The Power of People

Once, about 20 years ago, I was swimming in the ocean along North Carolina's Outer Banks when an innocent-looking wave wiped me out. I remember seeing the wave coming, but since I am an experienced swimmer, I recall thinking it wasn't cause for concern. Before I realized my miscalculation, I was caught up in a maelstrom of water. The force of the water turned me over and over again, threw me repeatedly against the ocean floor, and then unceremoniously flung me out of the surf onto the beach. I emerged miraculously intact, but completely disoriented—and with a renewed sense of respect for the power of nature. Visiting Pittcon '96 in Chicago earlier this month reminded me of that experience. Pittcon '96—the 47th Pittsburgh Conference & Exposition on Analytical Chemistry & Applied Spectroscopy—is the world's most complete showcase for analytical instrumentation (see page 28). I didn't so much walk through the ...