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The Coffee Break: With James Grinias

Jim Grinias shares the ideas and debates shaping conference conversations – from AI to interdisciplinary science

By James Strachan 04/30/2026 7 min read

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5 Key Takeaways

  • 1

    Interdisciplinary research is increasingly emphasized at conferences, integrating analytical, biological, and synthetic chemistry.

  • 2

    The role of AI and automation in analytical chemistry is debated, with concerns about reliance on these tools over fundamental understanding.

  • 3

    Students should learn foundational concepts to troubleshoot effectively, as automation may not yet provide fully reliable solutions.

  • 4

    Concerns about job loss due to automation in analytical science are countered by the potential for increased efficiency and data generation.

  • 5

    Miniaturization in separations, particularly capillary LC, shows promise for sustainability and efficiency in analytical workflows.

About the Author(s)

James Strachan

Over the course of my Biomedical Sciences degree it dawned on me that my goal of becoming a scientist didn’t quite mesh with my lack of affinity for lab work. Thinking on my decision to pursue biology rather than English at age 15 – despite an aptitude for the latter – I realized that science writing was a way to combine what I loved with what I was good at. From there I set out to gather as much freelancing experience as I could, spending 2 years developing scientific content for International Innovation, before completing an MSc in Science Communication. After gaining invaluable experience in supporting the communications efforts of CERN and IN-PART, I joined Texere – where I am focused on producing consistently engaging, cutting-edge and innovative content for our specialist audiences around the world.

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