The Column - February 2008 - (Page 10)

Zosimus The Column www.thecolumn.eu.com February 2008 The End? Zosimus looks back on a disappointing 2007 and wonders why nothing appears to be changing in the world of separation science. Over the past two years I have vented my views on the very broad field of separation science through this column. On many occasions, I have pushed my views to the limits in the hope that I could get responses from the readers, assuming, of course, that anyone does read the articles. I have been saddened by the lack of response. As I am now getting ready for the start of the 2008 conference season I have been looking back at my experiences from the conferences I attended in 2007. Not one conference organizer in 2007 contacted me about my list of quality lecturers. I did experience some really bad lectures in 2007. As a paying delegate I do expect a better quality of speakers, better presentation, better A/Vs and better facilities. Organizers must realize that just because someone has written a good scientific paper doesn’t mean they can present their results to a conference in a clear well documented way. I do not want to hear about work from a number of years ago — I can get these papers through universities and it doesn’t cost me the conference fee. At a conference I am paying to hear breaking news. I want to hear about solutions to problems, I want to see new inventions; I want the time to talk to developers and instrument manufacturers without them pushing me for an order. All the conferences I have attended in the last six months had parallel sessions; no one has listened to my request to stop parallel sessions. Let me say again they just don’t work. That’s not to say they couldn’t if you have strong chair people who keep to time slots and organizers allowed time for people to move from one room to the next. However, neither of these two requirements has been met at the conferences I attended. As I have said in the past and this is supported by others I have spoken to, I would rather have one good presentation than three poor presentations in parallel sessions. Author: Zosimus E-mail: zosimus@thecolumn.eu.com In the past year, however, I have moved from one parallel session to another where I sat in until the end of one and made the start of the other. This was only because the first ended early and the second was running late. I have written about monoliths versus particle technology and, in an attempt to gain more interest from university researchers into particle technology, I have even offered free silica for research. Only one person took up my offer. I have written about instruments, their bad design and the lack of any real comparison between different instruments. I have commented on the high prices that are charged for HPLC columns and general consumables but still no comments either from the manufacturers or you the readers. I have written about you, commenting on the scientist dress code of old trousers that sometimes seem to take different directions to the direction of the wearer. I thought I had pushed you to the limits in commenting about dress and hygiene standards, but again no response. I am, however, grateful to one person who has written to me on a regular basis and I am pleased to say disagreed with me and corrected me when I have been wrong and that’s Professor Leslie Ettre. Thank you Leslie. At least I know that you are reading the column and still thinking. So now I think it is time for Zosimus to go back into his cave for a rethink. He may emerge a new man next month with a new perspective on the industry. You’ll have to wait and see. Thank you if you have read these columns. I am only sorry that you have not responded to my thoughts and comments and it saddens me that over the past two years, nothing has changed in this area of separation science. Until next time… 10 http://www.thecolumn.eu.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Column - February 2008

The Column - February 2008
Contents
News
Zosimus
The Winning Hand
Market Trends and Analysis
Comprehensive GC with Quadrupole Mass Spectrometric Detection
Tips and Tricks: GPC/SEC

The Column - February 2008