Reflecting on ICNPR 2012: Dedication to Ed Kennelly

This retrospective on the eighth gathering of the International Congress on Natural Products Research (ICNPR) is in dedication to Ed Kennelly’s time as editor-in-chief of the ASP Newsletter, a role he held for 20 years. As Kennelly was the organizer of this 2012 meeting, let’s look back on some highlights from the five-day event.

The ICNPR was held in New York City from July 28, 2012, through August 1, 2012. It was the eighth joint conference with the ASP, the Pharmacognosy Society of French Speaking Persons (AFERP), the Society for Medicinal Plant Research (GA), the Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE), and the Italian Society of Pharmacognosy (SIF). The last time these societies convened was in Athens, Greece in 2008. There, it was agreed that these joint meetings would be held every four years and New York was selected as the next location [1].

The conference was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel with the theme of “Global Change, Natural Products and Human Health” [2]. A robust schedule included a variety of workshops, demonstrations, and poster sessions, intermixed with awards, presentations and lectures throughout. Topics that were covered included spectroscopy applications, natural products, and microbiology [3]. Poster sessions began that Sunday at the Hyatt’s Manhattan Ballroom and continued through the following days. Included on that same day, a reception and tour were held at the New York Botanical Garden, as was a tribute to late ASP member Norman R. Farnsworth, with Harry Fong, A. Douglas Kinghorn, and Guido Pauli amongst those who paid their respects.

 A major anniversary celebrated at the conference was the 75th anniversary of the Journal of Natural Products. Once known as Lloydia, it was originally published by The Lloyd Library & Museum, launched in 1938 with librarian Theodor K. Just at the helm. The ASP became co-publishers in the early 1960s and in 1979, the entire entity was renamed as the Journal of Natural Products. In 1996, the American Chemical Society joined as co-publishers of the publication [4] with ASP member A. Douglas Kinghorn serving as the editor-in-chief starting in 1994 and would go on to serve in that role for 25 years. A symposium honoring the journal was held and included presentations from journal contributors Drs. Robert Pettit, Rachel Mata, and William H. Gerwick.

It is hard to believe that this conference was held over 13 years ago. By reviewing the planning meeting minutes, agendas, and newsletters promoting the conference, it shows the use of technology and popular social media platforms of the time. Members of the ASP — especially the younger and newer members — were encouraged to utilize Facebook and Twitter for promotion of the conference by posting or tweeting about the experience using the official hashtag: #ICNPR. Additionally, a Google Group was in the works for members to network and connect prior to the conference [5].

The ICNPR continues to meet to share ideas and create awareness of pharmacognosy and related subtopics. Just a little over a year ago these societies met in Kraków, Poland!