Automation Symposia papers!

Technical Division Symposia are designed by the ISA's Divisions to engage automation professionals by offering a collection of best practices, industry knowledge and venues for building and maintaining professional networks. Ian Verhappen, ISA Communications Division Director said, “ISA’s division symposia help you grow your technical skills while working with a group of people with similar technical interests. You can find all the ‘geek talk’ you crave, with a side of friendship—one of the best menus anywhere for automation professionals.”

The dates and calls for papers have been announced for symposia taking place between April–October 2012 in various locations across the United States of America. Each symposium offers technical sessions, tutorials, vendor exhibits and social events. Specific date, location, event and call for papers information for each symposium follow.

57th Analysis Division Symposium
57th Analysis Division Symposium will take place 22–26 April 2012 in Anaheim, (CA USA). The event provides information on the latest innovations in instrumentation, automation, security and business systems technology. Interested parties can submit abstracts now until 30 November 2011. Papers should address topics in process and laboratory analysis, including methods, analytical applications, analytical hardware and software, analytical systems and analyzer system operation and maintenance.

Safety and Security Division Symposium
Taking place 25–26 April 2012 also in Anaheim, the Safety and Security Division Symposium provides current safety technologies and procedures associated with identifying and mitigating safety hazards in industrial environments. Technical content is focused around safety instrumented systems (SIS) topics, cybersecurity and associated challenges in designing and implementing SIS and process automation solutions.
Those interested in presenting/publishing safety- and security-related papers for the symposium can submit their abstracts now until 15 December 2011. Suggested technical topic areas include:

• Safety instrumented systems (SIS)
• Alarm management
• Cybersecurity
• Security standards

12th ISA LDAR-Fugitive Emissions Symposium
The ISA Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) Fugitive Emissions Symposium is scheduled for 14–16 May 2012 this year in New Orleans (LA US). The event is a platform where representatives from regulatory agencies will announce the latest compliance requirements and share findings from recent enforcement actions. Best practices for leak detection and repair and directed inspection and maintenance programs will also be topics for discussion among experts and attendees.
ISA is currently looking for industry experts and speakers for this event.

58th International Instrumentation Symposium
Now in its 58th year, the International Instrumentation Symposium (IIS) will be held from 4th to 8th June 2012 inclusive at the Hyatt Lajolla in Lajolla (CA US). The event will offer technical information and training in the traditional areas of measurements/sensors, instrumentation systems, data and advanced system/sensor technology and other state-of-the-art areas. Attendees will gain insight into critical technical topics including: electronic instrumentation, wireless technology, cybersecurity, aerospace systems, process measurement and control and more.
Abstracts for the 58th IIS will be welcomed up to 20 January 2012. Paper topics for consideration include, but are not limited to:

• Instrumentation
• Data systems
• Communications
• Turbine engine testing
• Platform testing
• Test facilities metrology

55th Annual ISA POWID Symposium
The 55th Annual ISA POWID Symposium will be held 3–8 June 2012 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas, USA. The symposium, hosted by ISA’s Power Industry Division, provides information on the latest innovations in controls, instrumentation, cybersecurity, smart grid, regulatory issues and variable energy technologies, which impact the power generation delivery systems.
Abstracts may be submitted for the POWID Symposium now through 15 January 2012. Papers should focus on some aspect of the theme, “Power Generation–Automation Today and Tomorrow,” and should be relevant to the power industry. Paper topics include:

• Cybersecurity issues and solutions
• Nuclear plant innovations and enhancements
• Smart grid
• Renewable energy
• Nuclear power, new and existing fleet
• Fossil power, conventional steam, and combined cycle plants
• And others

Two more symposia are scheduled for this year and are in the planning stages:

• 7th Annual ISA Marketing and Sales Summit, 10–12 October 2012, Austin, (TX US)
• 2012 ISA Water and Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium, 7–9 August 2012, in Orlando (FL US)