- from the exhibit chair Howard Mark

As exhibit chairman on behalf of the organizing committee, I invite the spectroscopists of the world and the companies that create the equipment we use to assemble in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to attend the Eighteenth International Diffuse Reflectance Conference (IDRC).

THE CONFERENCE: The conference is held at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA, giving it the nickname: the "Chambersburg Conference”. The attendees are very interested in spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance, and the small size of the conference allows intimate interaction between exhibitors and other conferees. Past exhibitors have given us feedback that contacts made at IDRC have resulted in appreciable increases in business and have otherwise expressed their satisfaction with the conference. This is also a premier opportunity for businesses to recruit top talent in the field.

EXHIBITING: Exhibitor registration includes space in the exhibit hall, a 2-meter table and conference registration for one exhibitor. Exhibitors wishing to bring their own booth may do so (no larger than 10 feet, please), The registration fee also includes a room in the college dormitories and meals in the college cafeteria for the exhibitor representative, allows the representative to speak at the “Exhibitor’s forum” shown in the conference program (and formally present your company and products to entire conference, in addition to the informal discussions you have) It also allows you to have a link to your website posted on the conference website; this link will be maintained for at least 1 year after the conference. The regular exhibit fee is $1200.

DISCOUNTS: We also offer the following discounts: A discount of $100 is offered for early registration. To qualify for this, a non-refundable deposit of $100 must be paid on or before March 31, 2016 and full payment on or before June 30, 2016. This deposit, which will be applied toward your exhibitor's fee, will guarantee the discounted fee. Additional personnel from the company may register for 75% of the regular registration fee. An early registration discount of 10% applies to the registration fee for additional personnel. If the exhibitor stays in a local hotel instead of the college dormitory, a discount of $100 applies; see fee schedule posted on the registration page. This discount also applies to the registration fees for additional exhibitor personnel.

SPONSORSHIPS: Additionally, exhibitors will be contributing directly to the future of our field, in that a portion of the registration fee will be used to sponsor a graduate student attending the conference. Exhibitors may also sponsor additional students. Student sponsorships can be for any amount, but we encourage Bronze ($1500 for sponsorship of 2 students), Silver ($2000 for sponsorship of 3 students) or Gold ($2500 for sponsorship of 5 students) sponsorships. You may sponsor a student of your choice, or allow the conference organizers to select worthy students. Student sponsors will get recognition for their support.


We also invite all exhibitors to sponsor conference souvenirs and activities (refreshment breaks, etc). Please contact David Funk, the conference chairman (idrc@cnirs.org), to sponsor one or more students, a souvenir or an activity.

For details about the conference and continued up-to-date information, please continue to visit the conference web site.