Introduction
The 1997 MRS Fall Meeting was held in Boston, Massachussetts, from December 1-5. Around 4500 attendees came to the Meeting to participate in a record 41 symposia. The diverse and interdisciplinary nature of the Meeting was reflected in the 4000 oral and poster presentations in various Materials Science topics, as well as the exhibit, tutorials, award presentations, student activities and various other small meetings and workshops interspersed in the Meeting schedule.
Symposia topics covered a broad range including Thin film microstructures (A), Nitride semiconductors (D), Materials Science of the cell (K), Polymers in orthopedics (O), Electronic ceramics processing (W), Thermal spray processing (BB), Surface controlled nanoscale materials (FF) and Materials education (OO). Symposium X, Frontiers of Materials Research, which traditionally presents a series of reviews for the nonspecialist, this year included topics covering photoresists, sea shells, genetically engineered materials, hydrogels as biosensors, metal hydride switchable mirrors, and III-nitride lasers and optoelectronic devices (the MRS Medal talk by Shuji Nakamura). Other important events included the plenary talk by Prof Harry McSween (Materials research via Mars Pathfinder), the Von Hippel award talk by Gabor Somorjai (From Surface Materials to Surface Technologies) and the David Turnbull lecture by Merton Flemings (Solidification Science and Engineering Practice). The Graduate Student Award finalists presented their research papers at a special session held on Monday, December 1. The Meeting exhibit encompassed a wide range of equipment, products, instruments, software, publications and services.
Daily updates from the Meeting in Boston were posted as a new web feature. These daily updates can be viewed here.
Copyright©1997
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