Electronic laboratory notebooks
proves to be a hot topic
Fine Chemicals Group: Electronic
Laboratory Notebooks London, UK
9 February 2005
A hundred delegates from nine nations met at SCI International
Headquarters in London’s Belgrave Square in early February
to discuss ‘Electronic laboratory notebooks, challenges
and solutions’.
This one-day meeting started with an entertaining and thought-provoking
guide to the issues by Jeremy Frey, from Southampton University,
followed by a detailed industry perspective from Paul Higginson
of Pfizer. A refreshingly understandable review of patent
law surrounding ELNs was provided by GSK’s James Kanagy.
Following a busy lunchtime commercial exhibition, the afternoon
session focussed on the experiences of scientists from AZ
(Ian Menzies), Biovitrium (Mats Kihlén) and Kodak (Sheena
Zuberi) in introducing, getting to grips with, and living
in the world of electronic notebooks.
If proof were needed that ELNs are the topical issue this
year, the lively discussion forum after tea confirmed it,
with the debate continuing online (click
here for our web forum). Stewart Rubenstein (Cambridgesoft)
rounded off the day with a vendor’s view of the capabilities
that electronic notebooks must provide.
This meeting brought together representatives from some 60
organisations including the chemical and pharma industries,
universities and software vendors. Notably, many scientists
attended as potential ELN users, along with IT experts and
patent specialists. The day had a real buzz — surely
a sign that this technology is taking off.
by David Witty, GSK
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