Making Spectroscopy Training More Accessible

In the fourth installment of the SpecAcademy panel discussion, participants examined how spectroscopy training has changed in recent years and how SpecAcademy can make that training more accessible without losing the benefits of hands-on instruction.

The panel opened by noting a sharp decline in live short-course attendance. Classes that once drew 25 to 30 participants now typically attract only 5 to 10. Panelists attributed this to several pressures. First, there are economic challenges, such as the cost of travel and course fees. Then, there’s the difficulty of securing management approval, and reluctance to spend time away from the laboratory. The shift to remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic has also dampened enthusiasm for returning to in-person learning.

Despite these trends, the panelists stressed that in-person instruction still offers the highest ceiling for knowledge transfer. Working through problems and operating instruments directly reinforces concepts in ways that are difficult to replicate online. Instrument-based "sandbox" courses, in particular, give participants practical experience, and the panel encouraged viewers to pursue in-person training whenever hands-on learning would be valuable.

However, SpecAcademy fills a different and increasingly important role. As a lower-cost online option, it serves as an entry point for the many people who use vibrational spectroscopy without access to expert support. Its lessons are designed to be completed in 20- to 30-minute segments, making it possible to learn during limited windows such as a lunch break and helping users begin their learning journey.

The discussion closed with the practical challenges of delivering hands-on courses. Sandbox training depends on instrument vendors supplying equipment, and a class of 25 might require six or seven vendors. Because each vendor uses different software, creating a consistent student experience is difficult, even though the underlying principles are similar. Securing vendor participation remains the key constraint for future in-person offerings.

The panelists featured in this video include:

• Ellen Miseo, secretary for the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) and education coordinator for SAS and the Coblentz Society
• Peter Larkin, manager of spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and chromatography at Syensqo
• Mary Carrabba, forensic and industrial spectroscopist and virtual office manager for the Coblentz Society
• Jeff D'Agostino, senior applications chemist at Specac, Inc.
• James de Haseth, emeritus professor of chemistry at the University of Georgia and director of Raman and infrared courses.

This panel discussion is the fourth of five parts. You can access the available SpecAcademy courses at the following link: https://www.mjhacademy.com/catalog