What is Grass Roots?
The remit of ChromSoc is to ‘support chromatography and chromatographers’ and we typically do this through the organisation of symposia, funding of students and industrial chromatographers to attend chromatographic conferences (nationally and internationally) and funding of academic research.
In our Diamond celebration year (2016), the Society wanted to organise something slightly different to help support the next generation of chromatographers. Subsequently we held a four-day fundamental chromatography educational event at Grasmere in the Lake District for post-graduate students and novice chromatographers. We called this our ‘Grass Roots’ educational event. Due to the phenomenal success of this event, we repeated this event at Church Stretton in Shropshire in September 2017.
Education & Networking
These events were delivered by a number of chromatographers from the Society committee with extensive training and industrial experience. Although Grass Roots is primarily an educational event, there were extensive opportunities for networking through a walking social programme. Significant finances were (and continue to be) provided to enable academic students to attend through vendor or Chromatographic Society sponsorship.
We are currently developing more advanced courses which build on the previous fundamental theory events. The next courses will focus on small molecule LC method development (2018) and characterisation of biopharmaceuticals (2019).
The small molecule LC method development course will be of particular relevance to attendees working with pharmaceutical compounds, but the concepts and approaches will be equally relevant to those working in the food, environmental and other industries.
New chromatographic concepts and approaches introduced
The course will include lectures in the usual taught format, but there will be extensive time within the programme for hands-on practical work using in-silico method optimisation software alongside our usual walking and social programme. Financial support to attend is available for UK based PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and lecturers, as well as funding for industrial colleagues working at small and medium sized companies.
See ‘upcoming events’ for more information.
Testimonials
“I would highly recommend future ChromSoc ‘grass roots’ educational events to all with an interest in chromatography, whether they work in academia or in industry. The revision of fundamental chromatography, extensive method development and the excellent advice on interviews and applications are extremely applicable to the assessment centres and interviews provided by large pharmaceutical companies and instrument vendors. The event finds a great balance between an intensive lecture course and a professional networking experience set within the relaxed environment of a remote country house.”
“I honestly had the most amazing time and have been completely overwhelmed by the information thrown at me whilst being in a place that was truly magical…There’s nothing better than listening to people who truly know and LOVE their subject!… You can imagine coming into work today has been a struggle and explaining to my bosses you can also imagine how jealous they feel! They love my own enthusiasm so are happy that I came away with so much from the course – the course folder is something they are very happy in seeing and it would seem I’ve certainly lost it for a while as they realise the information they could have gained for themselves. It will most certainly be of much interest… Words are definitely not enough in my gratitude towards yourself and the others on the teaching team.”