The First Fisher Award E congratulate N. Howell Furman of Princeton as the first recipient of the Fisher Award in Analytical Chemistry. We also congratulate the donor, C. G. Fisher, for providing an original alchemist etching instead of a medal-it will attach to the award a uniqueness and special character. Dr. Furman’s many accomplishments, which brought him the distinction of receiving the first Fisher Award, were reviewed in the August 23, 1948, issue of Chemical and Engineering News and, therefore, need not be repeated here. As the years pass, the Fisher Award will make it possible to recognize appropriately the achievements of present and future leaders in the field of analytical chemistry. Without detracting one iota from Dr. Furman’s achievements but rather accentuating them, we believe the committee charged with selecting the first Fisher award winner must have found it very difficult to make a selection. We have in the analytical field a large number of very distinguished individuals whose contributions have been notable.
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Your personal financial support and active interest are needed to support these very worth-while activities. Send your dollar to R. A. Burdett, secretary, Division of Analytical and Micro Chemistry, Shell Oil Co., Box 262, Wood River, Ill.
Summer Symposium a Success HE first annual summer symposium, jointly sponsored by the Division of Analytical and Micro Chemistry and ANaLYTICAL CHEMISTRY and held a t the Northwestern Technological Institute August 13 and 14, was a distinct success. The use of revolutionary analytical methods and techniques, mostly developed in the Manhattan District project, is still rather restricted in industry. Nevertheless, nearly 200 analytical chemists were attracted to the two-day sessions on “Nucleonics and Analytical Chemistry,” to which this symposium was devoted. Annual symposia conducted separately from regular divisional meetings held during national meetings of the Society provide an opportunity for intensive investigation of special fields. More detailed papers can be presented and more time devoted to floor discussion than is possible a t regular division sessions. Furthermore, plenty of opportunity is provided for extensive informal or off -the-record conversations between specialists in any given field, something that is rather difficult t o achieve at a national meeting where there may be anywhere from 5000 to 12,000 people in attendance. The outstanding success of the first symposium can be attributed to the combined efforts of many individuals and organizations. We would like to mention particularly P. J. Elving, chairman of the Division of Analytical and Micro Chemistry, C. J. Rodden of the National Bureau of Standards and general chairman of the symposium, and L. D. Frizzell of Northwestern, who handled all the local arrangements in a highly efficient manner. We are deeply indebted to R. K. Summerbell for the fine hospitality and exceptional facilities of Northwestern, and to W. M. Manning and his associates of the Argonne Laboratories for the very extensive and highly instructive demonstrations. Lastly, we wish to thank the speakers and those who participated in the discussions, for they set a high standard of excellency for future symposia.
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Sectional and Divisional Activities ITHIN the past month we have received notice of the formation of analytical groups within two large sections of the Society. The Boston Microchemical Society has been dissolved and reorganized as the Analytical and Rlicrochemical Division of the Northeastern Section, and a new analytical group has been formed within the framework of the North Jersey Section. Naturally we are delighted to see the plan first adopted by the Pittsburgh Section extended to other sections of the Society. What has been done by the Pittsburgh, Northeastern, and North Jersey Sections demonstrates that real leadership exists in the field of analytical chemistry. We believe that the formation of more such groups will also help to strengthen the Division of Analytical and Micro Chemistry. With a strong divisional program of varied activities, the division should have more than a few hundred dues-paying members.
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