Pittcon 2014®: Explore…Evaluate…Engage

Pittcon®, the largest annual conference and exposition for laboratory science, provides a once-a-year venue to discover breakthrough advances in scientific research, technology, and instrumentation to help solve your laboratory challenges.

Pittcon 2014 will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, from March 2 to 6. Illinois, part of the Midwest Super Cluster, is at the core of one of the most vibrant bioscience clusters in the United States. In addition, the state delivers a broad range of goods and services including medicines, medical devices, nutritional products, food and agricultural applications, alternative fuels, industrials, and environmental solutions.

The four-day exposition, beginning on Monday, March 3, will showcase innovations by leading companies from more than 30 countries. Nearly 50% of exhibitors use this event to launch new products. Conferees will be able to explore everything from glassware to the most sophisticated instruments by participating in live product demonstrations and new product seminars.

Pittcon provides attendees with the chance to interact directly with technical experts to get answers to critical questions. For those planning to make a purchase, Pittcon is the perfect place to compare and evaluate a wide array of equipment used by scientists working in areas such as, but certainly not limited to, analytical chemistry, food science, life science, nanotechnology, drug discovery, environmental science, energy, biotechnology, and water/wastewater.

The dynamic exposition is complemented by a diverse Technical Program that begins on March 2. Sunday’s sessions include the Wallace H. Coulter Plenary Lecture, “Quantitative Proteomics in Biology, Chemistry and Medicine,” delivered by Steven A. Carr, Director of Proteomics at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Carr’s research is focused on a new era of quantitative biology enabled by mass spectrometry-based proteomic technologies. His discussion will include how these technologies are employed in a wide variety of studies, including delineating the genetic underpinnings of mitochondrial disorders, connecting cancer genotype to molecular phenotype, unraveling the basis of the innate-immune response, identifying the mechanism of action of drug-like molecules,and discovering and verifying protein biomarkers of diseases. The lecture is followed immediately by a complimentary mixer where attendees will have time to connect with colleagues while viewing and discussing research that will be presented in the Sunday evening poster session.

Pittcon is, without a doubt, a global event attracting 22–25% of attendance from over 90 countries. The international co-programming contributes to this worldwide appeal with sessions covering various topics by organizations such as the Chinese American Chromatography Association (CACA), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), International Association of Environmental Analytical Chemistry (IAEAC), Analitica Latin America, Professionals’ Network in Advanced Instrumentation Society (PAI-NET), and Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers Association (JAIMA). Other co-programming includes presentations from the American Chemical Society-Division of Analytical Chemistry (ACS-DAC), Association of Lab Managers (ALMA), Coblenz Society, Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS), and Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry (SEAC).

The Pittcon experience can be further enhanced by enrolling in one or more of the cutting-edge Short Courses, which include more than 100 classes ranging in skill level from beginner and intermediate to advanced levels. Short Courses, half-day up to two-day sessions taught by experts in their field, are an excellent and affordable way to improve professional development. The covered topics include career growth and leadership, energy, food science, life science, green chemistry, nanotechnology, patents, pharmaceuticals, polymers, and regulatory issues—to name a few.

These courses offer a unique opportunity for a deep dive into contextualized methods and techniques, and detailed discussions of challenges and concerns of the members of that particular class. In addition, the exposure allows participants to expand their network of scientific resources by providing the setting to facilitate interaction with colleagues from all over the world working in many different fields.

Conferee Networking sessions, beginning on Sunday, March 2 and running through Wednesday afternoon, are another outstanding networking activity included in the price of admission. These informal two-hour sessions bring attendees with similar interests together to discuss, resolve problems, and brainstorm new concepts. This year, there will be 31 facilitated sessions covering topics in life science, chromatography, environmental science, fuel, analytical methods, lab management, quality control, and more. Below is a sample of several topics:

  • Non-Invasive Biomedical Analysis: Detection of Bacterial Infections by Volatile Fingerprints
  • ICP-MS and Chromatography for Metals Speciation
  • Does Your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Replace LIMS?
  • Regulatory Meets Finance.

For those interested in networking for career opportunities, the Employment Bureau is an onsite service that helps to connect potential candidates with available employment. Interviews can be conducted during conference week, and preregistration is required. There are typically more than 400 postings that are suitable for the new entrant in the job market as well as the seasoned professional.

Conferees can stay connected before, during, and after the event with the Pittcon 2014 Mobile App, which is available for free download for iOS and Android devices. The app is your best resource to create a customized schedule, get up-to-date information on technical sessions, see Short Course descriptions, and find details on exhibiting companies. Other functions include Chicago nightlife and restaurant listings; McCormick Place maps; reminders and updates; search, filter, and find; note-taking; and fast, easy exchange of contact information.

Pittcon offers phenomenal value for a small investment. Register before February 10 and pay only $150 ($300 after February 10). Registration entitles a conferee to unlimited week-long access to the exhibit hall, technical sessions, and all event amenities. There are discounts available for students, groups from the same company, and those who take three or more paid Short Courses.

Complete, current listings and corresponding details for the Exposition, Technical Program, Short Courses, and registration are available by visiting www.pittcon.org.

So make your plans. Register now to learn why thousands of colleagues attend this annual celebration of laboratory science, and be sure to book your travel plans with PittconHousing.com to get exclusive low rates at the most popular Chicago hotels.

Discover what all the Pittcon conferees have in common—they’re the smartest guys in the room!

Sincerely,

Janeth K. Pifer

President, Pittcon 2014