Feedback Comments on the
NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI)

29 September – 9 October 2004

“I was extremely impressed with the organization and attendance at this meeting.  The faculty’s credentials, presentations, lecturers, and demonstrations were extraordinarily instructed, well-stated, state-of-the-art, and beyond in relevance.  I am very proud and honored to have been invited to participate”.

Dennis L. Matthews, U.C. Davis
California, USA

“The NATO/ASI workshop in Biophotonics was an incredible gathering of brilliant and outstanding professors and young scientists with different scientific aspects of Biophotonics.  This diversity in scientific specialties and experiences rendered the workshop an ideal environment for interdisciplinary ideas and experiences necessary for cooperation and future collaborations between scientists in the field”.

Soheir Sadd Korraa

National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT)
Cairo, Egypt 

“This NATO ASI is very well organized – there are theoretical lectures as well as practical demonstrations in the application of biophotonics.  I would also like to mention that the topics of the ASI were well chosen.  (As a result of this ASI workshop, our knowledge in theory and practice of biophotonics has widened, as well as in establishing new contacts and possibilities to collaborate”.

Prof. Nickolay Starodub
Kiev, Ukraine

“Very interesting and helpful NATO/ASI for those who work in bioengineering and biomedicine fields – broad range of issues were addressed concerning biophotonics, very good demonstration sessions, some very good theoretical lectures –  Very well organized and good hotel facilities.  Also informed meetings were made easy.  I would like to congratulate the organizers of the NATO ASI for the high scientific top quality of presenters and for the overall organization”.

José Domingues
University of Coimbra
Portugal

“I appreciate the lecture format of the session, particularly having Part I as completely introductory.  Some speakers have even gone so far as to include textbook chapters at the end of their printed slides in the binders.  Having the session in Canada is beneficial because of the amount of work done in tissue optics here in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver”.

Rajesh Raman

Graduate Student, CBST, UC Davis
California, USA

“This is a very inspiring advanced study institute”.

Kristian P. Nielsen

Graduate Student, LL Lab
Bergen, Norway

“The NATO ASI was a great opportunity to interact with other co-workers.  It gave us the opportunity to exchange ideas and views with other research groups and to maybe start some new collaborations with institutions in Canada and in other countries”.

Moshe Ben-David, Ph.D.
Tel-Aviv, University, Israel

“I consider it as a great pleasure and privilege to be able to attend this nice NATO Advanced Study Institute.  It was an excellent opportunity to learn about many state-of-the-art studies related to biophotonics – an extremely multidisciplinary subject.  In particular, I am greatly impressed by lectures and demonstrations on SERS and confocal fluorescent microscopy.  I have also found a lot of interesting reports on my own field – plasmon resonance nanoparticles.  The organization of the Institute is excellent including accommodation, meals, etc.

Nikolay Khlebtsov
Saratov State University
Russia

“This NATO ASI workshop was very productive and well organized.  I had the chance to discuss with many researchers from Europe and the United-States.  For example, we had an interesting roundtable about the potential applications of photonics metrology to agri-food contamination monitoring.  Many issues were raised such as the differences between the types of spectroscopy (x-ray fluorescence –atomic; IR/NIR; Raman) and their applications to detection of atomic, molecular and even micro-organisms.  Moreover, it gave me the opportunity to have a broad view of the main activities in the biophotonics field.  Thank you for this enlightening experience”.

Jean-François Cormier

Researcher, Biophotonics
Quebec, Canada

“First of all, I am very happy to be here.  Ottawa is a beautiful city and this NATO ASI is very well organized.  I would like to congratulate the organization committee.  It established good coordination among scientists in this interdisciplinary issue.  The meeting was very useful for me.  I have learned many applications about biophotonics.  Also, I would like to continue this collaboration in the future”.

Mehasin Gunes, Ph.D.
Mamara University

Turkey 

“I learned a lot, met many new friends and got a lot of ideas!”

Elitsa Pavlova

“It is our pleasure to express sincere gratitude towards the organizing committee of NATO ASI in biophotonics.  It was a marvelous opportunity to discuss state-of-the-art topics, find new friends, establish promising collaborations and discover creative solutions for actual problems.  We appreciate the work of the organizing committee which made everything for the best conference performance.  We would like to mention the extremely useful book of lecture materials, which made the studies much easier and more attractive.  Additional thanks should go to the technical committee of the conference for their care, attentiveness and tolerance.  The beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel chosen for the meeting provides incredible conditions both for fruitful studies and pleasant recreation.  Looking forward to seeing you at the following biophotonics meetings”.

Ivan Fedosov, Saratov State University
Mikhail Kirillin, Moscow State University

Olga Kravtsenyuk, Research Institute for Laser Physics

Ekaterina Sergeeva, Institute of Applied Physics
Russian Academy of Science
Russia

“This NATO ASI in biophotonics was an excellent opportunity to bring together the current and more importantly, the future researchers in biophotonics.  The entire program was well organized and presented diverse topics to allow attendees to see the challenge involved in this area.  I believe that the students from our National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) were given an excellent overview of biophotonics.  In addition, I think they benefited tremendously from the networking opportunities with researchers from around the world”.

Alexander Cartwright

Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics
University at Buffalo

USA

 

“Very well organized, well rounded and diversified program.  Great opportunity for networking across a good international group of presenters and attendees.

Comment:  not enough interactive discussions – especially in the problem-based learning sessions”.

Rejean Munger

University of Ottawa Eye Institute
Canada
 

“Congratulations to the organizers and participants”.

Eduardo Moryama

Ontario Cancer Institute
Sao Paulo, Brazil

“Well organized – the highest hospitality – multi perspective and approaches to photonics – allowing or establishing further research topics such as monitoring agro-foods.  Giving opportunity to meet very important scientists who are expert in their fields.  Quite fruitful to advance and re-build our existing experience and knowledge.  Many thanks to Dr. Tanev, Prof. Tuchin, and Prof. Wilson for their encouragement for me to attend this meeting.  Thanks to the attendees of my discussion group on agri-food”.

Ahmet Sahin, Ph.D.
Multafa Kemal University
Turkey

“I came from the electronics side to be immersed in biophotonics for almost two weeks.  My recognition for the effort made by the organizers to really set up a very good selection of speakers, plus experimental demos and young people participation.  Congratulations for the efforts made and the success of the ASI”.

Elias Munoz

UPM
Madrid, Spain

“This Advanced Study Institute has been an occasion to learn a lot in biology and photonics.  It established a minimal standard of knowledge to establish bridges between people to be able to better understand each other.  Consquently, I think that a basic level course should be followed by people involved in a biophotonics project.  Finally, this was an opportunity for networking and to develop new collaborations”.

Guillaume Girard

INRS, Université du Québec
Canada 

“In the last 7 days, I have learnt a lot about biophotonics, and the number of unsolved problems that the whole scientific community can be involved in one way or another.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to make some small but useful contributions in the near future.  Many thanks for all the organizers and hope to see you all again soon”.

Fatima Gunning, Ph.D.

Photonic Systems Group

ICC, Ireland 

“I have worked for many years with UV light and with spectroscopy methods using UV light.  As a chemist, I have only ever used  methods without any deeper explanation.  During these last 7 days, I have learnt a lot about light and life (much more than I expected).  The atmosphere during the school was very nice, all the lecturers were very friendly towards the participants (students).  Not only NATO ASI, but also Canada met all my expectations (I am for the first time in Canada).  Many thanks to the organizers – the location and the Crowne Plaza Hotel are very safe and comfortable to stay in.  I hope to attend such a nice course again in the future (or to maybe organize such nice event in my country)”.

Alina Sionkowska, Ph.D.
Nicolas Copernicus University
Torun, Poland

“Maybe I am the youngest participant of the NATO ASI (currently I’m 21 years old preparing my Ph.D. thesis).  This ASI was a brilliant opportunity for me to learn lots of interesting and useful information concerning biophotonics during the lectures of world outstanding scientists in the field.  I am also very grateful for given the opportunity of presenting my own work.  This allowed me to establish many contacts that I hope will lead to long term and fruitful collaboration.  I will never forget these 12 beautiful days spent in Ottawa”.

Rostyslav Bilyy
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

“The NATO ASI gave me a unique opportunity to establish a number of useful contacts with colleagues worldwide; to learn the most modern topics in biophotonics, to present my recent results, and to discuss them with many experts from different countries.  There was a real atmosphere of international scientific collaboration – intelligent, and friendly.  Thanks a lot to the organizers especially to Dr. Stoyan Tanev for the wonderful organization”.

Irina Terenetskaya, PhD.

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

“I was very impressed with the NATO ASI.  Firstly, the organization was well done from the notes to the coffee breaks.  Those who organized and took care of everything should be congratulated.  I’ve found the talks stimulating and some have given me ideas for both my research and others in my group.  I’ve met some people who have given me advice and offered to help in some problems.  I think this ASI has also been good for nonlinear microscopy.  I think my poster and the problem-based learning session have generated positive interest in SHG & THG microscopy while some of the talks have given me ideas for applications of this microscopy.  A great learning experience, I would definitely participate again.  Thanks to all!”

Catherine Greenhalgh
University of Toronto
Canada
 

“NATO ASI Biophotonics:  This is a fabulous event.  I am very happy to be here.  The courses are mostly fascinating and I have learned a lot about this field in a very short time.  The lectures are very intense; demos were great to help us learn new stuff.  Thanks a lot, and I hope to see you all in the near future!”

Snow Tseng
Northwestern University
USA

P.S.  11 days is kind of long; I am pretty much biophotonic-ed out.  But this was a great learning process.

“This event allowed me to see the breath of the biophotonics field.  It also allowed for discussions between institutes and universities, which was helpful.  This event was successful.”

Masoud Toloue
University at Buffalo
USA

 

“Successful meeting”.

Weiping Mei
Hamburg, Germany
 

“Dear organizers of NATO ASI:  I would like to thank you for this useful event!  It helped me to meet people working in a similar scientific area as myself.  International meetings are also helpful to understand other cultures and to learn foreign languages.  One of the most pleasant parts of the NATO ASI was the interesting cultural program.  This is my first time in Ottawa and I could not even imagine that Ottawa was such a beautiful city!  Thank you once more and good luck for future scientific events!”

Alexey Popov, Ph.D.

Moscow State University
Russia
 

“From the perspective of a student attending the Institute, I have to say that it’s been a very interesting and productive meeting.  The organizers did an excellent job ensuring that necessary background was presented for each topic, which was especially important for people (like me) with little biophotonics experience.  Also, the topics chosen were very interesting and presented cutting-edge science and technology.  Good job!”

Kate Kaminska, Ph.D. Candidate
Queen's University, Canada
 

“Thanks a lot to organizers of this great event – NATO ASI Biophotonics.  I am very happy to be here and to get a lot of new ideas to connect my experience in the field of photochemistry with  biomedical problems.  Environmental problems are closely related to health.  Monitoring of toxic ions is necessary in water, as well as in tissue.  I think after this ASI meeting, we will concentrate our investigations in the biomedical area.  I would like to stress again on the brilliant organization of this event”.

Anna Eremenko
Institute of Surface Chemistry
Kiev, Ukraine

 

“I want to thank all lecturers, organizers and sponsors for this great event!  NATO ASI is a great opportunity for young scientists to exchange ideas.  Thanks a lot!”

Liana V. Kuznetsova
Saratov State University
Russia

“The NATO ASI is a great opportunity for young scientists like myself to get acquainted with exciting novel scientific technologies used throughout the world, to exchange ideas and approaches to solve arising problems.  Thanks to all organizers and sponsors of this event.  Special thanks to Stoyan Tanev for his help”.

Velena P. Melezhik

IRE NASU

Kharkov, Ukraine 

“I’d like to thank Vitesse for providing me the opportunity to participate in this great breathtaking workshop.  Coming from Hamilton, I’ve had the pleasure to meet people from all around the world willing to learn and teach.  I’m looking forward to seeing my new friends I’ve met here again”.

Naser Faramarzpour
McMaster University, Canada

“Many thanks and congratulations to the organizers of this wonderful workshop.  We learnt a lot – both basics and most recent approaches and applications.  We enjoyed Ottawa, sightseeing, food, songs and dances, and all these nice people who attended the conference, and with whom we could share such wonderful impressions.  Mit herzlichen Grūßen ans Deutschland”.

Michael Wagner

Petra Weber
Institute of Applied Research

Aalen, Germany

“Excellent school; very well organized with kind informal atmosphere and highly informative program!  Thanks a lot to organizers Prof. Stoyan Tanev, Helene, Annalisa, and all the most kind staff!  Best wishes for further success”.

Alexander Krasnovsky
Moscow State University
Russia
 

“As a student, this was a great event to meet the great scientists in the area of biophotonics.  Even though it was a long event, I’m happy I came to hear so many interesting talks.  We saw some very good videos using the PDT and we had enough time to interact with the scientists and other students interested in the area of biophotonics.  The workshop was really well organized and though so many areas were discussed, we seemed to have enough time to discuss the different ideas and projects.  Thank you for doing this!”

Rosa Alvis

UC Davis/CBST

California, USA

“The entire world in one room!  I very much enjoyed the talent shared during the Thursday reception, great minds are truly well-rounded.  I feel fortunate to have kept company with such prominent scientists and engineers.  The research and progress is amazing and I am excited to be a part of it!”

Bevin Lin, Ph.D. Student
UC Davis Biomedical Engineering
USA

“It was a great opportunity for me to participate in this workshop.  Combination of biology, chemical, physics and engineering lectures was a good overview of the edge of technology in the biophotonics.  As a Ph.D. student, I learned a lot in this conference and enjoyed the discussions with professors and students in different fields.  Thanks a lot for all your efforts to make such a friendly and valuable conference”.

Yasaman Ardeshirpour
McMaster University
Canada

“Congratulations!  This was an extraordinary event!  The organizers managed to bring to Ottawa an excellent group of world-famous experts in the hot field of biophotonics, who did a good job of educating their younger colleagues of the basics of the subjects that they covered following by discussing the leading edges of biophotonics.  NATO Educational Program, ISTC and other sponsors did a great job of supporting a bunch of young researchers eager to learn more from their tutors.  Highly creative atmosphere – helped them to open up and show their talents at the special sessions and discussions as well as during the informal receptions where everybody enjoyed a lot of singing, dancing, etc.   I am sure that NATO ASI’s organized in such fashion are a very efficient way to promote science, technology and education.  I feel proud and happy to have participated”.

Prof. Alexander Priezzhev
Moscow State University
Russia

“The NATO ASI is a great opportunity to teach and have fun”.

Elena Savateeva

ILC MSU
Ukraine

“Dear organizers!  Many thanks for the opportunity to participate in the NATO Advanced Study Institute Biophotonics.  It was a very good chance to exchange ideas and discuss many interesting topics.  Besides, we enjoy Canada and Ottawa!”

Ilya Osheredov
Moscow State University Russia

“Thanks to Vitesse, thanks to NATO.  This biophotonics course has been most interesting for a guy like me coming from the photonics background and wishing to learn what the biophotonics community is asking from the laser technologies.  More than the science, these international meetings allow us to broaden our views about the people behind the research”.

Pierre-Yves Fortin
Laval University, Canada

“It was a great pleasure to be given the opportunity to partake in the NATO ASI workshop this year.  From the beginning, I had a feeling that the workshop was going to be different than any other conference or symposium that I have attended in the past.  It was quite noticeable that we (as participants) were all diversified – from “different” scientific backgrounds and from different parts of the world.  And, that is what made it so wonderful!  We were integrating our own scientific ideals with other fields, such as the biological sciences, as a way to enhance the field of biophotonics.  From the first day of the lectures, through breakfast/lunch networking and the dinner receptions, friendships were made and collaborations were born.  We had a chance to meet the “person” behind the science!  As a graduate student, the benefits of attending this conference were invaluable!  What one walks away with is a vast array of new knowledge, techniques and collaborations that can be utilized in one’s own research or within one’s research institute.  And, I think what made this conference so successful was the superb organization and hosting from the City of Ottawa.  The scheduling of lectures, problem-based learning sessions, demos and coffee breaks were organized in such a fashion that interest was never lost!  We were always excited to learn.  Overall, I thank NATO ASI for fostering new scientific relationships!  I will truly remember and cherish the sense of closeness among the group participants.  Thank you for such an exceptional experience!”

Amy L. Gryshuk, Pre-doctoral student
University at Buffalo, USA

“I feel lucky and honored to have been invited to this outstanding event.  I am overwhelmed by the wonderful scientific works carried out worldwide and presented here by faculty and students.  I have learned a lot, and found inspiration for future research (as well as names of people I would be happy to consult and collaborate with when the time comes).  I am grateful for everyone who was involved in organizing the workshop and are responsible for the great hospitality and of course to all participants!”

Izhar Ron, Ph.D. Student
Tel-Aviv University, Israel

“I only regret not having more time to get to know better all of the wonderful people that came and took part in this school.  The academic profits are only a part of this experience.  Only time will allow for the further development of my experience here”.

Cesar A. Rendon
University of Toronto, Canada

“Thank you enormously for organizing this event – it was the best learning experience that I have had in a long time.  Great talks, great people, great science and great fun!  As I am a newcomer to this field, this kind of event is very useful to me.  Again, great job.  Bon travail et merci!”

Mathieu Allard

Mouse Imaging Centre (MICE)
University of Toronto, Canada

“This was a wonderful opportunity to meet a lot of other people in biophotonics, learn many new things, and see the City of Ottawa.  Thank you!”

Nancy Cribbin
University at Buffalo
USA 

“I am very thankful to the organizing committee for such an excellent meeting.  All was at a very high level.  Thank you very much!”

Olga Fadyukova
Lomonsov Moscow State University
Russia

“I’d like to thank all of the organizers of this excellent event.  I wasn’t sure coming in what to expect, since most of my work to this point has been based on materials for biophotonics, rather than in biophotonics itself, and I have little knowledge of biology.  However, I think I found that I knew a little more than I thought I did, and yet I learned of so many active research areas and techniques that I had no idea existed.  I can’t wait to get back to the lab and revisit some old experiments with some new insight and to start some new experiments as well!”

Bill Kirkey

University at Buffalo
USA 

“First I would like to express my sincere thanks to the organizers of the school for giving me the opportunity to participate.  My recommendations are:

1)     to copy the lectures on CD because not all the pictures in the hard copies were clear and visible

2)     it would have been better if there was a lab as part of the program so that every student could have a hands-on experience

Olga Chaykovskaya
Siberian Physical Technical Institute
at Tomsk State University
Russia