Editorial pubs.acs.org/ac
Analytical Chemistry Is Thriving in Thailand nalytical Chemistry receives and publishes manuscripts from all the corners of the globe. In 2015, the numbers of manuscripts submitted to our journal from Asia, Europe, and the Americas will be almost equal, reflecting an upward trend in manuscripts over the past 10 years from all geographic regions. Although the growth in the number of published articles has been rapid, the foundation supporting this trend was laid decades ago. After all, it takes a long time to grow a vibrant analytical chemistry Ph.D. program. I was recently reminded of this fact when two items about Thailand’s analytical program crossed my desk. Gary Christian (University of Washington) let me know that Chiang Mai University is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of this milestone, Kate Grudpan, Professor in the Department of Chemistry, arranged a symposium highlighting the remarkable accomplishments of the Center of Excellence for Innovation in Analytical Sciences and Technology at Chiang Mai University. Grudpan was the first professor of analytical chemistry in Thailand, and in 1991, he helped launch the first analytical Ph.D. program in his country. Partly because of his pioneering work combined with Thailand’s commitment to increasing the number of university faculty and Ph.D. programs, Thailand now has multiple strong analytical programs. I had the pleasure of meeting Kate Grudpan and visiting Chiang Mai and other Thai universities in 2006, when participating in a workshop with 11 other analytical faculty, which was sponsored by several U.S. and Thailand governmental agencies. A Government and Society news article about the meeting, “Thailand and U.S. strengthen analytical ties,” is available online: Analytical Chemistry, 2007, 79, 794. The workshop resulted in a number of collaborations, exchanges, and joint research programs between U.S. and Thai faculty and students. Last month I had the opportunity to review the research programs of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), a Thai institute that focuses on a wide spectrum of research in the agricultural, biomedical, and environmental sciences. The BIOTEC Institute interweaves exciting analytical developmentsmetabolomics, bioinformatics, sensor development, lab on a chipwith multiple practical research projects aimed at improving the health and economy of Thailand. The analytical scientists I met are excited about their work and are making a difference to their country. I appreciate their dedication and commitment to using and developing cutting-edge analytical approaches in a range of applications. Let me end by offering my personal, slightly belated congratulations to Chiang Mai on its 50 year anniversary as well as the Department of Chemistry on the accomplishments achieved by its pioneering Ph.D. program in analytical chemistry. The international and expanding nature of analytical science, whether in Thailand or in a myriad of other locations around the world, suggests that our field has a bright and important future.
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© 2015 American Chemical Society
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Jonathan V. Sweedler AUTHOR INFORMATION
Notes
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.
Published: April 22, 2015 4587
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01417 Anal. Chem. 2015, 87, 4587−4587
