ITP-2000 Vienna/Bratislava 10-13 september 2000 Frans Everaerts and Theo Verheggen

1. ITP-2000 Vienna/Bratislava 10-13 september 2000 Frans Everaerts and Theo Verheggen two Lives in Electrophoresis Jetse Reijenga (Eindhoven), with contributions from Bohuslav Gas (Prague), Takeshi Hirokawa (Hiroshima), Wolfgang Thormann (Berne), Vaclav Kasicka (Prague) Isotachophoresis (1976) became reference book for a generation of ITP scientists. Theo: first of 78 publications Frans: first of 170 publications I met Frans and Theo for the first time as a student working on developing the contactless detector for ITP. The two men came to the lab and said: instead of the leading and terminating electrolytes use rather one background electrolyte. I did it and saw with surprise the first CZE record with conductivity detection. It was in 1975. They would attend our lab once or twice a year as real friends. Together with Jirka Vacik we had nice and stimulating discussions. I am glad to say that Frans and Theo essentially influenced our progress in ITP and CZE. Bohuslav Gas One of several counterflow devices, this using membranes, from 1976 The first model (1964) with thermal detection and water cooling Column coupling device (1979) Revolutionary trace analysis device, copied by several researchers and companies. The system was described in such detail in J.Chromatogr., that Shimadzu even filed a patent (shame!!) My first meeting with Frans and Theo was exactly September 29th in 1988. After the 6th symposium arranged by Ernst in Vienna, I visited Frans at his laboratory in TUE. It was quite exciting experience to listen to his opinion about the future of electrophoresis and to see Theo's fine art on ITP instruments. Many interesting works on the theory and instrumentation have been done in Frans's laboratory not only in the field of ITP but also in that of CZE. Although the number of the ITP user is decreasing at present, it will be back as "ITP-CZE", I believe. Takeshi Hirokawa • the Eindhoven ITP/CZE theses • F.M. Everaerts (1968) • R.J. Routs (1971) • J.L. Beckers (1973) • F.E.P. Mikkers (1980) • J.C. Reijenga (1984) • A.A.G. Lemmens (1989) • M.M. Gladdines (1989) • M.T. Ackermans (1992) • A.A.A.M. van de Goor (1992) • B.J. Wanders (1993) • P.J.M. Hendriks (1994) • W.G.H.M. Muijselaar (1996) • B.A. Ingelse (1997) • M.J. van der Schans (1997) Another prototype (late 1960’s) I met Frans and Theo for the first time exactly 20 years ago at ITP 80, the 2nd International Symposium on Isotachophoresis (September 9-11, 1980, Eindhoven). I was a PhD student at the time and had my first scientific poster at an international meeting. Frans and Theo were neatly organizing this symposium and put an impressing show together. I was particularly fascinated about their engineering capabilities in producing superb ITP equipment and their profound knowledge about ITP technology. I was able to closely follow the work of Frans and Theo via their inumerable publications and the classical ITP book. During the past twenty years, I met Frans and Theo on many scientific conferences held in USA, Europe and Japan. It was always a treat talking to them about science and other topics of common interest. Wolfgang Thormann Interested in electrochemistry and analytical separation, I reported to Frans' lab in 1976 expressing my desire to do graduation work. He asked me to reconsider this (why, Frans?), of course I didn't, and never regretted the decision. In the subsequent period I became fascinated by ITP and CE and Frans made me interested in computer applications and educational aspect as well. Theo instructed me to handle the home-made equipment and later on devised advanced detections systems for fluorescence and dual absorbance. Jetse Reijenga My memories about the first meeting with Frans and Theo are not very distinct, I only remember it was just 25 years ago. I was starting to work as "student scientific assistent" in prof. Vacik's lab and Frans and Theo came for their (as I have learned later on) regular autumn and/or spring visit. So from that time we have met many times, at least once a year, either at Charles University or later on in the Czecho(-Slovak) Academy of Sciences and it was always a nice and pleasant meating. I especially appreciate Frans' and Theo's friendship, interest in my work and willingness to help. Frans and Theo contributed to one of "my first": thanks to their kind invitation and generous support I was able to participate in my first international meeting abroad, ITP'86 in Maastricht. Vaclav Kasicka Early model (1968) Dual wavelength slit, also for fluorescence detection in ITP (1982) conductivity detection (1972) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The ITP-CZE community at ITP2000 gratefully acknowledges all contributions of Frans and Theo