“I have never seen a real robot and know nothing about robotics as a science or technology, even though I invented the word.”

As rejections go, this excerpted rejection from Isaac Asimov to longtime laboratory automation enthusiast Jeff Hurst is pretty interesting. Hurst had personally invited Asimov to be the plenary speaker at the very first conference and exhibition for laboratory automation back in 1997.

Coming full circle some 14 years later, famed Twilight Zone actor and film writer Bruce Sterling has accepted the opportunity to speak – and he is ready to entertain at LabAutomation2010, Jan. 23-27, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA, USA.

Of course, the concept of laboratory automation is a bit more established nowadays with more than 4,000 participants from 40 countries gathering in the warm and sunny Palm Springs next month at LabAutomation2010.

Sterling will be joined by three other elite plenary speakers:

- Kei Koizumi, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
- R. Graham Cooks, Henry B. Haas Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Purdue University
- Hod Lipson, Associate Professor Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University

All four plenary speakers will be interesting, but I am actually looking forward to Hod Lipson’s presentation on self-aware robots. Check out this video of a robot learning how to walk posted on TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/hod_lipson_builds_self_aware_robots.html

Truth be told, the plenary speakers at LabAutomation2010 are really just the tip of the ice berg. The five-day event offers highly concentrated scientific sessions, short courses, breakfast panels, and posters not to mention the exhibition – which features more than 250 multi-national companies displaying the coolest technology and automation innovation for research and discovery.

The exhibition is free. To register for the scientific sessions, go to: https://www.labautomation.org/LA10/index.cfm.

Be sure to check-out all the smart-savers opportunities. There’s even a $200 flight discount program:
https://www.labautomation.org/LA10/discounts.cfm.

Regards,
Greg Dummer, CAE
ALA Executive Director

B2B Connectivity for Companies Lasered in on Laboratory Technologies: Cutting a Wide Swath Across Multiple Disciplines

How do business and scientific leaders at well-established, large, small and start-up companies find time to connect and explore strategic relationships? It’s difficult at best. Time consuming. And, once due diligence kicks-in, costly. But here’s one solution that efficiently and cost-effectively starts the process – the FREE Biz-Dev Business Development Forum at LabAutomation2010 next month in Palm Springs.

From forensics and food science, to energy research, drug discovery, bioinformatics, quality control and clinical diagnostics – LabAutomation2010 creates real, practical synergistic connections.

LabAutomation2010 is a five-day conference and exhibition attracting more than 4,000 participants from more than 40 countries. The 14th edition of this event is January 23-27 at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA, USA.

Of the many educational and networking offerings of the event, of particular value to those interested in venture projects or partnerships are the free business-to-business aspects of LabAutomation2010. Some 250 multi-national companies comprise the exhibition. And, as a free service aside from the exhibit hall, LabAutomation2010 offers the opportunity to participate in the Biz-Dev Business Development Forum. Biz-Dev provides a dedicated time and place away from the exhibit floor for companies, suppliers, technology providers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to explore business partnerships and collaborations. You can sign-in for free today and see all the C-level executives already participating in program. Go here: http://www.labautomation.org/LA10/bizdev/index.cfm

To learn more about LabAutomation2010, go here: http://www.labautomation.org/LA10/index.cfm

And, finally, according to Leroy Hood, MD, PhD, President, Institute of Systems Biology, LabAutomation2010 is the top science and business meeting kicking off the new year.

“The LabAutomation Conference and Exhibition is a fascinating experience,” says Hood. “It provides a wonderful venue for sharing ideas with scientists and engineers around the world. Laboratory automation is a critical component of high-throughput data measurements of modern biology and medicine. The LabAutomation Community has a unique culture, is an integral component of high-throughput data measurements for genomics, proteomics, and phenotypes and thus provides a crucial foundation for modern biology and medicine.”

And this news just in, ALA has selected eight start-up companies from around the world to participate in its annual Innovation AveNew at LabAutomation2010, to read more about these unique companies from the US, Europe and Asia, go here: https://www.labautomation.org/news/pr112409.pdf

The LabAutomation2010 conference and exhibition is an annual event produced by the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA); www.labautomation.org

My kindest regards,
Greg Dummer, CAE
ALA Executive Director

No matter in which industry you reside, succeeding in the laboratory today requires effectively applying time, cost, and resources to drive results. Where can you find direct access to information that will personally help you increase productivity, elevate experimental data quality, reduce lab process cycle times, and enable experimentation that otherwise would be impossible? Read on.

From hands-on operations managing real liquid handling robots with fluids of various viscosities and compatibility issues, to learning about the latest advances in proteomics and metabolomics with mass spectrometry in drug discovery—the short courses at LabAutomation2010 will give you a rapid introduction to the topics, issues and techniques related to technology and automation in the laboratory.

LabAutomation2010 will be at the Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA, USA, next month January 23-27: http://www.labautomation.org/LA10/index.cfm. Each of the 18 full-day and two-day courses is led by distinguished faculty with deep expertise in their respective topics. The faculty-to-student ratio is typically 15-to-1, giving you exclusive, first-hand education, training and interaction in a highly personal environment. And, as tradition stands, you can save 20 percent on a Sunday short course by purchasing a Saturday course.

So if you desire an intimate classroom setting and wish to learn about automated systems-architectures, failures and complexity; metrics and monitoring; interfaces; automated ID and vision systems, programming automation and managing data: method building; graphical and automatic programming; scheduling; build vs. buy strategies; data analysis systems; LIMS; data transfer and archival; and current trends in laboratory automation technologies – then your best bet is to head to Palm Springs next month.

Greg Dummer, CAE,
ALA Executive Director

In this economy, successful businesses and organizations take nothing for granted. Travel and training budgets are carefully scrutinized, and opportunities are weighed in terms of which can generate the greatest return on investment. These decisions can be tough, but they're just good business.

The following statement by the U.S. Department of Labor regarding continuing education for those immersed in scientific research is particularly important:

"Continuing training is necessary for workers to keep pace with current developments in their fields. It may take the form of on-the-job training or formal training, or it may consist of attending conferences or meetings of professional societies. Workers who fail to remain current in their field and related disciplines may face unfavorable job prospects if interest in their specific area declines." - From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2008-09 Edition, Scientific Research and Development Services

… all of which brings me to my point about belonging-to and participating-in a scientific society such as ours – the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA).

Year after year, we host the LabAutomation Conference and Exhibit and deliver programming, hands-on access to new technologies and applications, and a worldwide network of diverse scientific professionals. From practical grab-and-go ideas to thought-provoking strategies for game-changing innovation, our five-day conference and exhibition has consistently provided value for short- and long-term success. 2010 will be no exception.

In fact, we just added a fourth plenary speaker – Kei Koizumi from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

But don't take my word for it—do the math yourself, and you'll see that LabAutomation more than measures up as a promising and cost-efficient business investment. Read through the information on the LabAutomation2010 Web site; calculate the breadth and depth of topics addressed; analyze the caliber of the speakers and the companies they represent; consider the global reach of impact of other attendees; notice the degree of program personalization that's available; and evaluate the relevance to your personal and professional goals. The members of the Scientific Committee, ALA Board of Directors, and I are confident you will conclude that LabAutomation2010 is the best, most productive, most enriching way to begin the new year.

We also are happy to let you know that our menu of creative discounts and travel programs will stretch travel dollars for students, academics and professionals alike.

ALA exists to serve the educational needs of the scientific and technological specialists who make the lab automation community unique. LabAutomation2010 is the cornerstone of the ALA mission, the heart of its annual curriculum, and your best bet for an unbeatable bottom line.

My kindest regards,
Greg Dummer, CAE,
ALA Executive Director