standard in 2004.”
She continued: “It is also a great honour to represent the British water industry, which is recognised as leading the world. Above all, it is very satisfying to know that the work we are doing will help improve the standards of water quality – and thus people’s lives – all over the world.”
The ISO Water Quality committee’s purpose is to agree international technical standards to be used by the water and environmental industry.