ANALYTICAL C H E M I S T R Y WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
Increased Tempo
Another major event this year is the Nuclear Engineering and Science Congress, to be held in Cleveland in December. The analytical profession is on the march and slated to reach bigger and better heights in the foreseeable future. And that is the way it should be.
HE Magic Number,” our December editorial, referred to Tthe possibility that the Division of Analytical Chemistry would obtain 2000 members by the end of 1955. This goal has already been passed and the sights are raised still further. One reason for the increase was illustrated a t the Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Nicr oscopy, held a few !?eel;... ago a t Pittsburgh. At this meeting, G. Frederick Smith. supersalesman and immediate past chairman of the division, sold more than 100 divisional memberships. Activities of Smith, K. G. Stone, chaiinian of the illembership Committee, and other active members have made pos. sihle the division’s recent rapid gron th. This increased membel ship places responsibilities on the division to provide programs and services of interest to members and thus retain theii active membership. The title “Magic Number” could a150 be applied to the Silt11 Pittsburgh Conference, sponsored jointly by the Analytical Group of the Pittsburgh Section and the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, because registration a t this meeting passed the 2000 mark. The outstanding success of the Pittsburgh conference has hiought n ith it some problems and headaches. It is literally bursting a t the seams. The Hotel William Penn was unable to accomniodate all those who wished to attend and could not make sufficient space available for nianufacturers and suppliers who wished to demonstrate their wales. The close proximity of the meeting rooms and exhibition ha11 has been an advantage, but now with the need for more space the solution may lie in the proposed convention and exhibition hall in Pittsburgh. Other events of interest to analvsts n-hich indicate the incieased tempo include the national ACS meeting in Cincinn:rti. The divisional program is sclieduled for three days (March 30 to April 2 ) . After Cincinnati comes the annual Summer Symposium cosponsored by the Division of Analytical Chemistry and A?;ALYTIC.~L CHEMISTRY.The 1955 symposium, to be held a t Syracuse University, June 17 and 18, will deal with “The Role of Reaction Rates in Analytical Chemistry.” Analysts on the West Coast FT ill be interested to learn that the 1956 meeting \\-ill be staged on the Los Angeles campus of the University of California. Purdue will be host in 1957. K e applaud the decision to take the ‘%how” to California next year. It will afford analysts residing on the West Coast an opportunity to share intimately in the program of the division and will provide a golden opportunity for analysts from other sections of the country to see a t first hand a wide variety of industrial and agricultural activity, much of which is peculiar to western states. There are many problems in the industrial field, such as smog control, and in the field of agricultural and food chemistry, the solution of which may well come from analytical chemists.
Nuclear Congress-Opportunity for Analysts RECLST
announcement by the Atomic Energy Comniis-
A sion, that it will be selling commercial power from its
land-based prototype of a submarine reactor (West Milton, K. Y.) by late summer, indicates the speed with which atomic pon er is becoming a reality. In this mushrooming field, and in particular its peacetime applications, analysts are playing an increasingly important role. Analysts will have an opportunity to participate in a scientific meeting which will evaluate the past, present, and future role of atomic energy: the first Suclear Engineering and Science Congress, a t Cleveland, December 12 t o 17, 1955. The congress is being sponsored by the Engineers Joint Council n-ith the active assistance and cooperation of some 20 professional, engineering, and technical societies. The AxfER1c.m CHEMICAL SOCIETY is a major participating group. To date the Analytical, Polymer, Physical and Inorganic, Chemical Literature, Water, Sewage, and Sanitation, and Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Divisions have indicated their intention to present papers. Each participating organization is being given the responsibility for obtaining authors and papers. The individual papers will be assigned to appropriate symposia or general sessions. The authors, however, will be identified with the organization they represent. To assure a well rounded program, the sponsors are not requiring original presentations. This will allow presentation of papers which may be declassified for presentation at the United S a t ions “atoms-for-peace” conference a t Geneva this year. Some groups have declined to participate, partially because of an early deadline of April 1 for titles and abstracts of papers. The deadline for titles and abstracts has been moved up to May 1. Deadline for papers is set for mid-August. ACS divisions which cannot participate as a unit should encourage individual members who have papers of interest to take part in the congress. Details may be obtained from R. 11. Warren, assistant secretary, AMERICAKCHEMICAL SOCIETY,1155 Sixteenth St., N.W., Washington 6, D. C. This congress, which may develop into an annual affair, should represent a significant step forward as the era of peacetime applications of atomic energy rapidly comes closer. The ACS through both its divisions and individual members can make a major contribution. 33s
