BERLIN, Oct. 31 -- A short course on "Principles and Applications of Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy," sponsored by electro-optical instrumentation and systems developer PicoQuant GmbH, of Berlin, and the Center for Fluorescence & Spectroscopy of the University of Maryland Medical School, in Baltimore, was held last week in Berlin. Seventy-five attendees received an in-depth introduction to the principles of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and its applications to the life sciences. HANDS ON: Industry and research profressionals participate in a short course on fluorescence spectroscopy held recently in Berlin. The course was chaired by Joseph R. Lakowicz with Rainer Erdmann, managing director of PicoQuant GmbH. Course instructors were Joseph R. Lakowicz (Baltimore), Richard Thompson (Baltimore), Zygmunt Gryczynski (Baltimore), Rainer Erdmann, (Berlin), Michael Wahl (Berlin) and Matthias Patting (Berlin). Guest lecturers were Manfred Auer (Novartis AG, High Throughput Screening), Joerg Enderlein (FZ Juelich, Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy) Stefan Hell (MPI Goettingen, High-Resolution Microscopy) and Otto S. Wolfbeis (University of Regensburg; Markers, Probes and Labels). The course covered the basics of steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and instrumentation, time- and frequency-domain measurements, anisotropy, solvent effects, quenching and Foerster energy transfer, as well as an introduction into data analysis. It also focused on theoretical and experimental details and advanced applications. In hands-on experimental sessions, participants worked with time-correlated single photon counting and phase fluorometry as well as microscopes, microplate readers and data analyis software. Evening social program stimulated discussion and networking. Plans for an October 2004 course are underway, PicoQuant said. For more information, visit: www.picoquant.com