Focus
Building respect for analytical chemistry The death of Wilhem Simon, the retirement of Ervin Kovats from the Ecole Polytechnique Federate de Lausanne, and the upcoming retirement of Werner Haerdi at the University of Geneva—all prominent analytical chemists—have dealt a terrible blow to the analytical community in Switzerland, especially because Simon's and Kovat's positions were not replaced with full chaired professors in analytical chemistry. In a small country such as Switzerland these losses represent a true decline in status
EAWAG includes a radioactive- and chemical-tracers group that has measured cosmogenic isotopes in ice cores from Greenland and the Swiss Alps, as well as in the depths of Russia's Lake Baikal. In the limnological research center, analytical chemists are developing ion-selective electrode sensors that work at pressure depths of up to 30 bar for investigating biogeochemical processes in aquatic systems (7). Although EAWAG's main focus is aquatic research, the institute's chemists in recent years have turned their attention to airborne pollutants as well. For example, researchers have looked at various
To build support for their science, analytical chemists in Switzerland, notably from EAWAG and ETHZ, established a Center for Excellence in Analytical Chemistry (CEAC) at ETHZ last year. "It is a reaction against those 'real' chemists who push the analytical chemists aside," says Giger, referring to academic chemists in other disciplines. "We often have the problem of being used as the analytical servants." The center has set an ambitious agenda of promoting research collaborations, coordinating teaching activities, disseminating information about analytical chemistry, and establishing an employment network for recent graduates.
organics, such as dioxins and VOCs, in snow, rain, and fog. One new area of study effectively combines problems in airborne pollutants with aquatic research by measuring a host of pesticides deposited from the air and washed from roofs by rainfall. Supporting environmental research The ability to commit to these types of projects requires steady funding. "We depend less on soft money for research, so we can stay in some fields for longer," says Giger. EAWAG's total budget is about 40 million Swiss Francs ($33 million
CEAC's first meeting in June 1995 at EAWAG drew around 80 people. CEAC now sponsors an analytical chemistry colloquium at ETHZ and has received some money to launch an inter-institutional research project on the chemical analysis of combustion aerosols. In addition, a Simon Fellowship has been established under the auspices of the International Center for Scientific Culture to bring promising young analytical chemists from developing countries to work in Switzerland for six months. More information on CEAC is available in English at httpV/ beelzebub ethz ch/ceac
U.S.), around 25 million of which is provided by the government on the basis of a four-year rolling financial plan reviewed annually. Additional funding comes from third parties such as international research organizations. In general, says Giger, funding for EAWAG programs is increasing. He says that political support in Switzerland for environmental research is bolstered by the now infamous Nov. 1,1986, fire at a Sandoz Pharmaceutical warehouse outside of Basel. The fire led to the dumping of 66,000 lb of chemicals—including 440 lb of mercury—into the Rhine River. Concern about forest decline in Switzerland also fuels public support for environmental spending. EAWAG's efforts have also been aided by a close association with Swiss academia. EAWAG is part of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, a national system of universities and research institutes. Giger, Stumm, and several other EAWAG scientists hold positions as faculty members or lecture at the nearby Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), a university of about 11000 students; other EAWAG scientists are connected with different universities In addition EAWAG currently has around 85 graduate students working in its laboratories on various projects "The situation is comparable with Woods Hole [Oceano£rraphic Institute ] and its association with MTT " covq FAWAP prntriYiVnlntrist Herbert riittincrer
EAWAG analytical chemist Marc Suter running a sample through flow injection analysis coupled to tandem MS with continuous flow fast atom bombardment desorption ionization. (Photograph courtesy of EAWAG). 614 A
Analytical Chemistry News & Features, October 1, 1996
EAWAG scientists also sponsor continuing education and training programs, known as PEAK (Praxisorientierte
