Abstract
Applied Spectroscopy News is a monthly feature in the journal. It includes information from the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, news from other societies and institutions, announcements of meetings, schools, or other activities, and reports of symposia from recent conferences. If you have news items, a meeting announcement, or a report from a symposium that would be of interest to readers of Applied Spectroscopy, contact David J. Butcher, Applied Spectroscopy News Editor, 340C Stillwell Science Building, 246 Central Drive, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, Ph: (828) 227-7646, email:
The Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies is pleased to announce the winner of the 2013 Charles Mann Award. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated advancements in the field of Raman spectroscopy at a conference presented by FACSS and/or demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the Raman spectroscopy program at a conference presented by FACSS and/or the ASTM Raman subcommittee.
The 2013 FACSS Charles Mann Awardee for Applied Raman Spectroscopy is Volker Deckert, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Jena University, Germany. The Award will be presented at SciX 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Volker Deckert holds a joint position at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Jena, Germany and the Institute of Photonic Technology also in Jena. He obtained his diploma and Ph.D. degree from the University of Würzburg, working on instrumental developments for Raman spectroscopy. As a postdoc he worked on non-linear and time-resolved laser spectroscopy at the University of Tokyo and KAST, in Kawasaki.
During his tenure at ETH Zurich, he came into contact with near-field optical techniques and was among the first to combine this high spatial resolution technique with Raman spectroscopy. A major breakthrough was the development of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), a combination of scanning probe microscopy with plasmonic probes. This technique brings together the sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering and the high lateral resolution of near-field optics, consequently providing a tool to investigate phenomena much beyond the diffraction limit of conventional optics. Since then, his goal has been to push the lateral resolution of Raman spectroscopy into smaller and smaller dimensions. In particular, his interest is to apply the resolution capabilities of TERS towards nanoscale studies of biomolecules and recently to the investigation of fundamental dynamic processes of surface reactions.
The FACSS Innovations Awards were initiated as part of the 2011 FACSS meeting at the suggestion of Prof. Pavel Matousek (Program Chair) and approved by the FACSS Governing Board. These awards are given for the most innovative and outstanding new research advancements debuted orally at the SciX Conference. All program areas are included. Only research findings presented for the first time in the public domain qualify for entry (work based on submitted papers not yet published electronically or in print at the time of abstract submission qualifies, too). Only papers submitted by their authors during the SciX conference paper submission process will be considered for these awards. Finalists are selected for presentations by a panel of judges and all finalists present their work at a special plenary session at the SciX conference. Award winners are selected by the judging panel based on the quality of the work presented, responses provided to the judges' questions after the plenary presentation, and responses to audience questions.
Work may be submitted at the Submit a Paper page on the SciX website. Please check the “FACSS Innovation Awards for Oral Presentation” button below the abstract submission to be considered for this award. Nominees will be contacted by e-mail after the submission deadline to be part of the special Thursday afternoon Innovation Award session.
Each award includes:
A total cash prize of $1500
A plaque for each author
A publicity campaign based on the awardees and their work
A competition for SAS students who are presenting authors at SCIX 2013 will be held and recognition for four outstanding posters will be given. The judging will take place on Sunday evening. All SAS students should put up their posters on Sunday evening before the opening mixer as well as on their assigned presentation day. All SciX conferees are invited to submit titles. Student SAS members must select the appropriate box on the on-line paper submission form to ensure they are considered. Student awardees will receive a free one-year SAS membership and a plaque highlighting their achievement. For more information please contact the SAS Office by either email:
FACSS awards poster prizes to students during the SciX Conference poster sessions Monday through Thursday. All student posters are eligible, and are reviewed by a panel of experts appointed by the 2014 Program Chair. Posters are judged based on the clarity of the poster, quality of the science presented, and the knowledge of the presenter. The top three posters in each session are awarded cash prizes. Students may submit their requests for posters at the Submit a Paper page at the SciX conference website until July 31, 2013.
The Coblentz Award is presented annually to an outstanding young molecular spectroscopist under the age of 40. This award is the Society's original award (first awarded in 1964), and is the complement of the Craver Award that recognizes young spectroscopists for efforts in applied analytical vibrational spectroscopy. The candidate must be under the age of 40 on January 1 of the year of the award. The award has traditionally included an honorarium, a plaque with a prism from the periscope of a World War II Navy submarine, and a travel allowance.
Nominations for 2014 must include a detailed description of the nominee's accomplishments, a curriculum vitae or resume, and a minimum of three supporting letters. Nominations for 2014 close on July 15, 2013. Files of candidates will be kept active for three years or until the age of eligibility is exceeded. Annual updates of candidate files are encouraged and will be solicited from the nomination source by the Awards Committee chair.
Please send nomination packages (email is preferred) to:
Professor Pavel Matousek
Central Laser Facility
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Oxfordshire OX11 0QX
United Kingdom
email: