The RSC Analytical Methods Committee Reaches a Milestone in Technical Brief Publication
The RSC Analytical Methods Committee (AMC) recently published their 100th Technical Brief.
By Dr Andrew P Damant, AMC Technical Brief Editor
The landmark brief provides an introduction to a major mini-series of future AMC Technical Briefs dealing with multivariate statistics. Multivariate statistics are increasingly being used within the Analytical Community and if implemented correctly can furnish the user with significant advantages and benefits.
The AMC is the Committee of the RSC Analytical Division that handles matters of technical importance to the Analytical Science Community. Made up of expert working groups (EWGs) and designated representatives from academia, government, industry, consultants and public analysts, the broad aim of the AMC is to participate in national and international efforts to establish a comprehensive framework for appropriate quality in chemical measurement, and to keep the analytical science community informed of developments. A good example of this is the major role the AMC played in developing guidance on recovery correction, internal quality control and proficiency testing within the food and feed area. Some of this important work has been adopted by The Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Technical Briefs
A major output of the AMC is the Technical Brief series, which provides reliable and up-to-date technical information about aspects of analytical science for members of the Analytical Division and the wider analytical community.
Technical Briefs focus on subjects considered important for analytical scientists, which are currently topical or not readily available from other sources. They are usually drafted by members of the expert working groups and then peer reviewed by other members of the group and by the whole of the AMC.
The AMC published its first Technical Brief in 2000. The instigator and prime mover of the series was Professor Michael Thompson (Birkbeck College) with strong support from Dr Roger Wood, who was AMC Chair at that time.
An open access resource
Early briefs focussed mainly on statistical subject matter such as recovery correction, analytical quality control and proficiency testing. Later statistical briefs delved into the complex areas of experimental design/optimisation, dark uncertainty, Bayesian statistics, p-values, etc.
The Sampling Uncertainty and Sampling Quality expert working group has authored an impressive set of briefs dealing with issues relating to sampling and sampling uncertainty which is important to all analysts. Since 2010 an increasing number of briefs have been published on subjects such as bio-analytical analysis (e.g. digital PCR), instrumental analysis (e.g. hand-held instruments, mass spectrometry periodic table, etc.), food and feed authenticity (principally nitrogen factors) and heritage science amongst others. Targeted towards conservators, curators and art historians, etc., Technical Briefs drafted through the Heritage Science expert working group have undoubtedly enriched and brought a new dimension to the AMC Technical Brief portfolio.
Apart from their general application, AMC Technical Briefs comprise a very useful addition to Continued Professional Development (CPD) records. They are a great open-access resource, and provide an excellent foundation for most of what an analytical scientist needs to know in modern (bio-)analytical measurement science.
Authoritative content
Professor Michael Walker, Queen’s University Belfast, said, "Practicing bioanalytical measurement scientists value AMC Technical Briefs for their up-to-date authoritative content, and I have often turned to them when resolving complex technical appeals in the official control system. The TBs are excellent aids to learning particularly if, like me, formal study of analytical chemistry took place a long time ago. The whimsical humour of some of the titles gives a glimpse of the engaging personalities behind the scholarly treatment of often complex topics. That this body of knowledge has been developed voluntarily and has always been available open access is a tribute to the professional integrity of the analytical community and the commitment of the Analytical Division (of RSC) to a public interest ethos."
Jane White, Glasgow Scientific Services and President of the Association of Public Analysts, said, "The RSC AMC Technical Briefs are a great source of information. They provide information on current issues in an accessible format. It is good to have information from a reliable source such as the Analytical Methods Committee. Congratulations on reaching TB100".
Bertil Magnusson, Trollboken AB, said, "To explain often complex technical issues is difficult and condensing information into 2-4 pages can be a real challenge. AMC Technical Briefs manage this beautifully and we, who work with education of analytical chemists in Sweden, always recommend these documents".
What next?
To ensure high standards throughout analytical science are maintained, the AMC aims to continue keeping the Analytical Community, and users of measurement data, informed of developments through the publication of further Technical Briefs and other AMC outputs such as Reports (see AMC website). The Committee is proud to support the overall Analytical Division aim of supporting CPD with our TBs which can be used towards CPD certification.