Victoria Samanidou

Meet Victoria Samanidou

The point of “Analytical Science” is to be the “cornerstone” of advancements in various multidisciplinary fields. It is that necessary stone that once placed, a solid foundation is constructed, since it is forming the required alignment for all other stones to be laid.

Undoubtedly, advancement in many scientific fields very often relies on data derived from chemical analysis. However, the terms Analytical Chemistry (Science) and Chemical Analysis though they seem similar they have an intrinsic difference. Chemical analysis is the application of analytical chemistry used as a powerful tool to solve various scientific problems. Chemical analysis can be automated and performed even by robotic systems or robots. It can be taught to technical staff who subsequently will execute the experimental procedures, apply protocols, providing the necessary raw data which afterwards need to be converted to useful information according to the initial question. But applying an analytical technique does not render someone an analytical chemist, it renders them an applicationist. However, the mere application of analytical science may lead to wrong data and finally to wrong conclusions. False positive or false negative results may be produced, if for example impurities are present or sorption on storage bottles takes place respectively. Or, wrong conclusions may be derived if ubiquitous analytes are determined with no proper use of blank samples or controls.

On the other hand, the advancement of analytical chemistry relies on genuine analytical chemists who have knowledge and a deep understanding of the core science and its fundamentals. To this direction it is of utmost importance that analytical scientists redefine themselves by deeply understanding the fact that the two terms are eventually different and cannot be interchangeably used.

Ultimately, in my opinion, this is the point of Analytical Science as the cornerstone of a solid foundation, where all steps of chemical analysis have been properly executed based on deep knowledge of the core chemistry (properties, interactions, mechanisms, reactions etc) behind sample collection, preservation, storage, sample preparation, measurement and finally the correct data handling. In this way valid, precise and accurate results will be further used for interpretation and reporting in other scientific fields, whether we refer to pharmaceutical, food science, toxicology, environmental pollution monitoring, clinical chemistry, medical science, dentistry, biology, veterinary medicine, archaeology, geology, cosmetology, and so on.