Published in Applied Spectroscopy, March 2024. Fluorescence interference in Raman spectroscopy is a well-known problem, and is especially significant in portable instruments where the availability of a variety of exciting wavelengths is unlikely.  Several fluorescence avoidance and mitigation schemes are described in the literature, and implemented by Raman spectrometer manufacturers, but there is no standard method for evaluating the accuracy and repeatability of these schemes. Some test samples shown in instrument descriptions, like ‘dark rum’ and ‘sesame seed oil’ are not reproducible ..read more

At the 2023 SciX Meeting, Professor Mike George (University of Nottingham) organized a session entitled “140 Years of the Coblentz Society and the Infrared and Raman Discussion Group (IRDG)”, and invited me to give the first talk, which I called, “The Interplay Between Spectrometer Development and Professional Spectroscopic Societies”. This paper is a summary of that talk. The post-World War II availability of commercial spectrometers spurred the development of professional spectroscopic societies: The Infrared and Raman Discussion Group in the UK, the Coblentz Society, and the Society for App ..read more

The second issue of Applied Spectroscopy Practica has been released. You can see a ‘flipbook’ version at: https://www.nxtbook.com/societyforappliedspectroscopy/Practica/applied_spectroscopy_practica_01_02/index.php And here’s a link to the Journal page on the Sage website: https://journals.sagepub.com/loi/APP ..read more

An exciting line-up of speakers for this Symposium at Pittcon Conference + Exposition 2024 in San Diego (Feb 24 - Feb 28, 2024). I organized this Symposium on behalf of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS). Pouya Dianat (Optica - formerly Optical Society of America) Bob Messerschmidt (Cor Health) Ben ver Steeg (Rockley Photonics) and myself. https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2024/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMTY2NzgxMg ..read more

Next-Generation Spectroscopic Technologies The program for this conference at SPIE's DCS meeting is now on-line at: https://spie.org/DCS24/conferencedetails/next-generation-spectroscopic-technologies#_=_ April 21-24, 2024 at National Harbor, MD, USA (Washington DC area). We also have a joint session scheduled with the CBRNE Sensing conference on the Tuesday afternoon of the meeting ..read more

I will be giving a Short Course entitled “Technologies and Applications for Miniature Optical Spectrometers and Spectroscopic Sensors” at SPIE's DCS meeting (National Harbor, MD, USA, Wednesday, 24 April 2024). This short course will be ideal for developers of miniature spectroscopic devices and sensors, and their applications, who work in universities, research institutes, government and early-stage companies. And everybody else interested in this field! https://spie.org/DCS/course/technologies-and-applications-for-miniature-optical-spectrometers-and-spectroscopic-sensors?enableBackToBrowse ..read more

I’m please to announce that I have been elected as an SPIE Fellow. See: https://spie.org/membership/member-recognition/spie-fellows ..read more

Just published as an 'Early View' in the Journal of Forensic Sciences. The methods described are automated colorimetric tests including lateral flow assays; vibrational spectroscopy (mid-infrared and Raman); gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; ion mobility spectrometry, and high-pressure mass spectrometry. In each case the background and key details of these technologies are outlined, followed by a discussion of the application of the technology in the field.  Many thanks to my co-authors: Gregory Giuntini David Schiering Luisa T.M. Profeta Michael Hargreaves Pauline Leary Christopher B ..read more

The Proceedings are available: 9 Sessions, 28 Papers, 31 Presentations. https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/12516.toc ..read more

Just published in the June 2023 Spectroscopy Supplement. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/portable-raman-spectrometers-how-small-can-they-get ..read more