Our updated blog by MSG chair - Steven Coombes, 29 April 2016

Post date: Jul 28, 2016 8:34:22 AM

“Knock, knock”

“Who’s there?“

“The interrupting cow”

“The interrupting cow wh......

“MOOOOOOOO!!!”

Well, not the usual start to your science blog, but hopefully it might make you read a little bit more... That by the way is my 6 year old son’s favourite joke at the minute, he told it to the on Saturday morning when he and his 3 year old brother were doing “Science like Daddy” in the shape of a child’s Chemistry kit they got for Christmas. I love the fact that the pair of them are showing signs of an interest in science at such an early age and have to admit I really enjoyed playing with food dye and litmus paper. And I guess it’s the same passion for science and learning that led me to get involved with the RSC Molecular Spectroscopy Group (MSG) several years ago, of which I am now the Chairman.

The MSG committee is a multidisciplinary group with expertise in NMR, PAT, Vibrational and Ion Mobility Spectroscopies to name but a few techniques and we all have a shared interest in the application of our own disciplines to solving problems, be they in an academic or industrial environment. Although many other interest groups and organisations exist which focus on the fundamentals of some of these disciplines (eg the NMRDG, BMSS, IRDG etc.), we at the MSG try to cater for those who appreciate that their technique (although clearly superior to all others!) sometimes, maybe, can do with a little help from another technique. Speaking as an NMR spectroscopist myself, I enjoy the “love – hate” relationship I have with my MS colleagues and do occasionally rely on them for minor pieces of information like Molecular Weight or a Molecular Formula. This is one if the reasons why the MSG enjoys hosting multidisciplinary meetings such as “Data to Knowledge”, or the successful “Structure” meetings we have helped to organise with colleagues in the BMSS and NMRDG. We are always on the lookout for new ideas and thoughts about meetings /conferences / symposia we could arrange which address specific problems that may cover a number of different technique areas and are keen to hear from our Group members if there are any subjects you feel worthwhile.

The main aim of the MSG blog is to try and share some of our thoughts and ideas around our own technique areas and certain applications which interest us and hopefully some of you will find it equally as interesting and hopefully contribute yourselves. We plan to start with a series of posts from our committee members covering their own area of expertise so you can get to know us a little better and we’d love to hear from our members to see if there is more we can do as a committee for you.

The blog will be hosted on our MSG website (link here) and we hope you’ll come back for more...

Steve

MSG Chairman