During the 24th International Symposium on Chromatography in Leipzig from 15-20 Sep. 2002, representatives of the major European national societies for separation science convened to take the first steps in establishing the European Society for Separation Science (EuSSS). The meeting took place on Tuesday, 17. Sep. 2002, at 1 p.m. in the Central Administrative Building of the University of Leipzig, under participation of the scientists as given in the attached list.
After a short welcome address by the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 24th ISC, Werner Engewald, Hartmut Frank, Bayreuth (Germany), gave a short introduction on how the initiative came about during a visit to the department of Günther Bonn at the University of Innsbruck (Austria) in July 2002. On 28. Aug. 2002 these two, together with Udo Brinkman, Burgh-Hamsteede (The Netherlands) and Francesco Dondi, Ferrara (Italy), reconvened in Innsbruck to draft a memorandum on the need for founding the European Society for Separation Science.
The view of the initiating group, the memorandum, and the main goals and actions were explained by H. Frank, G. Bonn, U. Brinkman and F. Dondi. It was pointed out by G. Bonn that the group does not intend to retain the leadership but that it is hoped that, as soon as possible colleagues from other countries will begin to support and actively participate in shaping and promoting the European Society for Separation Science. Udo Brinkman (NL) pointed out that it is most important to plan concrete actions for the next years in order to gain influence in the science-political arena.
In subsequent short statements made by the representatives of the various countries, the initiative was greeted with great enthusiasm by most participants; Christopher Bevan and Tom Lynch, representing the two groups on separation science in the UK emphasized the great need to develop strong ties between academic and industrial scientists; this was generally accepted as a major necessity. Both emphasized that action is needed to prevent further deterioration of the academic recognition and the quality of teaching of analytical chemistry in the United Kingdom. As representative of the Nordic Society for Separation Science, Tyge Greibrokk (Oslo) indicated full support. Dusan Berek, the president of the Slovak Chemical Society, suggested that an early contact with the Federation of the European Chemical Societies (FECS) should be attempted; this was also supported by Heinz Engelhard (Saarbrücken) and Hans Steinhart (Hamburg) who suggested to involve the FECS-Divisions in Analytical Chemistry and the Working Party in Food Chemistry. Jiri Sevcik (Prague) indicated a keen interest in cooperating in such a Europe-wide organization, especially for a small country as the Czech Republic. Vadim Davankov (Moscow) stressed that such activities are important for Russian scientists to improve their present situation. Wolfgang Lindner (Vienna) raised the question about the scope of topics and areas which should be included and suggested that adjoining scientific areas such as mass spectrometric societies should also be considered, at least with respect to their relevance to separation science. Werner Engewald (Leipzig) gave strong support to early establishing contacts to FECS and other groups such as the German Electrophoretic Society. Michel Martin and Marie-Claire Hennion (both Paris) as representatives of the Association Francophone de Sciences Separatives indicated their full personal support of the initiative, they also emphasized that maintaining a high scientific level is of utmost importance. Szabolcs Nyiredy (Budakalász,Hungary) as representative of one of the two Hungarian Chromatographic Societies (470 members) expressed his firm interest, as well as Boguslaw Buszewski (Torun, Poland), the head of the Polish Analytical Chemistry Division and chairman of the Central European Chromatographic Society (CECS), and Jan Krupcik (Bratislava), representative of the Slovak Chromatographic Society.
In view of the strong, unanimous support of the initiative of founding the EuSSS, it was suggested and agreed upon by all colleagues present that this day, the 17. Sep. 2002, should be considered as the foundation date of the EuSSS. It was agreed that, as the next steps, the memorandum and the protocol of the founding meeting should be circulated to all national separation science groups for discussion and - if necessary - amendment, and for acceptance as an expression of the willingness to participate in the EuSSS. This process should be completed and a letter sent to the EuSSS secretariat before 15 December 2002. Subsequently, the organizational framework of the EuSSS and its charter should be drafted and discussed, and full establishment of the EuSSS should be implemented prior to 1 June 2003. It was agreed that, for the time being, i.e. until a decision is made regarding the official seat, the office of the EuSSS will be located in Bayreuth (Germany).
The meeting was concluded at 2.30 p.m. with the promise made by H. Frank to initiate these primary steps, in consultation with the other three members of the founding group.
H. Frank, 7. Okt. 2002
EuSSS-Meeting
Participants 17. Sep. 02, Leipzig
Name, E-Mail Country City
Dusan Berek Slovakia Bratislava
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President Elect of the Slovak Chemical Society
Christopher David Bevan United Kingdom London
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Günther Bonn Austria Innsbruck
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Udo A. Th. Brinkman The Netherlands Burgh-Haamstede
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Boguslaw Buszewski Poland Torun
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Head of the Chromatographic Analysis Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Chairman of the Central European Groups for Separation Science
Vadim Davankov Russian Federation Moscow
Scientific Council on Chromatography and Adsorption, Academy of Sciences
Francesco Dondi Italy Ferrara
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Head of Separation Science Group of Italy (Interdivisional Group of the Italian Chemical Society)
Heinz Engelhardt Germany Saarbrücken
Former Head of Separation Science Group in the German Chemical Society
Werner Engewald Germany Leipzig
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Head of Separation Science Group in the German Chemical Society (800 members)
Hartmut Frank Germany Bayreuth
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Tyge Greibrokk Norway Oslo
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Norwegian Symp. of Chromatography (250-275 members)
Marie-Claire Hennion France Paris
Member of the Association Francophone de Sciences Separatives
Jan Krupcik Slovakia Bratislava
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Chairman of the Analytical Group of the Slovak Chemical Society (200 members)
Wolfgang Lindner Austria Vienna
President of the Austrian Society of Analytical Chemistry (500 members)
Tom Lynch United Kingdom London
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(Chairman of the Chromatography and Electrophoresis Group, RSC, 1800 members)
Michel Martin France Paris
Member of the Board of Directors of the Association Francophone de Sciences Separatives
Szabolcs Nyiredy Hungary Budakalász
Hungarian Society for Separation Sciences (472 members)
Jiri Sevcik Czech Republic Prague
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Hans Steinhart Germany Hamburg
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Vice President of German Food Chemistry Society,
Board of the Food Working Party of FECS
