President's Report

17th August 2006

As I step down from the position of President, it is appropriate for me to reflect on recent events and the future of the ANZSMS.

The Society continues to attract a wide membership. Earlier this year the ANZSMS moved to an annual membership structure instead of the previous conference based one. The large, and continuing, number of membership renewals and new subscriptions, especially in a non-conference year, indicates that mass spectrometry is certainly an active field of science in both Australia and New Zealand. I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts of our Treasurer, Steve Blanksby, for setting up our on-line credit card payment facility. This has made the transition to the new arrangement a relatively painless procedure.

Last October we were fortunate to have Frank Turecek (University of Washington) undertake a lecture tour. He gave lectures at seven different universities around Australia, continuing the tradition of having a high profile overseas inter-conference lecturer visit our shores. The following month, in conjunction with the RACI and University of Wollongong, the ANZSMS staged the Halpern Symposium. This well attended 3-day conference, to honour one of the pioneers of Australian mass spectrometry, was a huge success and provided an opportunity to hear some exciting plenary lectures delivered by internationally recognised mass spectrometrists. The funding of events such as these is an excellent use of our funds and will continue in future years.

Another area that ANZSMS continues to actively support is the travel of our student members to conferences at both a local and international level. This year alone we are providing a total of $5000 to students who will be participating at the 17th International Mass Spectrometry Conference in Prague later this month. The research of two of them, Bethny Morris and and Kerryn Mason, has been recognised by the granting of individual Journal of Mass Spectrometry awards. It is unusual for two awards to be made from the same country and reflects the high quality of their work. They are to be congratulated on their efforts. Several other ANZSMS student members have also received additional financial support from the IMSS to attend IMSC17.

Australian mass spectrometry will be recognised at IMSC17 with the prestigious award of a Thomson Medal to John Bowie. Again, congratulations to John for this fine achievement. It is also a fitting recognition of John’s long standing support of mass spectrometry in Australia, particularly his role in helping to establish the ANZSMS back in 1971.

Following last year’s AGM, the Executive Committee has finalised details of the three proposed medals. I am sure that these will help to further the profile of mass spectrometry in Australia and New Zealand and at the same time provide appropriate recognition to the recipients.

Next January sees our biennial conference being held in Christchurch. This is just the third time in 35 years that New Zealand has hosted an ANZSMS conference. Planning is well advanced, with abstracts due by mid-October. Further details can be obtained from the conference web site. I hope to see as many members as possible attending what promises to be a very stimulating and rewarding conference.

Finally I would like to thank all of my fellow committee members who have helped to make my presidency over the past two years a most rewarding one. I am sure that, as I have, the incoming President will find their support and advice most useful and constructive.