Ok.  I got your attention!  Is your life in a rut?  Let SLAS help!  The Lab Man talked to Nan Hallock, SLAS Director of Publishing about new e-publications coming your way and old ones fading away. 

• This month we wrap up the final issues of LabSnap and The Buzz@SBS and SBS News and move to a new family of SLAS publications.  Can you describe those for us? 

As we begin our second year as a united organization, we recognize that good communication with our members is important.  SLAS offers so many unique opportunities and keeping the scientific community informed of them just makes practical sense.  In addition, good communication also speaks directly to the SLAS mission, education and community-building goals.

So we’ve harmonized and updated our outreach efforts, sunsetting (as you mentioned) the LabSnap, Buzz and SBS News publications.  They’re being re-incarnated as two new vehicles:

The first is a weekly e-mail news brief called SLAS Point-to-Point, or P2P for short.

The other is a newsy e-zine at SLAS.org called the SLAS Electronic Laboratory Neighborhood or ELN for short.

These are, of course, in addition to our two scientific journals (JALA and JBS), our website (SLAS.org), our social media sites on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and other ad hoc e-mail and print communication that occurs throughout the year.

• So SLAS Point-to-Point is an e-mail while the SLAS ELN is an e-zine – right?    

Yes, SLAS Point-to-Point is an informational e-mail news brief (keyword brief).  It delivers news you need to know, bullet points organized into three sections:  SLAS news and announcements – some interesting headlines from around the world – and current job postings from SLAS Career Connections.  Bullet points link to more information.

The SLAS ELN offers more thought-provoking reading.  It features in-depth stories that reflect ideas and perspectives from different members on different timely topics.  It creates a way for laboratory science and technology professionals to see what others are thinking and doing.  It’s searchable and has built-in discussion forums, so it encourages our specialized community to engage and share knowledge. 

In addition to the feature stories, it becomes the new home of The Lab Man and it will publish a regular column from the SLAS president addressing what’s new or on the horizon with the Society.

It has some fun features too – it showcases selections from the LabAutopedia Book List; shares interesting tidbits from member conversations on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; announces new SLAS members and posts “People Changing Places” -- news about members with new jobs.

• Just so everyone is clear, how often will people see SLAS Point-to-Point and the SLAS ELN? 

The SLAS Point-to-Point e-mail news brief will arrive in everybody’s e-mailbox every Wednesday, beginning July 13.

The SLAS ELN goes live on July 6 at SLAS.org.

• What are some of the upcoming features in SLAS ELN?

The first four features that will be posted when the ELN launches include:

-          State-of-the-science article about stem cells by Marcie Glicksman and Kelvin Lam (co-chairs of the SLAS global symposium)

-          Look at lab purchasing trends from the 2011 study done by the Laboratory Products Assn.

-          SLAS’s recent involvement in India

-          Profile of SLAS member Andy Zaayenga

•  If someone has a feature idea, who do they contact? 

ELN@SLAS.org

SLAS@SLAS.org  or call the 800 # -- you’ll be directed

• There is also some exciting news about mobile versions of the publications? 

Yes, both the SLAS ELN and P2P will be optimized for smartphones and tablets.

Until Next Time,

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto!