From the Editor: Saying Goodbye to Spectroscopy

Dear Spectroscopy Readers:

After two and a half years as Associate Editorial Director, it’s time for me to say goodbye to Spectroscopy. This role has been an incredible journey—one that introduced me to a vibrant, curious, and passionate community that truly drives the future of analytical chemistry.

When I first joined Spectroscopy, I was immediately struck by how widely the technology is used across so many fields and industries. From cultural heritage preservation to bioanalysis, its techniques play a meaningful role in some of the most important work happening in our lifetimes. A little bit of spectroscopy touches nearly everything that affects our daily lives. Whether it’s the sensors in our smartwatches or the spectrometers aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the field has such a far-reaching impact that it’s almost impossible not to recognize its value.

Yet few people truly understand what spectroscopy is. Mention Raman spectroscopy to someone outside the scientific community, and it’s often met with blank stares—a reminder of just how specialized and vital this field is, and of the role Spectroscopy plays in making it accessible.

Communicating science is often as important as doing it. Some of the most influential researchers in this field have made groundbreaking contributions, yet surprisingly little about their stories is easily found online. Jerome Workman and I discussed this at length when launching the Icons of Spectroscopy series—an idea that was entirely his—but one we both wanted to use to honor these key figures, preserve their legacies, and share valuable lessons with the next generation of scientists.

I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved during my time at Spectroscopy. We launched new series that brought readers inside the science—Inside the Laboratory offered an intimate look at day-to-day lab work, while features on space analysis and forensic applications explored the frontiers of the field. We delivered practical, fundamentals-focused content that scientists and students alike rely on to stay sharp. We helped shine a light on the breakthroughs and techniques that matter.

This is what makes trade publications like Spectroscopy so valuable. They offer a space to share research, debate emerging issues, and shine a light on topics that mainstream media often overlooks. Editors play a crucial role in this ecosystem—elevating ideas, connecting people, and translating complex science into stories that resonate. But the community is just as essential: its members are not only key sources for our reporting, but they are also our readers, our colleagues, and often, our friends.

I hope the community and the editors of Spectroscopy continue to support one another, championing the publication not only as an outstanding source of information but also as a vital voice for the field. I have immense respect for the passion, curiosity, and dedication that define this community, and I am deeply grateful that I took the leap to change my own career and embrace a field I once knew very little about.

Lastly, thank you to everyone—readers, Editorial Board members, contributors, columnists, editors, and so many others—for all you’ve done for me personally, for this publication, and for the field of spectroscopy. If you’d like to stay in touch, you can connect with me on LinkedIn.

Signing off for the last time,

Caroline Hroncich
Associate Editorial Director
Spectroscopy