Smarten up, people!
Ok, maybe the headline is a bit disingenuous, but I’m actually not writing to castigate anyone for his or her poor judgment or lack of intelligence. Rather, I’m writing to call attention to a potentially great information-gathering and educational opportunity-the new Forum section on the CleanRooms Web site.
People regularly e-mail me from all over the world with very specific questions regarding contamination-control problems they’re experiencing, or they’re looking for sources of particular products, services, or expertise. Having been covering this industry for more than 10 years, I will admit to believing I’ve assimilated a reasonable amount of information about the field; however, as I always tell my editors and reporters, “It’s not what you know, it’s what the people you talk to know, and how well you communicate that knowledge to others.”
This is why vehicles such as our Forum can be so useful and valuable, and why we have provided it to the industry. Of course, it’s only as valuable as it is taken advantage of, and that’s why I want to encourage all of you to check it out on a regular basis, provide responses when you can, and, certainly, post inquiries at any time.
As I have discussed previously in this column, there are lots of efficient ways to gain and share information and expertise-our printed publication, our electronic newsletters, our Web site postings, and our conferences and exhibitions all serve this purpose and fill information needs in different yet synergistic ways. Yet, I have always been a particularly strong advocate of two-way and broadly interactive communication. This is why I still personally believe and espouse the unique benefits achievable by attending industry conferences and exhibitions. And, this is why I also see our Forum section as a very convenient, next-best thing.
At face-to-face industry gatherings, it has been my observation that people are happy to readily share their experiences and advice with others in the profession. I see this firsthand on a regular basis, and I also see the additional benefits this dialogue provides in terms of the generation of new ideas, resolution of difficult issues, creation of long-term professional relationships, and the general vitality and energy it brings to the community.
So please, take a few moments whenever you can and participate in the Forum. It can do nothing else but help all of us get a little smarter about all things contamination control.
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John Haystead. Editor in Chief