Abstract Book: our environmental responsibility

The abstracts presented by participants at the ERS Annual Congress are a major element of the Scientific Programme. However, there has been growing concern that a printed Abstract Book is no longer appropriate. Every year, the book increases in size and weight, and it has been estimated that to print a book of 870 pages for each of the 17,000 Congress participants would take 7,395,000 A4 sheets.The production of these 35.7 tons of paper uses 606 trees, 1 million litres of water and the equivalent of 124 barrels of oil in energy (www.conservatree.com); and a large proportion of the books would end up as waste. As a result, the ERS feels the traditional Abstract Book is no longer appropriate, and the decision has been taken to provide all abstracts in electronic format only. As a result, delegates can obtain the Abstract Book on CD-ROM, or make use of the on site Abstract Print Zone.  

Abstract Book on CD-ROM

(sponsored by Novartis Pharma AG)

The ERS, with the support of Novartis Pharma AG, is offering an abstract compilation on CD-ROM. Participants may collect one copy of the CD-ROM from the Novartis Pharma AG exhibition stand, free of charge, in exchange for a voucher in their Congress bag. The CD-ROMs will be distributed on a "first come, first served" basis. Copies will also be sent to European Respiratory Journal subscribers after the Congress.  

Abstract Print Zone

 (sponsored by Nonin Medical, Inc. )

The Abstract Print Zone gives participants free access to PCs in designated areas, allowing them to search for and print PDFs of relevant abstracts in exactly the same format as presented in the official Abstract Book. Each PC will be equipped with its own printer for convenient service, and staff will be on hand to assist if necessary.

Access to the electronic abstracts is made easy by the use of advanced search tools, which allows participants to look up abstracts in three different ways:

• By day and session. If you have identified a session you are interested in, you can select the day and session number (or title) directly.
• By Scientific Assembly or Group. Sessions are organised by the ERS Scientific Assemblies and Groups, enabling you to access abstracts from the Free Communication sessions organised by your preferred Group or Assembly.
• By topic. Sessions have been grouped thematically to include all those that may be related to a specific topic (e.g . asthma, COPD, lung cancer).

All the abstracts will also be made available one week prior to the Congress on the ERS website (www.ersnet.org), again in PDF format. These can be downloaded and/or printed.