Abstract
Can you judge a book by its cover? We think so. We think the all-new look of JALA accurately represents the fresh and dynamic scientific perspectives that it consistently showcases. We think the new look reflects ALA's upbeat attitude and positive momentum, and we think it's an appropriate expression of you, the interested and energetic thought leaders whose readership and contributions bring the ALA mission to life.
As the official journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation, JALA is one exceptionally tangible benefit of ALA membership. Not only does it embrace the ALA spirit of cooperation, it serves the ALA scientific community as “a multi-disciplinary international forum devoted to the advancement of technology in the laboratory.” As further testament to JALA's commitment to the ALA mission, you'll find something other than the cover of this issue that's new and different—this issue marks the debut of the first JALA Tutorial.
This debut JALA Tutorial is first in what will be an ongoing series that collectively will create an important foundation of knowledge for students and professionals alike. JALA Tutorials will cover the essential building blocks of laboratory automation, the core topics that define our field. The JALA Tutorial in this issue was carefully prepared by Neils Wartenberg of Microscan Systems, Inc. and focuses on the basics of bar coding. We expect future JALA Tutorials to explore and explain subjects such as the systematic evaluation of automated laboratory equipment, how to assemble an economic justification for a laboratory automation project, the fundamentals of liquid handling, microfluidics, robotics, LIMS, sensors, scheduling, and more.
As time goes by and our continuum of JALA Tutorials grows, so will its strength as a practical industry resource and reference tool. We invite you to contribute to this landmark series. If you have an idea for a topic, or if you would like to author or coauthor a section, please let us know. We value your thoughts and depend on your involvement—they are what make the ALA such a unique and valuable professional organization.
Sincerely,
