Abstract
The author traces back to the late nineteen fifties the history of events preceding the current activities of the International Isotope Society (IIS) founded in 1986. The obvious conclusions are that there was a need for regular scientific meetings focused on topics such as the synthesis of isotopes, isotopically labelled and their applications. The various existing chemical and technical societies could not cover in their meetings such topics as efficiently as the IIS did. The Kansas City 1982 and 1985 first two unofficial meetings lead to the formation of the IIS in 1986 and then to a series of other regular symposia as 1988 (Innsbruck, Austria), 1991 (Toronto, Canada), 1994 (Strasbourg, France), 1997 (Philadelphia, USA), 2000 (Dresden, Germany), 2003 (Boston, USA), 2006 (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) and then in 2009 (Chicago, USA). The IIS also carries out its activities in yearly local Chapter meetings in the US, UK, Central Europe, Romania, Russia and China. At the same time, according to its Mission stated in the IIS Constitution (available in the www.intl.isotopeβsoc.org website) the IIS also encourages the continuation of the independent meetings called the International Conferences of Isotopes; the activities of an international Low Level Waste IIS committee; the publication of the IIS Newsletter and maintenance of its website); organizing various workshops and short courses; and last but not least gives its support to the Journal of Labeled Compounds and Radiopharmaceutical by contributing papers and proβbono work on the Editorial as well as on the Advisory Board of the Journal. Copyright Β© 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.