Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto

Meet Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto

This question truly resonates with me. We all experience low points – projects that turn out more challenging than expected, promising grant proposals that get rejected. During those times, frustration and discouragement inevitably arise, prompting us to ask ourselves, "What’s the point?" I’ve always found those moments both difficult and essential. They are part of the journey. They force us to reflect on our goals and the direction of our research. They push us to adapt, grow, and strive to do better.

Yet, one thing remains constant: as analytical scientists, our guiding principle is trust. Regardless of the approach or technique, the cornerstone of our field is trust in the data we generate – trust in its accuracy, reliability, and significance. That, ultimately, is the point of analytical science: to ensure trust in the results. This pursuit of trust is a core value of our discipline. It’s the driving force behind innovation. Analytical methods are becoming greener, faster, and more efficient – but never at the expense of robustness. We do not compromise on the integrity of our results. It is this unwavering commitment to quality and reliability that makes analytical science essential to scientific discovery. Entire research domains depend on analytical scientists to deliver accurate data on which reliable conclusions can be built. The vast universe of -omics fields, for example, rests on the innovations and rigor of analytical science.

But our impact extends far beyond academic research. Analytical science underpins the safety and standards of everyday life. Society relies on regulations – whether in food, pharmaceuticals, or technology – that are grounded in analytical methods. These industries, all built on strong quality foundations, simply could not exist without us. This central role is perhaps why analytical science is often seen as a "support" field: we support industrial production, medical decision-making, performance monitoring, and more. Personally, I embrace this role, even if it can sometimes feel underappreciated. Being the backbone of so many fields positions us uniquely to conduct translational research. We must listen carefully, understand the needs of our collaborators, and deliver the best possible analytical solutions.

In the end, the purpose of analytical science is to ensure that what we measure is meaningful – so that others can act on it with confidence. It’s the invisible foundation beneath nearly everything that functions reliably in our modern world.