5.8. Playing FIA
Elias A.G. Zagatto
Jarda and Elo in Piracicaba
In 1974, I was a young fellow working at CENA, a research institute supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency and by the University of Sao Paulo. Relevant research was done there, especially in relation to the use of isotopes in agronomical and environmental sciences. CENA's laboratories were well equipped, but no laboratory was available for analytical chemistry. When Prof. Henrique Bergamin (Berga) arrived from Denmark (he spent a period with Jarda and Elo), the analytical and radioanalytical chemistry laboratories started being established and I and F.J. Krug were appointed as members of Berga's research team. In this scenario, we were told about Jarda coming to Brazil, and became worried about the poor infrastructure available to such distinguished visiting scientist.
In spite of material limitations, Jarda did a resounding work during his first one-year stay at CENA. As an IAEA expert in radiochemistry, he assisted the implementation of substoichiometric isotope dilution analysis, as documented in the academic thesis dealing with mercury determination in tomatoes prepared by "Chico" Krug.
In the period, he proved to be a very good teacher, a creative scientist, an innovative researcher and a good friend, encouraging me to devote myself to Flow Analysis, the art of performing analytical chemistry in flowing streams.
Interesting aspects related to Jarda presence at CENA:
Jarda was invited to give a lecture in Sao Paulo, demonstrating the advantageous features of the air-gap electrode for ammonium determination in natural waters. After his presentation, he was informed that the innovation would not be incorporated, because the analytical procedures were already well established. He said: "if improvements are not added to a routine analytical laboratory, it has no future". And he was right!
"WORK, FINISH, PUBLISH"
M. Faraday
