FineCat 2014 - Symposium on heterogeneous catalysis for fine chemicals (Palermo, 2-3 April 2014)

Conference Venue: Sala delle Capriate, Palazzo Steri, University of Palermo
When: 2-3 April-2014
Registration: Download and send the Registration form [Word]
Oral and Poster Abstract deadline: 31-Dec-2013
Notification to Authors: 21-Jan-2014

Following the successful 2013 and 2012 editions the third FineCat Symposium will will be held on April 9-10, 2014 in the splendid conference venue of the Steri Palace, hall of Palermo's University Rectorate, featuring the plenary lectures of eminent chemists David Cole-Hamilton, Serge Kaliaguine and Paolo Fornasiero.

David Cole-Hamilton (School of Chemistry University of St. Andrews)
Flow Catalysis Using Supported Homogeneous Catalysts
Serge Kaliaguine (Department of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval)
Mesoporous Silicas in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Paolo Fornasiero (Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste)
Designing Catalysts by Manipulation of Clusters and Nanocrystals as Building Blocks

Aims and Scope

Jointly organised by the Institute of Nanostructured Materials of Italy’s Research Council (CNR) and by Palermo's University DEIM Department, the meeting -- whose idea was born out of the 2011 themed issue of Catalysis Science & Technology "Heterogeneous catalysis for fine chemicals" dedicated to Prof. Michele Rossi -- aims to provide an opportunity for contact between academic and industrial researchers, manufacturers and users of solid catalysts for the efficient and selective production of fine chemicals.

The scientific level of this Symposium is testified by the previous speakers at the Conference: Graham Hutchings, Gadi Rothenberg, Claudio Banchini and D. Tyler McQuade. Delegates are encouraged to submit their work to Catalysis Science & Technology right after the meeting. All articles will be subject to rigorous peer-review according to the journal’s usual standards.

Call for Papers and Book of Abstracs

Offers of Abstracts are now invited for within any of the themes listed below:

Green catalytic processes
Organo- and biocatalysis
Photocatalysis for organic synthesis
Asymmetric heterogeneous catalysis
Atom economy and clean technology
Green reaction media
Catalysis under flow conditions

Please use the Abstract template (Word) to complete your Abstract.

Abstracts produced using the template should be sent by email attachment only to rosaria.ciriminna@cnr.it with the following subject header: "FineCat 2014 Abstract".

Include your short bio in the Abstract and indicate whether you are submitting an Abstract for Oral or Poster presentation.

Scientific and Organizing Committee

The Symposium Organizing Comittee is responsible for reviewing submitted abstracts and suggesting additional speakers.

the Organizing Committee includes the chairmen of the Scientifc Committee Mario Pagliaro (CNR) and Leonardo Palmisano (Palermo's University), Rosaria Ciriminna (CNR, Palermo), Cristina Della Pina and Ermelinda Falletta (University of Milan), and Palermo's University Giovanni Palmisano, Marzia Sciortino, Piera Demma Carà, Giuseppe Marcì and Elisa García-Lopez.

Social Program and Accompanying person

At the end of the 1st day morning session, the Rectorate will offer a guided tour of the splendid Palazzo Steri. On the afternoon of April 10, the social program will start at 17:30 from Piazza Marina, in front of Palazzo Steri.

A bus will reach Regaleali namely the heart of the Tasca d'Almerita family's wine production.

There, following a guided tour of the winemakery a Sicilian dinner will be offered in the wonderful Resor.

Registration of Delegates and Conference Venue

Located in the hearth of Palermo, the splendid Palazzo Steri is a well suited conference venue. To reach it, just head on foot to Piazza Marina 61.

The Conference hall, the Sala delle Capriate is located at the 3rd floor of this 12th century Palace. Just take the elevator, and exit turning to your left hand side.

The registration desk is located at the entrance of the Sala delle Capriate, the conference venue. Conference Delegates are kindly encouraged to register at the Conference Desk already on the afternoon of the previous inaugural date. During both Symposium days the registration desk will remain open between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm.

Please remember that accompanying persons, too, need to register at the Conference Desk.

Instructions for Poster Presentation

Posters should be 1.20 m high and 0.90 m wide. On printing your poster, please do not exceed the 1.2 m lenght in order to not incur in fitting problems when mounting your poster.

Compact posters printed on one large sheet of paper is highly recommended.

Abstracts scheduled for presentation in poster sessions will be grouped by topic, numbered and listed in the Final Program.

The poster boards will be numbered according to the program. Authors are requested to be in front of their poster during the official session time.

Poster Prizes

Following successful partnership for FineCat 2012 and FineCat 2013, the RSC catalysis journal Catalysis Science & Technology partnered with the the organizers for the 2014 Symposium.

The Journal agreed to offer a poster prize for one of the two best posters at the event, namely a 1 year’s free personal e-subscription to CS&T.

World Scientific, a leading scientific publisher in the Asia-Pacific region, offers as Poster Prize two copies of the book Design and Applications of Single-Site Heterogeneous Catalysts by John Meurig Thomas (University of Cambridge, UK) - a nicely written text by a leading catalysis expert.

Reaching out Palermo and Accommodation

Several airlines operate regular flights to Palermo's "Falcone e Borsellino" airport.

How to get to Palermo from the Airport

Bus (to Palermo) Prestia & Comandé Frequency: every half hour (4.00 am-11.00 pm) One way ticket: € 6.10 Phone: 091 586 351

Train (to Palermo) Trenitalia (Trinacria Express Train) Station “Notarbartolo” of Palermo Frequency: every half hour (4.45 am-12.40 pm) One way ticket: € 5,50 Phone: 091 704 40 07

The transfer time from Palermo’Airport to the city center takes about 40 minutes. Please note that this is an estimated transfer time and does not take into account traffic and road conditions.

The most comfortable way to reach the airport or the city is to order via e-mail a dedicated taxi service (25 Eur each run, independent of the passengers number) to Spada Transfer in Sicily.

If you wish to use this service, prior to your departure reserve your car by emailing email at spadatransferinsicily@hotmail.it.

Weather

Weather in April is usually warm and sunny (25°C). Check personally the weather situation and forecast.

Suggested accommodation

In the Symposium area (walking distance).

Four stars
Hotel Garibaldi
Hotel Quinto Canto
Centrale Palace Hotel

Three stars
Rodionoff B&B Palermo (not within walking distance)
Hotel Ambasciatori
Hotel Joli

Sicily and Palermo

Sicily was voted “the best destination in the world” in 2009 and second “best island” in 2010 by readers of Condé Nast Traveller. The largest island in the Mediterranean, and largest region in Italy, Sicily is packed with things to see and places to go, so you shouldn’t expect to “do” it all in one go. The island has 5 million inhabitants and hosts an enormously varied and important cultural heritage.

Palermo is a 2,700 years old city with about 600,000 inhabitants. Entirely built in front of the sea, it has gone through Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Norman, German, Spanish, French and Italian domination which resulted in a unique mix of cultures well reflected by the magnificent cultural heritage of the city.

Testifying to this are the different urban strata that have changed the face of the city over the centuries. The city's name derives from the Greek and means "all port", to indicate the width of the approach and the importance of this trading post. In fact, Palermo was founded by the Phoenicians, probably in the eighth century BC. Fortified and surrounded by defensive walls, in the fifth century BC it became the most important Carthaginian stronghold on the island.

After the Roman conquest, the barbarian invasions and Byzantine domination, then under the Arabs, who arrived in 831, Palermo became the capital of the autonomous emirate of Sicily and one of the busiest emporia of the Mediterranean. In the successive Norman period, the work of Byzantine, Arab and Latin craftsmen again transformed the architectural and urban fabric of the centre and the whole province, as the beautiful Palatine chapel and the Monreale cathedral testify. Finally, between the sixteenth and seventeenth century a new period of reconstruction occurred, that enriched the churches, palaces and monuments.

«The essential charms of this mysterious and intoxicating city -- has written has written Ariel Forman in The New York Times -- thankfully remain intact.

«The current face of this modern metropolis of the South is that of a mighty and mysterious city, enclosed in the labyrinth of Arabian lanes, in the magnificence of palaces and sanctuaries, in art treasures, in the charm of natural scenery, and in the unchanging values of ancient craft and food tradition».

Language

The official language of the conference will be English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.

Passport and Visas

All non-residents of the EU are required to have a valid passport.

Participants should check regarding visa requirements for travel to Italy. Applications should be made to the nearest Italian Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible. Citizens of member states of the European Union and the USA do not need visas.

Insurance and Liability

Participants are advised to arrange whatever insurance they consider necessary. No responsibility can be assumed by the Congress for personal accidents, sickness, theft, or property damage suffered by the participants.

Electricity

The electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz.

Banking

Bank hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 - 13:30 and 15:45 - 16:30. Bank are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Currency

Since the beginning of 2002 the Euro is the official currency in Italy.
1 Euro = 100 Cents.
Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Cents; 1, 2 Euros
Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Euros.
The Euro is usually abbreviated as EUR. The symbol of the Euro is €;.

Money can be changed at the airport, at banks, exchange bureaus, and larger hotels. For a cash advance, credit cards and Maestro-cards can be used at cash dispensers (Bancomat) which are available all over the city.

Shopping

Typical shopping hours are Monday to Saturday 9:00 - 13:00 and 16:30 - 20:00. Apart from some tobacconists and small supermarkets at petrol stations and at the main railway stations, shops are closed on Sundays. Luxury shops with an elegant clientele can be found in city downtown (via Libertà, via Ruggiero Settimo and via Maqueda).

Further information

Dr M. Pagliaro (mario.pagliaro@cnr.it) - Prof. L. Palmisano (leonardo.palmisano@unipa.it)

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