I am writing this from a classroom at the University of Calgary, where I’m attending a conference called ASITA (Advances in Stable Isotope Techniques and Applications). I’ve been tweeting about it here (Apparently, though, I’m the only one tweeting. Maybe others will join next year.)
This is a workshop for people who run and maintain laboratories that contain mass spectrometers and conduct isotopic analyses (like I do). It brings people from disparate industries, all of whom share the common problems associated with mass spectrometers. I’m rubbing elbows with NASA scientists, geologists, biologists, FBI and DEA agents, and academics. They are a fun bunch to hang out with.
The meeting consists of a day of short courses on some fundamentals of isotopic analysis, then two days of short talks on specific applications, followed by one day of user sessions with representatives of specific mass spectrometer manufacturers.
The rest of the time is spent talking with others and sorting out problems with analyses, learn how to improve our own analyses, and inventing new methods. We develop collaborations, and find out which laboratories have expertise in certain types of analysis. This has worked out to my own benefit in the past, as I have become known as a person who can easily run tooth enamel samples (which tends to be challenging). I’m glad to know who to contact if I have problems or specific needs.
It’s also a chance to talk to other people who completely understand the daily difficulties that we face. It’s truly refreshing. Sometimes it’s really necessary to get affirmation from someone else that you’re not actually losing your mind, and that running a lab really is stressful. Whew!
Vendors are there, too, and listening to all the gripes you may have about your instruments. They take notes and try to implement ‘fixes’ to their products to better suit your needs. When you get to know them, they also become bent upon taking care of you, too, which means that if I need help from the manufacturer, I know who to call.
And, perhaps most importantly, though we all come to the meeting from different backgrounds, we do all have a fine time together. We have our priorities.
Priorities #asita2013 twitter.com/paleololigo/st…
— Penny Higgins (@paleololigo) June 2, 2013
Meetings like this, no matter what your specialty, are important. 1) They are important, informal networking opportunities (and much more relaxed than huge 1000+ professional meetings). 2) They are the best chance for your ideas to get to the manufacturers, where they might get implemented. 3) They are a chance to see your field of specialty beyond your day-to-day life. You’d be surprised how your expertise can be applied to very different problems than what you’re used to.
Three more days! Stay tuned!
Penny Higgins - Storyteller • Artist • Scientist 