IRDG Infrared and Raman Interpretation Course

Held 8th-10th November 2004

University of Manchester

Designed to equip new entrants to the world of Vibrational Spectroscopy, and those in need of a refresher, with a firm grounding in all aspects of spectral interpretation, the three day international

course was held at the new School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Sciences (CEAS). The School was recently formed from a merger of the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Instrumentation and Analytical Sciences at UMIST.

Participants came from far and wide to join the course, with representatives from Holland, Switzerland, Slovenia and of course the UK. The variety of participants was also reflected in their backgrounds, with students ranging from those embarking on their PhDs, to established academics entering the world of spectroscopy; from researchers within the pharmaceutical arena to those working to preserve the UK's art treasures within the not-for-profit sector. All sections of the scientific world were represented and took advantage of the wealth of expertise and experience presented in the form of the independent consultants John Chalmers and Geoffrey Dent, Prof. John van der Maas from the University of Utrecht, and Peter De Peinder from Philips Research, Eindhoven.

Following the format of previous courses, lectures on the theory and origin of bands were interspersed with workshops allowing the students to apply their recently acquired knowledge. Once the basics of the theory had been grasped students were introduced to reality with sessions highlighting practical features that affect interpretation and real-world situations. Building a firm base in interpretation from an Infrared perspective, both the advantages and complementary nature of Raman were also highlighted. With plenty of opportunities for one-to-one discussions of individual problems and spectra, the balance of theoretical knowledge and practical application ensured that by the end of the course, participants were well-equipped to make intelligent

interpretations of spectra from simple aliphatics to complex aromatics; from heteroatom-containing molecules to polymers and even mixtures. Thus equipped, the students went on their way (after the obligatory course dinner), armed and enthused with new knowledge, skills and contacts, and ready to face the challenges in their respective professional worlds.