Functional and Nano Systems

by Courtney Young

doi:10.1515/ci.2004.26.6.30a

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Functional and Nano Systems

by Courtney Young

Published/Copyright: September 1, 2009

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From the journal Chemistry International -- Newsmagazine for IUPAC Volume 26 Issue 6

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Functional and Nano Systems

by Courtney Young

Because functional and nano systems are of current national and international interest, the 2nd IUPAC International Symposium on Macro- and Supra-Molecular Architectures and Materials (MAM-04): Functional and Nano Systems, held 13–17 June 2004 in Missoula, Montana, USA, was extremely timely. Topics included, but were not limited to, minerals, metals, materials, processes, self-assembly, adsorption, characterization and analysis, interphases, biomaterials, biomedicine, bio-inspired technology, design and modeling, composites, coatings, membranes, thin films, gels, colloids, electronics, polymers, photonics, biochips, quantum dots, magnetic clusters, sensors and controls, imaging and patterning, genetic engineering, drug delivery and diagnostics, machines and robotics, batteries and fuel cells, surface modification, synthesis, and catalysis.

These topics and their applications were covered by 74 presentations of which 20 were invited, 22 were contributed and 32 were posters. Dick Jones (University of Kent, Canterbury, UK), as the official IUPAC representative, provided an excellent introduction of the IUPAC organization during the opening session.

Poster presenters also gave “one-minute” presentations during a session to entice the audience to attend their posters. Needless to say, this helped make the poster session a highlight of the symposium. Poster awards were given to Tomohiro Iwasaki, Waseda University, Japan (1st place); Sun Min Park, Pohang University, Korea (2nd place); and Dan Nielsen, University of Montana, USA (3rd place) for best presentations.

MAM-04 was chaired and organized by Ed Rosenberg and Kurt Geckeler. The organizers edited and distributed the proceedings of the symposium at the meeting. A number of lectures were delivered by distinguished international experts, including Nobel Prize Laureate Robert Huber (Germany), who gave a plenary lecture.

Overall, the symposium was very successful and the meeting objectives were met. It provided an interdisciplinary forum for scientists and engineers to meet and discuss their work. Before, during, and after sessions, groups of various sizes were observed, often with a speaker, having their own meetings. Such meetings were also a constant at dinners each of the evenings that hosted dinners were not scheduled.

Finally, it is worth noting that, unfortunately, participants from China and the Middle East encountered problems in obtaining visas to travel to the USA. In some cases, registered participants were unable to attend the symposium, and lecture sessions had to be rearranged.

Courtney Young is a professor in and head of MontanaTech, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of the University of Montana, USA.

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Published Online: 2009-09-01

Published in Print: 2004-11

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ci.2004.26.6.30a