Abstract
“The horizon for our ALA conferences, educational programming, and exhibitions is brighter than ever…”
Change is good. Living organisms change to thrive on new conditions. Our association continues to morph to address and even anticipate changes in industrial and academic interests. That flexibility results in updated content of our conference programs, short-courses, and JALA. It will also lead to new benefits for our members.
The horizon for our ALA conferences, educational programming, and exhibitions is brighter than ever as exhilarating additions and changes are being planned! Our first edition of LabFusion was held in Boston this month and focused on laboratory technology applications. The scientific program of the LabFusion series was planned to be complementary to the content of our LabAutomation conferences. Like its previous editions, LabAutomation 2005 will address the science and engineering underlying laboratory technology. However, in 2005, the LabAutomation educational tracks will be organized by technology or technical approach, not by application area as in the years before. For example, tracks are planned that group Analytical Science & Technology (separations and detection such as label free, imaging); Microtechnologies & Fabrication; High-Throughput Technologies; Informatics; Specialty and Other. Our Educational Committee is, in the meanwhile, adding several new topics to our repertoire of short-courses.
You can never have too many friends, as the saying goes. For ALA, this statement holds special meaning. As ALA continues to grow in both membership and educational scope, so does its consortium of “Friends of the ALA” in both industry and academia. In fact, ALA would not be the successful non-profit association it is today without our diverse, dedicated allies who value high-quality education in the field of laboratory technology as much as we do. It's exactly this kind of collaboration that has the potential to make great things happen and move the industry forward.
This year, our Friends of the ALA program will welcome more new members, who will join in our mission to advance laboratory technology and information management education and practices. The ALA, LIMS Institute, SBS, LRIG, ISBER, IEEE, and others announced a mutually beneficial partnership that helps each organization develop and pursue key initiatives, such as expanding their educational reach. By joining Friends of the ALA, special interest groups, associations, and “Birds of a Feather,” consortia can come together, share knowledge, and enhance each other's learning experiences.
Sharing knowledge for the benefit of our members and our discipline is a core component of the ALA mission. In the interest of knowledge sharing, ALA is proudly launching its first Web forum for members. Making critical connections with individuals and organizations alike, the Web forum will function as a comprehensive resource for leveraging expertise in laboratory technologies. ALA will roll out this exciting new member benefit in two discrete phases in 2004.
ALA's “Ask the Expert Web Forum,” available in the coming months, will enable ALA members to ask specific questions of technology experts who participate in the forum. As this Web forum expands and evolves, all questions and answers will be posted and archived, serving as a valuable informational reference for ALA members worldwide. It's just one way that ALA is helping laboratory technology professionals enhance their knowledge and productivity.
Once the Web forum is up and running, ALA will follow up with an extensive print and online directory of vendors who offer demonstrated expertise in many specialty areas of laboratory technology. This unprecedented industry directory will serve as a powerful tool to accelerate pivotal work in the field. By enabling ALA members to access, understand, and implement proven laboratory techniques from fellow scientists around the world, the directory will help expedite new discoveries and revolutionary advances in laboratory technology.
As the 2004 president of ALA, I have enjoyed the interactions and collaborations with our valued members and Friends of the ALA. I will continue to do so in the year ahead. Together, we can reach exciting new horizons in laboratory technologies, industry collaboration, and science education.
