25 Years of ABLE
Ruthanne B. Pitkin

I was fortunate enough to be a part of the first ABLE in 1979 at Calgary.  I was just starting my career as a coordinator for introductory labs at Smith College and saw an announcement in Science (see the reproduction below) about a conference where we could actually do labs.  I asked for and received travel money, and made plans for my husband and I to go on this adventure to Canada.  Then I heard nothing!!  About a week before we were to leave, I called Don Iglsrud to make sure that there was a conference.  At Calgary, we spent hours deciding on a name for ABLE and developed a comradery that has been the hallmark of all ABLE meetings since.  Because many of us had to stay Saturday night to save on airfare, Don organized the first post conference field trips that have been so much fun throughout the years.

At the very beginning, ABLE was really a great exampleof cooperative learning that is a part of many of our labs. And just like the students, we have had some rough times when it appeared that the "labs didn't work". Or would there be a conference next year? And how can we get all of the proceedings published without going broke? We have learned from our experiences!

It has taken hard work, cooperation and support of many individuals and schools to reach this 23th annual conference with all the proceedings published, hosts lined up for the next threeyears, and enough funds to be able to offer some tuition waivers and honoraria. We are financially sound and respected by other scientific societies and NSF. We are used as models for conference about laboratories.

For me, these conferences are a renewal of spirit and mind. A time to learn more about biology--content, process and techniques. I always take home labs that can be used directly in my classes. Most of my Principles of Biology and many of my Animal Physiology labs are based on ABLE labs.

ABLE meetings are also a time to catch up with my ABLE family -- people who have shared experiences with me some of whom were very tolerant when I presented a chick heart lab with very few, very immature chick embryos.  People who struggle with the same problems and concerns about undergraduate education and are willing—eager—to talk with you.  There are many individuals who are willing to work selflessly and quietly for a common interest—the promotion of innovative and interesting labs.

I look forward to seeing all of you at the 25^th Annual ABLE Conference at Las Vegas.

*This is based on the after dinner talk that I gave at the Chicago Conference in 2001.