WALTER JENNINGS: An Honorary Colloquium

A colloquium was held in recognition of the many significant contributions of Professor Emeritus Walter Jennings, his students, and colleagues, to the field of analytical gas chromatographic analysis of foods, beverages, and environmental samples. The Colloquium, held on October 8, 2009, at the University of California, Davis, was hosted by the Department of Food Science and Technology, and generously cosponsored by Agilent Technologies, the UC Davis Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Graduate Group, the Food Science Graduate Group, and the departments of Viticulture and Enology and Environmental Toxicology. Approximately 150 faculty members, representatives of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Administration, graduate students, former students of Professor Jennings, and his colleagues from several nations participated in the celebration.

Dr. Walter Jennings, professor emeritus of food science & technology at UC Davis, has pursued successful careers in both academia and industry. His exceptional teaching, research and outreach contributions on the UC Davis campus spanned 35 years; and, in collaboration with one of his completing doctoral students, Dr. Jennings founded J&W Scientific, Inc. in 1974. J&W grew to become the world’s largest supplier of fused silica columns. The company was purchased by Agilent Technologies in 2000.

Dr. Jennings has authored a number of books on chromatography, and his most recent book, “Analytical Gas Chromatography”, second edition [W. Jennings, E. Mittlefehldt, and P. Stremple, Academic Press (1997)] has been hailed as a classic. He is the author of approximately 300 scientificpapers; and his laboratory at UC Davis served as a chromatographic Mecca, attracting graduate students, post doctoral scholars, and other collaborators from over twenty five countries.

Many of the scientists who worked with Professor Jennings are now wellknown academic professors, while others occupy eminent positions in instrument companies and direct the investigations of research departments in areas as diverse as flavor, forensic, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental analysis. During his long career, Dr. Jennings regularly instructed over thirty extra-curricular courses per year (all over the world) in gas chromatography. He estimates that more than 30,000 chromatographers “from all walks of life” have attended these courses.

Dr. Jennings has garnered numerous awards, including the M.J.E. Golay Award at the 18th International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography and the A.J.P. Martin Gold Medal from the Chromatographic Society (UK) in recognition of his extensive contributions to the field of chromatography.

Dr. Jennings’ papers published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry can be viewed at the JAFC website, http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jafcau

Presenters:

Keynote Presentation
Walter Jennings
Emeritus Professor
Food Science & Technology
UC Davis
Co-Founder, J&W Scientific
Co-Founder, AirToxics, Ltd.
Presentation: A Look at the Neanderthal Age of Gas Chromatography

Phil Stremple
Environmental Industry Manager
Agilent Technologies
Presentation: Innovative Approaches to Trace Analysis in Food and Environmental Samples by GC/MS

Ron Wrolstad
Emeritus Professor
Food Science & Technology
Oregon State University
Presentation: Analysis of Non-Volatiles – A Historical Perspective 

Linda Freeman
Chief Executive Officer
Air Toxics
Presentation: Life is Like a Box of Chocolates…

Matthias Guentert
President, Flavor & Nutrition Division
Symrise Inc.
Presentation: Analytical Research in the Flavor Industry

Heikki Kallio
Professor of Food Chemistry
University of Turku, Finland
Presentation: The Beer in Madrid in 1974

Gary Takeoka
Research Chemist
USDA
Presentation: The Accomplishments of Dr. Jennings in Flavor Chemistry

Taka Shibamoto
Professor
Environmental Toxicology
UC Davis
Presentation: Things I learned From Dr. Jennings