Gordon Research Conference, Polymers (West), January 7-12, 2007, Ventura, CA

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Project Summary:Proposal to the National Science Foundation Requesting Supplemental TravelFundsGordon Research Conference, Polymers (West), January 7-12, 2007, Ventura, CAJimmy Mays, ChairDarrin Pochan, Vice-ChairThe Polymers (West) Gordon Research Conference (GRC) seeks to supplement theavailable funds for travel support to enhance participation of post doctoral and seniorgraduate students at this meeting. This request is for $3,000 for supportingapproximately 6 supplemental travel packages at approximately $500/person. Fundingrequests by junior faculty will also be considered provided they can demonstrate no othersource of support for travel to the conference.Technical Merit: The technical merit of this proposal is to facilitate enhancedparticipation of young polymer scientists in a Gordon Conference that addresses severalkey areas at the frontiers of polymer science and engineering. The invited speakers areinternationally known, world class experts in their respective areas of polymer chemistry,physics and engineering, as well as emerging young stars. Having such distinguishedleading experts participate as speakers and discussion leaders is critical to assuring thatthe GRC is highly successful. Another criterion that is viewed as an important measureof the success of a GRC is attendance and active participation of young researchers. Formany of us, including the Chair and Co-Chair of this conference, early career attendanceat GRCs provided scientific stimulation, development of professional relationships, andcollaborations with other scientists that have been important in our professionaldevelopment. Our motivation for the present request is to give as many young polymerscientists as possible the opportunity to experience their first GRC in Ventura nextJanuary. NSF funding is critical to achieving this goal.Broader Impact: The broader impact lies in the cultivation and development oftomorrow's leaders in the polymer field and related interdisciplinary fields and to furtherdiversity in the scientific force performing this interdisciplinary research. In keepingwith the past tradition of the Polymers (West) GRC, the Programmatic Themes of thisyear's conference cover a range of important and timely topics spanning the range frompolymer synthesis to polymer physics and engineering, including industrial trends inpolymer science. These programmatic themes are Bioactive Polymers, ControlledPolymer Architectures, Polymers for Microelectronics and Optics, Block Copolymers,Nanoparticles and Nanotechnology, Bio-Rheology and Gels, Polymers for Energy Needs.Finally, a new Graduate Research Seminar meeting will be held the weekend prior to thefull Gordon Research Conference that will be fully organized, run, and attended bygraduate students and post-doctoral researchers chosen by Mays and Pochan. This willcertainly lead to increased participation of younger researchers in the interdisciplinaryfield of polymer science and engineering.