Pittcon will - like every year - showcase recent developments in the fields of chemistry, biology and the laboratory business. G.I.T. Laboratory Journal will have a look again at Pittcon and other events for relevant developments in science and instrumentation to keep our readers informed about new findings and technical innovations. Following the tradition of G.I.T. Laboratory Journal to be in touch with the community, its Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Arne Kusserow, talked to Penny Gardner, Pittcon President 2011.

1. Pittcon, unlike other combined scientific conferences and trade shows, is a non-commercial event. All revenues are spent for the support of the scientific landscape of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and beyond. Please tell us about the basic mission of Pittcon?

"Our mission is to sponsor and sustain educational and charitable activities for the advancement and benefit of scientific endeavor."
The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy is the non-profit organization that organizes and produces Pittcon, the world's largest annual conference and exposition for laboratory science. The two societies, Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP) and the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, sponsor the yearly conference and exposition. Proceeds from Pittcon help us to achieve our mission by funding science education and outreach at all levels, kindergarten through adult in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas, as well as local areas in and around the host city. Outreach programs include science education through workshops and seminars for students and teachers and grant programs for schools and colleges to purchase scientific equipment.

2. Please describe a project supported by Pittcon that focuses on the scientific education of children?

Each year in the host city, Pittcon offers Science Week, an outreach and support program that promotes science education from elementary through high school levels.

Science Week includes free teacher and student workshops, a demonstration/lecture for high school students, and a grant program.

Teacher workshops are presented by leading educators and scientists and cover a wide range of topics specific to elementary, middle, and high school science. Teachers who attend receive Professional Learning Units (PLU's) and will also receive supplies and materials, so that they can immediately implement the principles and activities demonstrated in the workshops.

Student workshops are also available to elementary and middle school students. Participants rotate through a set of six hands-on workshops that cover such topics as gases, acid/base reactions, chromatography, electrochemistry, astronomy, and light and color.

Attendance at one or more of the teacher workshops entitles a teacher to apply for a grant to purchase science-related teaching materials for their school. These grants may be as much as $1000 each to any school within a 150 mile radius of Atlanta. For Pittcon 2011, we are offering a new workshop for teachers called the Elementary Science Olympiad Program. The main purpose of this workshop is to demonstrate to teachers how to create and implement a Science Olympiad Program within their own school. The Elementary Science Olympiad Program is a hand on science program to excite, inspire, challenge, and foster the fun side of science for elementary students of all abilities. The Science Olympiad consists of different events where students take an active role in exploring science topics related to the school's science curriculum. The events can be scheduled to occur as half-day up to three-day competitions. The length of the Science Olympiad should be based on the needs and curriculum of the school. One of the goals of this program is the application of science and other skills to correlated events that are enjoyable and provide a variety of real-world experiences. The program helps students of all abilities succeed in science. It is designed for students in grades 3 through 6; however, it can be adapted to include lower grade levels. The workshop will provide information, manuals, training and grant money for teachers and administrators to create and implement a Science Olympiad program in their school.

On Thursday of Conference Week, Lee Marek from the University of Chicago will present a special lecture and demonstration, "Weird Science on Fuels and Energy. " This program will feature science education in a very unique way so as to capture the interest of high school students.

3. Please tell me about the expenses for and the number of grants Pittcon offers to young scientist at the undergraduate level.

Each year, together with its co-sponsoring technical societies, The Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP) and The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh (SSP), and funded by the Pittcon event, these societies award The Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grants (PCMNCG) to small college science departments. The awards are approximately $10,000 for the purchase of scientific equipment, audio-visual, teaching aids, and/or library materials for use in the teaching of science at the undergraduate level for colleges and universities throughout the United States.