Course on Spectral Interpretation and Reporting (SIR)

On behalf of the Finnish Institute for Verification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (VERIFIN) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Director-General wishes to invite applications from representatives of laboratories in Member States to attend a three-week course on spectral interpretation and reporting (SIR) related to the analysis of chemicals related to the Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter “the Convention”), to be held at VERIFIN, the University of Helsinki, Finland, from 17 September to 5 October 2012.

The course, which will be organised by VERIFIN with the support of the OPCW, is aimed at those laboratories that are seeking to increase their skills and knowledge in identifying unknown chemicals and in analysing chemicals related to the Convention. The course will also be useful for those institutions that are participating in or intend to participate in OPCW proficiency testing.

The course on SIR focuses on general reporting and includes such subjects as the reporting criteria of the OPCW and of the European Union. In addition, the course will emphasise spectral interpretation, which will give the trainees valuable skills on the analysis of unknown chemicals/samples. The SIR course will enhance the capabilities of the trainees to identify various kinds of chemicals found in environmental samples and to report them accurately.