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Pittcon is the annual international conference and exposition on laboratory science, run by The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, a non-profit organization. It combines a technical program, short courses, an instrument and supplies exposition, a keynote lecture and an awards program. The next edition listed on pittcon.org (read 2026-11-08) is April 24-28, 2027, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Definition and scope
Pittcon is the name of the event; The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy is the non-profit that organizes it. According to its About page, the organization is dedicated to science education and outreach, and the first Pittcon was held in Pittsburgh in 1950. Despite the name, the meeting covers laboratory science broadly, not only analytical chemistry: the organizer describes it as an international conference and exposition on laboratory science.
How Pittcon is organized
Pittcon’s About page lists these program components. Each serves a different purpose for a lab or research office.
| Component | What the organizer says it is | What a lab or research office can use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Program | Presentations; the 2027 page lists 1,500+ presentations, with poster sessions and award sessions | Seeing current methods and applications; presenting work through the “Present at Pittcon” call for abstracts |
| Short Courses | Courses offered in person and online; the 2027 page lists 40+ | Structured training for staff, separate from the main presentations |
| Exposition | Exhibition floor; the 2027 page lists 350+ exhibitors and a “Best in Show” recognition | Seeing instrumentation and supplies in one place, a separate activity from attending talks |
| Wallace H. Coulter Lecture | The keynote lecture | Plenary session for all attendees |
| Networking Sessions | Sessions listed on the About page | Meeting peers and vendors |
| Pittcon Awards | Awards program | Recognition of individuals and products |
Registration is handled at pittcon.org/register. Figures such as presentation counts and exhibitor numbers are the organizer’s own planned-edition statements and change between years; check the current Pittcon page for the edition you plan to attend.
Where the money goes
The About page states that over 90% of proceeds go to science outreach: equipment and research grants, scholarships, internships, teacher awards, and grants to science centers, libraries and museums. The chemistry outreach organization that carries the lineage states that its predecessor societies SACP (organized 1942) and SSP (active since 1946) co-sponsored Pittcon from 1950, that the merged society (SACSP) is funded by Pittcon, and that Pittcon outreach amounts to about US$1 million a year (the society’s own statement, read 2026-11-08).
Where it matters for labs and research offices
- Method and technique awareness. Topics in the technical program and short courses overlap with core lab techniques such as ICP spectroscopy, atomic emission spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Use the program listing to see which techniques the current edition covers.
- Training. Short courses are offered in person and online, so training can be budgeted as a separate line from conference attendance.
- Dissemination. The call for abstracts gives researchers a route to present, with poster and award sessions listed on the 2027 page.
- Equipment awareness. The exposition is where vendors exhibit; it is an information-gathering venue and the organizer does not frame it as a purchasing recommendation.
For how a measurement workflow fits together once you are back in the lab, see the analytical process.
Common misunderstandings
Is Pittcon a professional society you can join?
Pittcon is an event. The organizer is a non-profit that runs the conference and funds outreach; the sponsoring societies in Pittsburgh are separate bodies.
Is it only for analytical chemists?
The organizer describes Pittcon as a conference and exposition on laboratory science, and its full organizer name references applied spectroscopy as well as analytical chemistry.
Do attendance fees only fund the conference?
According to the organizer, over 90% of proceeds go to science outreach and education programs.
FAQ
What does Pittcon stand for?
It is the short name for the conference run by The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy.
When and where is the next Pittcon?
pittcon.org lists April 24-28, 2027, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (read 2026-11-08).
When did Pittcon start?
Pittcon’s About page says the first Pittcon was held in Pittsburgh in 1950.
Can I present at Pittcon?
The Pittcon site carries a “Present at Pittcon” call for abstracts; deadlines and requirements are published there.
Sources
- Pittcon, About: pittcon.org/about (read 2026-11-08)
- Pittcon, home page and 2027 edition information: pittcon.org (read 2026-11-08)
- Chemistry outreach society, About: chemistryoutreach.org/societies/about (read 2026-11-08)
