As 2015 comes to a close – and as we prepare to celebrate The Analytical Scientist’s third birthday – it seems fitting to consider how far we’ve come (and where we’re going). I’ve never known three years go by so fast, but when I look at the 34 copies of The Analytical Scientist in my archive (read: box file), I realize where the time has gone...
What have we recorded? Personal highlights for me are the life stories that we have captured along the way. From Alexander Makarov’s walk along the tightrope of innovation, to Rick Russo’s battle to gain recognition for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, to John Yates’ pioneering work in proteomics – preserving such personal stories means a great deal to me. Do not expect our strong focus on the people and personalities in analytical science to stop. What have we scrutinized? Perhaps our coverage of anti-doping was the most controversial. In 2013, we asked four experts to jump atop the soapbox and shout out their opposition to WADA’s approach (1). The anti-doping war rages on with no end in sight – and, on page 12, we share an analytical method designed to identify non-banned substances that mask the presence of banned compounds. But we’ve covered a good many other subjects that demanded discussion from sampling errors (2) and antiquated sample preparation (3) to sustainability (4) and the role of chromatographers (5). Are there any topics that we are afraid to cover? No. Just get in touch with me if you want to borrow our soapbox. What have we celebrated? Our 2013 and 2015 Power Lists directed the spotlight firmly onto the Top 100 most influential analytical scientists – and we applauded the next generation in our Top 40 Under 40 in 2014. In our final issue of the year, we present our third iteration of The Analytical Scientist Innovation Awards – click here to discover the Top 15 advances of 2015. Our field is something to be proud of; for us, every issue is a celebration of the people and processes that make up the wonderful world of analytical science. Expect the party to continue in 2016. Best wishes for the New Year,
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