PMSE 2003 Spring Meeting Preface

I am very pleased to present the proceedings for the Spring 2003 meeting of the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE). The preprints of papers to be presented at oral and poster sessions during the New Orleans meeting are contained in these Proceedings. The Proceedings also provide information on future meetings and proposed symposia, awards and grants sponsored by PMSE, membership information and PMSE committee structure. The PMSE program for this ACS Meeting is comprised of 14 Symposia, several of which are cosponsored with other ACS Divisions and other organizations. In addition, PMSE will host two award symposia. Below is a brief description of each of the PMSE hosted symposia:

• Polymer Surfaces and Interfaces: This symposium starts with a joint plenary session with the POLY Division symposium on Polymer Surfaces organized by Buddy Ratner. The remainder of the Symposium will be presented in five additional sessions covering biomedical applications, surface modification, surface and interface properties and characterization. Almost fifty papers will be presented in this Symposium, which is indicative of the significance of understanding and controlling the surface properties are to the success of polymer materials and products.
• MALDI and ESI Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Polymers: This is a two-day symposium on the analysis of polymers by mass spectrometry. Particular focus is on the use of electrospray and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization sources. The talks in this symposium are suitable for the polymer chemist with no mass spectrometry background to the level of an advanced mass spectrometrist who is focused on polymer characterization. The four sessions are titled Chromatography-MS, General Topics, Polymer Chemistry and Degradation. Introductory talks on polymer analysis and instrumentation are given in Session I.
• Application of Scanning Probe Microscopy to Polymers: The aim of this symposium is to discuss the most recent advances in the application of scanning probe microscopy to polymer investigations. The symposium has eight sessions over four days. Session topics include near field developments, single chain investigations, mechanical property measurement and surface characterization.
• Gene-Based Medicine: Delivery and Diagnostics: Highlights studies associated with the field of gene-based medicine.
• In-Situ Characterization of Polymerization Processes: This symposium is focused on advances in online and in-situ measurement of polymerization processes. This symposium has three sessions and includes a variety of polymerization processes and characterization methods.
• New Concepts in Biomaterials: Synthesis, Application, Concerns: Emphasizes important developments in the synthesis, application and characterization of biomaterials. This symposium is comprised of three full sessions. The papers are organized into session topics including: bioinspired materials, controlled release, and synthesis.
• Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Multiphase and Composite Materials: This symposium is comprised of three sessions that are focused on aspects of multiphase polymer systems and composites. Session topics include: synthesis and characterization of composites, nanocomposites and composites composed of tubes and fibers.
• Advances in Polymers and Polymerization: The symposium aims to provide a broad overview of the wide range of polymerization advances. The symposium is comprised of three sessions. The sessions are focused on recent developments in polymerization including block copolymers, conjugated polymers and ultraviolet polymerization and crosslinking.
• General Papers/New Concepts in Polymeric Materials: There will be one oral session covering polymer characterization and applications.

  Finally, PMSE is proud to offer two award symposia

• Cooperative Research Award: This award is being presented jointly to Craig Hawker, of IBM Corporation, and Tom Russell, of the University of Massachusetts just prior to their concluding addresses at a symposium organized in their honor. This symposium comprises one half-day session containing invited presentations being made by prominent members of the polymer community.
• Chemistry of Materials Award Symposium: The Chemistry of Materials Award is being presented Larry Dalton just prior to his concluding address at a symposium organized in his honor. This symposium comprises two half-day sessions containing invited presentations being made by prominent members of the polymer community.

  I wish to thank and acknowledge Richard Roesler, Tim Bunning and Vladimir Tsukruk, the current Program Committee Chairs, and our Symposium Organizers for their contributions to this meeting program. A special thank you goes to Eileen Ernst, PMSE Administrative Assistant, for her perseverance in compiling the PMSE Preprint Proceedings.

  A. Jay Dias
  PMSE Vice-Chair