The International Atomic Spectrometry Association Selects 2028 Conference Location

After several consecutive conferences in Tucson, Arizona, the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry is heading east.

On June 10^th, the International Atomic Spectrometry Association (IASA) announced in a LinkedIn social media post that the 2028 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry will take place on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The conference will take place shortly after the New Year from January 7–13, 2028.¹

What can attendees expect at the 2028 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry?

In their announcement, the IASA outlined a few aspects to this conference that will be different from previous iterations of the Winter Conference. Although there will continue to be short courses, plenary, invited, and heritage lectures that comprise the technical program of the show, there are a few new social activities conference attendees can look forward to.

On Wednesday afternoon of January 12^th, conference attendees will have a block dedicated to free time. This block of time will allow attendees to participate in fun social activities that are designed to facilitate relaxation and networking. Some of these opportunities include golfing, tennis, offshore fishing, bike riding, and enjoying the beach or hotel pool.¹ There will also be a chance for conference attendees to take a short trip to Savannah, Georgia, which is a thriving arts city just over the Georgia–South Carolina border and approximately 30 miles away.

What is the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry?

The Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry (WCPS) is a long-running international scientific conference focused on plasma-based techniques in analytical chemistry. It operates on a biennial basis since 1975, meeting every other year in the United States. The European iteration of this conference meets in the alternating years. For example, after the 2026 WCPS, the 2027 European WCPS will take place in Athens, Greece.

The WCPS centers on the use of plasma sources for atomization, excitation, and ionization in atomic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). Topics span both fundamental science and practical applications, including elemental analysis, isotope measurements, nanomaterial characterization, and environmental detection (such as PFAS).^2,3 This conference is organized by IASA, and it draws researchers, instrument manufacturers, and industry professionals from around the world. At a typical conference, there are approximately 500 attendees that come from ~30 countries.^2,3

WCPS serves as one of the most recognizable conferences dedicated to plasma-based techniques, bringing together scientists to share new developments in instrumentation, theory, and real-world applications of plasma spectrochemistry. At the conference, the topic areas from the lectures touch upon application areas such as environmental monitoring, public health, and advanced materials research.^2,3

Why is the conference moving to South Carolina significant?

While on the ground in Tucson this past January, it was clear based on conversations with IASA and the conference organizers that while Tucson has been a great venue for several consecutive conferences, the idea of changing locations—especially to one that is more convenient for overseas travelers—was something that appealed to them.

Earlier this year, we published an article that discussed this topic, exploring several options that the IASA team may consider when looking at host cities. As expected, IASA selected a new location that is small, intimate, and convenient. And to no one’s surprise, the IASA selected a conference venue that has a mild climate.

The WCPS departure from Tucson suggests that the IASA team is continuing to explore new ways to engage attendees and encourage newcomers to attend.

References

1. International Atomic Spectrometry Association, The Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry is Back! IASA. Available at: https://iasa.world/wcps-2028 (accessed 2026-06-10).
2. Wetzel, W. Returning to Tucson: The 2026 Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/returning-to-tucson-the-2026-winter-conference-on-plasma-spectrochemistry (accessed 2026-06-10).
3. International Atomic Spectrometry Association, Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry. IASA. Available at: https://iasa.world/winter-plasma-conference (accessed 2026-06-10).