Brazilian Journal of Analytical Chemistry - BRJAC - Brazilian Journal ...

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www.brjac.com.br
Br a z i l i a n aChiEvEmEnts an d fr o n t i E r s in
a n a l y t i C a l Ch E m i s t r y
The International Year of Chemistry, 2011, is a good opportunity to discuss
what achievements of analytical chemistry have benefited humankind, both
in daily living and health. For this, the Brazilian Journal of Analytical Chemistry
invited Professor Ramon Barnes to tell us about our last conquers and
what we, Brazilians, still should work on to foster analytical chemistry and
spectrochemistry nationally.
Ramon Barnes is coming for a Plenary Conference in the 2nd Analitica Latin
America Congress, to be held in September 20 to 22. Professor Barnes is
an old friend of Brazil: he has been coming to our country for more than
two decades to meet with Brazilian researchers, and thus, he speaks knowingly.
The conversation ranged from a critical view of the analytical chemistry
research in Brazil to the future steps we should take to broaden and
strengthen the relationship with industry. His counsel is precious.
Barnes received a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Illinois,
in 1966, and he was a postdoctoral research fellow at Iowa State University,
in 1968 and 1969. From 1969 to 2000 he taught analytical chemistry
and maintained an international research program at the University of Massachusetts
(UMASS Amherst), where he is now Professor Emeritus. He has
published more than 300 papers, edited four books, and continues to have
an active interest in fundamentals and applications of inductively coupled
plasma (ICP) discharges for spectrochemical analysis. Professor Barnes is
the chairman of the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry, held
since 1980.
Professor Barnes is also a director of the University Research Institute
for Analytical Chemistry, (URIAC) which is a non-profit corporation that
fosters science education, research, and study in spectroanalytical chemistry.
The research institute provides specialty plasma spectrochemical
analysis, development of methods, training, consulting, and applied research.
Its areas of work are ICP atomic emission spectrometry and ICP
mass spectrometry for ultratrace metal and stable isotope analyses in
environmental, forensic, drug development, medicine, public health, and
semiconductor manufacturing. Through URIAC, Professor Barnes has edited
the ICP Information Newsletter, since 1975, one of the first science
journals in the area.
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