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AOCS Analytical Division
Newsletter September 2007

Message from the Chair
Jerry King

My comments for the AOCS Analytical Division Newsletter this cycle are twofold. Firstly, I would like to report to our members on the programmatic activities and results during the Québec City meeting, and secondly, to comment on the status of the division and future activities, particularly with respect to next year's annual meeting in Seattle, Washington. I can say with confidence that our division's program was well received judging by the attendance at the individual sessions. However, membership participation in the division's planning meetings was disappointing.

All of the Analytical Division's programs in Québec City had excellent attendance, and in some cases the assigned rooms overflowed their capacity. Sessions on trans fatty acid (co-organized with JOCS), triacylglycerol molecular structure characterization, biodiesel analysis (co-sponsored with IOC), and the novel process control/analytical methods session (co-sponsored with PROC), as well as our general oral and poster sessions, were appreciated as was apparent from the divisional and general feedback I received on our programming. The divisions had 37 posters listed in the abstract book, which was an excellent addition to the oral program.

The Dutton Award luncheon was well-attended with approximately 90 members at the luncheon to hear Dr. Yutaka Itabashi's award address entitled, “HPLC Resolution of Stereo- and Regiosiomeric Glycerolipids.” The Dutton Award plaque was presented to Dr. Itabashi by Vice-Chair Fred Eller, who also presented our division's student awards to Cynthia Boudrault and Sandra A. Reza Lopez, both from the University of Toronto. We encourage you to nominate deserving candidates for the Dutton Award as well as our division's student awards for next year's meeting in Seattle.

The student award is presented to Sandra A. Reza Lopez.

The Dutton Award is presented to Dr. Itabashi.

The student award is presented to Cynthia Boudrault.

A special note of thanks is due to our division member-at-large, Gary List, who made a special presentation during the luncheon honoring Dr. Herbert J. Dutton, for whom our division's annual award is named. Dr. Dutton passed away on September 12, 2006 in Cable, Wisconsin at the age of 92. Gary, who worked with Dr. Dutton for many years at USDA's Peoria, Illinois research center, reflected on Dr. Dutton's contributions to lipid science and technology, his personal development, and Dr. Dutton's commitment to science throughout his entire career.

Our Analytical Division Board Meeting on Sunday in Québec City was sparsely attended. Two major initiatives were discussed that involved providing divisional travel grants for academic attendees as well as access to on-line AOCS analytical methods for students. It was generally agreed upon by those in attendance that funding these initiatives on a trial basis would be desirable. Rick Della Porta noted that our divisional budget is around $20,000 even after partially supporting the Dutton award luncheon. The division was encouraged to seek external sponsorship for targeted sessions at future meetings, such as the $3275 raised by Craig Byrdwell for the division's session in mass spectrometry at the St. Louis AOCS Meeting.

My attendance at the AOCS Divisional Council Meeting on Sunday in Québec City had one item of note for divisional members. In the past, student award nominees have been able to apply for multiple awards across several divisions. The council voted to end this practice and limit student award nominees for one award across all divisional awards. This policy, however, would not apply to foundational or named student awards.

Moving on to our division's planned activities for next year's AOCS meeting in Seattle, May 18-21, 2007, session topical themes were suggested and approved by the limited members in attendance at the Analytical Division's Roundtable Discussion Meeting. The sessions scheduled for the Seattle meeting are as follows:

• Biodiesel Analysis and Characterization
• Antioxidants and Natural Extracts
• Mass-Spectrometry-Based Analysis
• Analytical Standards for Lipid Analysis
• Quality Control and Plant Methodology
• General Session

Teresa Alleman of NREL noted at the Roundtable Meeting that current interest in the biodiesel session in Québec City suggested that an additional session at the Seattle meeting would be welcomed. Ken Lin proposed the mass spectrometry analysis session and will lead the development of this sector of the division's program. Rick Della Porta proposed the session on antioxidant and natural extract analysis, while Jerry King will co-organize a session involving analytical standards for lipid analysis. These individuals and their co-chairs encourage your input and participation into these sessions to make the division's program for Seattle a success.

Your input as to future Analytical Division programming for meetings beyond the upcoming Seattle meeting is also encouraged right now. Andy Proctor has graciously stepped down as our division's program chair, and Ken Lin from the USDA Albany, California laboratory will be taking on this role. Please contact Ken regarding topics for inclusion in future divisional programming and also volunteer to organize such sessions at future meetings! We really need your participation within the division's governance since our leadership ranks are growing thin. Both Andy Proctor and Rick Della Porta are to be congratulated on being selected as members-at-large to the AOCS Governing Board, and this may impact on their divisional roles, so we really do need your help in running the division.

Finally, it is not too far ahead to be thinking about AOCS' 100th anniversary meeting in 2009 where our division's input has been solicited. It would be nice to be thinking ahead as to how we might wish 100 years of lipid analysis and characterization to be portrayed at this significant event. Perhaps organizing a special exhibit might be appropriate. Let me know your thoughts on this, or contact Jeff Newman at AOCS with your ideas, and as always, we hope you would volunteer to head up such an effort in the future on behalf of the division.

--Jerry King

Also in this newsletter:

Herbert J. Dutton Award: Call for Nominations

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