November 2008 marks ISC's 40th year of service to the laboratory marketplace, a period of dramatics changes in both the field of laboratory instrumentation and communications. ISC launched its first journal, American Laboratory, to meet the need among laboratory scientists for practical, applications-oriented information on the use of the new kinds of laboratory instrumentation that were becoming available. New instrumentation introduced in the 1960s included nuclear magnetic resonance from Varian, the first far-infrared FTIR spectrometer from Beckman Instruments, and the first gel permeation chromatograph from Waters Corp. Waters also introduced the Model ALC 100 HPLC, which was widely used by organic chemists.
There are many more example of the “firsts” in the 1960s, and in subsequent decades. What’s often referred to as the chemist’s “toolbox” now contains an impressive array of instruments for qualitative and quantitative analysis of a wide range of biological and inorganic samples of sizes from mL to sub-μL. The growth of the instrumentation industry in the postwar years was fueled by an increasing need for laboratory measurements- a need that has continued to grow ever since. Data are the output from the laboratory, and are required by research, government, and industry as the foundation for information. American Laboratory focuses on the needs of the laboratory scientist who is responsible for collecting data using instrument from a toolbox that was evolving rapidly. American Laboratory succeeded because scientists needed information to keep them up to date on the new measurement technology and applications; that is, on practical procedure for specific kinds of analyses.
In the early 1980s, the life science became increasingly important as more and more funding was committed to R&D in this area. ISC launched its editorial tabloid, American Biotechnology Laboratory (ABL), in 1982 to provide news and information on laboratory product introductions for life science laboratories. ABL also publishes technical articles on innovative technologies and new aspects of laboratory practice.
More recently, ISC has enhanced its Internet services and started its first on-line journal for the analytical community in India, International Laboratory, India Lab. In 2008 the print version of American Laboratory was supplemented with on-line issues, and this program will continue in 2009. We believe our publications, both print and electronic, serve the laboratory community by providing our readers with information and articles that are of significant professional value.
In conclusion, ISC is committed to supporting the laboratory marketplace with services and information that benefit both the manufacturers of laboratory products and the scientist working in life science and analytical laboratories. Over the company’s 40-year history, we have offered our clients promotional services using whatever media are the most current, such as journal and tabloid advertising, card deck, direct mail, and so forth. Today, because the Internet is a dominant force in communications, ISC is committed to expanding its electronic services using e-mail and the ISC Web site. Nevertheless, print still plays an important role in marketing communications, especially for brand building. Accordingly, to meet the future needs of tour clients, we believe ISC’s mixed-media packages will provide the most cost-effective product promotion.
