Archives 2010
OPCW Inspector Training Course 2010
SPIEZ LABORATORY was again used as training facility for new inspectors of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). From 12 April to 16 April and from 19 April to 23 April respectively, two separate international delegations from the OPCW visited the SPIEZ LABORATORY’s Schedule 1 facility (high-tox laboratory), with the aim of putting their newly acquired inspection skills into practice for the first time and under real life conditions. This was the sixth edition of the “Mock-Inspection” training module.
Divided into small groups, the future inspectors were able to acquire valuable practical experience of what an actual OPCW inspection entails, such as liaising with representatives from the inspected State Party and inspecting a facility that synthesizes chemical warfare agents. For most participants, this was their first visit to such a facility and the first time they came close to actual agents. Both delegations declared that their time spent in Spiez was the highlight of their training.
The Security Policy Directorate of the DDPS and the International Relations Defence Sector of the Swiss Armed Forces (IR D) helped organise and fund these Mock-Inspections. The Chemistry Division of SPIEZ LABORATORY was responsible for providing the training. SPIEZ LABORATORY will continue its contribution to the training of OPCW inspectors, supporting them in their implementation of an effective verification regime around the world.
CBMTS VIII 2 - 7 May 2010
Between 2nd and 7th March 2010, SPIEZ LABORATORY will host a new edition of the Chemical Biological Medical Treatment Symposium (CBMTS VIII). The well-known and highly respected series explores the scientific, medical and policy aspects of CBR warfare and terrorism. This year it will further build on the base of knowledge established in the CBMTS Industry series, i.e., an area still not fully addressed by convention, agreement or treaty: the terrorist or combat threat to the chemical, petrochemical, oil, pharmaceutical, biochemical, and other industries. Dr. Brian Davey, director of the UN Medical Services Division, and Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, Secretary-General of the OPCW, will attend the opening session.
SMS 2010
Following the success of the 1st Swiss Microbial Safety Meeting held in 2008 in Bellinzona, Switzerland, SPIEZ LABORATORY is organizing the 2nd meeting in 2010. The focus will be on issues related to microbial safety in high-containment facilities, since the meeting will coincide with the scientific opening of the new high-containment laboratory currently under construction..
Keynote lectures will be presented by Prof. Stewart Cole (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland), Susan Caskey (Sandia National Laboratories, USA), Andreas Lüthi (Architecture Firm Burkhard & Lüthi, Switzerland) and Stephane Kunz (University Hospital Lausanne CHUV, Switzerland). A number of national and international experts on microbial safety will give further presentations.
Participants will have the possibility to join a guided tour of the new high-containment facility in Spiez. More information is available from the meeting website.