The Coblentz Challenge at SciX 2015

The objective of the Challenge is to identify members who are well qualified to serve as technical mentors. It is our goal to raise the level of spectroscopic expertise within the Society, and in the discipline of vibrational spectroscopy in general. It is hoped that mentors will work with other scientists to improve their knowledge and level of expertise.

Several questions are presented. Each candidate will select only one question, presumably the one the candidate feels he or she can answer most effectively. If a candidate answers a question to the satisfaction of the examiners, that candidate’s name shall be given to the Coblentz Board with the recommendation that the candidate be recognized as a technical mentor in the subject area of the question.

The questions involve mid-infrared, Raman, or near-infrared spectrometry. The specific questions can involve specific samples, spectral interpretation, instrumentation, or techniques, to name a few. The questions are not simple and may not be answered completely in the time allotted. The goal is to find mentors with considerable depth of knowledge in the area of a single question, and to be able to demonstrate clear analytical abilities.