From the Publisher: Offering Solutions to Today's Problems

It is no secret that these are tumultuous times we live in. With the economic slowdown, increased dangers abroad, and the recent string of scares involving toxins in everyday foods, there is no shortage of things to worry about in today's world. At LCGC, we've always felt that our Application Notebook is a reflection of not just the recent developments in chromatography and the field of separation science in general, but the world as a whole.

Michael J. Tessalone

In these pages, you'll find application notes on the detection of chemical warfare agents, the analysis of melamine in milk supplies, reducing solvent usage for savings in the lab, and more, all reflecting issues and crises that have come to the forefront in our society as a whole. It has often been said that there is no point in identifying a problem without offering a constructive solution as well, and in The Application Notebook, you will find an entire issue dedicated to solving problems, as we follow LCGC's motto of offering "Solutions for separation scientists."

As usual, myself and our staff will be out in the marketplace as much as possible in the coming months, as the summer and fall have a busy schedule of conferences and symposia slated, so please feel free to give us your feedback on this or any of our other issues either in person or via the contact information on the masthead. This summer in particular will give readers and advertisers the chance to find all of LCGC's staff in one place at our second annual PharmSep Symposium, to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 21–22, so we hope you will attend. For more information on this event, just visit: www.lcgcevent.com.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this issue and the market barometer it provides, and we look forward to seeing as many of our readers and advertisers as possible over the coming months.

Michael J. Tessalone

Science Group Publisher

mtessalone@advanstar.com