The Waters Rise, The Science Returns: Pittcon's Resilient Homecoming to New Orleans
Introduction: A Conference Forged in Steel, Tested by Water
When the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy—universally known as Pittcon—returned to New Orleans in March 2008, it was more than a routine venue rotation. It marked a defiant revival for a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina's devastation, and a testament to scientific community's commitment to resilience. Born in Pittsburgh's industrial labs in 1950 3 , Pittcon had grown into the world's premier laboratory science exposition, rotating among major hubs like Chicago and Orlando. But its 2008 return to the Crescent City, just three years after levees failed and flooded 80% of New Orleans 4 , transformed the conference into a powerful symbol of science serving society amid crisis.
The Road Back: From Exodus to Homecoming
A Legacy Interrupted
Pittcon's relationship with New Orleans began decades before Katrina. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center had hosted the event multiple times, drawing tens of thousands of scientists eager to showcase cutting-edge spectrometers, chromatographs, and lab robotics. But in August 2005, Katrina's storm surge breached the city's canal walls, turning the Convention Center into a chaotic refuge for 20,000 displaced residents 4 . The very space where scientists once debated mass spectrometry now sheltered families without food or water.
The 2006 and 2007 conferences relocated, yet Pittcon's leadership remained determined to return. As Chuck Gardner, a Pittcon organizing committee member, noted: "We adapt to serve science—and communities" 3 . By 2008, with New Orleans still rebuilding, Pittcon became one of the first major conferences to recommit to the city, betting on its recovery.
By the Numbers: The 2008 Triumph
The scale of Pittcon 2008 silenced skeptics. Despite ongoing reconstruction, the conference drew:
| Category | Attendees | Growth vs. 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Participants | 19,536 | — |
| Non-Exhibitors | 10,677 | — |
| Exhibitors | 8,859 | +3.4% |
| International Nations | 85 | — |
| First-time Exhibitors | 167 (15%) | — |
The 1,110 exhibitors occupied 2,457 booths—a record increase from 2007 4 . For instrument manufacturers like PerkinElmer and Agilent, this was a chance to demonstrate technologies critical to rebuilding New Orleans' environmental infrastructure.
Science in Service to Society: The Water Consortium Experiment
The Catalyst: Katrina's Water Crisis
Hurricane Katrina exposed deadly flaws in water management. Contaminated floodwaters, failed treatment plants, and overwhelmed testing labs created a public health emergency. Pittcon 2008 responded by launching the Water Consortium—a day-long symposium co-hosted by PerkinElmer and global water experts. Its mission: leverage analytical chemistry to prevent future water disasters 4 .
Methodology: Building a Global Water Shield
The Consortium assembled a multidisciplinary task force:
- Problem Framing: Experts like Bill Bertera (Water Environment Federation) detailed systemic vulnerabilities in urban water grids, using Katrina's forensics.
- Technology Integration: Sessions showcased portable mass spectrometers for field toxin detection and IoT sensors for real-time pipeline monitoring.
- Policy Advocacy: Black & Veatch Corporation engineers outlined designs for flood-resistant treatment plants.
A key focus was PerkinElmer's EcoAnalytix initiative, which partnered with the World Water Monitoring Day program to deploy low-cost test kits globally 4 .
Results and Analysis: From Data to Action
The Consortium's impact extended far beyond theory:
- Rapid Screening Protocols: New EPA-approved methods for arsenic/lead detection in floodwater emerged.
- Citizen Science Networks: 50,000+ volunteers trained in 100 countries using Pittcon-funded test kits.
- Industry Shift: Major firms prioritized "ruggedized" instruments for disaster zones.
| Technology | Detection Capability | Response Time | Post-2008 Adoption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable GC-MS | 200+ organic contaminants | < 15 minutes | 78% increase in field use |
| Microfluidic Toxin Sensors | Heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd) | Real-time | Deployed in 12 U.S. coastal cities |
| Raman Spectroscopy Probes | Pathogens (E. coli, Vibrio) | < 5 minutes | FDA emergency use approval |
The Scientist's Toolkit: Revolutionizing the Lab
Pittcon 2008 spotlighted tools merging precision with practicality. These innovations reflected a broader shift toward portable, automated, and disaster-ready systems:
Raman Spectrometers
Molecular fingerprinting via laser scattering
Katrina-Relevant Application: On-site identification of unknown pollutants
Portable Water Analyzers
Multi-parameter pH/conductivity/toxicity tests
Katrina-Relevant Application: Rapid floodwater safety screening
Lab-on-a-Chip Devices
Microfluidic-based diagnostics
Katrina-Relevant Application: Pathogen detection in damaged labs
Robotic Sample Handlers
Automated liquid handling
Katrina-Relevant Application: High-throughput testing for overwhelmed facilities
Conclusion: The Ripple Effect
Pittcon's New Orleans homecoming was a scientific and symbolic victory. The conference infused $25M+ into the local economy 4 , but its legacy ran deeper. Technologies validated there now monitor water systems from Louisiana to Bangladesh. And Pittcon's commitment—channeling 90% of profits into science education—expanded grants for Gulf Coast schools, funding portable planetariums and lab equipment 6 .
"More than events—they're engines of renewal"
As Andrew Ortale of VisitPITTSBURGH observed, conferences like Pittcon are "more than events—they're engines of renewal" 1 . When Pittcon returns to Pittsburgh in 2027 after a 60-year absence, it will carry forward the same spirit forged in post-Katrina New Orleans: that science, at its best, builds not just instruments, but hope.
