Workshop on Interdisciplinary, Globally Leading Polymer Science and Engineering, August 15-16, 2007, Arlington, VA

本次研讨会由数学和物理科学理事会材料研究司和多学科活动办公室支持，重点是为聚合物科学、工程和教育的未来方向提供广泛的指导。知识价值：考虑到聚合物科学研究的重大发展和聚合物工业的同步发展，在上一次NSF跨学科大分子科学与工程研讨会之后的10年里，现在召开一个新的研讨会来确定和更新具体的科学和工程研究机会和战略是必要和及时的。与此同时，随着科学技术的日益全球化，有必要在这种背景下审视聚合物领域，并在教育和国际竞争力方面确定机遇和挑战。为此，将在NSF总部举行为期两天的研讨会，来自学术界、工业界和国家实验室的顶尖科学家、工程师和教育工作者将参加。本次研讨会将由一个由六人组成的委员会组织，他们代表了非常广泛的学术和工业观点，并在聚合物领域及其与物理、化学、生物、材料科学和工程等领域的接口方面拥有专业知识。以下六个主题已被确定供研讨会参与者研究和讨论：(1)聚合物合成和新型聚合物材料，(2)复杂聚合物系统的设计和操作，(3)计算建模和理论，(4)加工和装配，(5)表征和性质，以及(6)聚合物技术在社会服务中的应用。教育和竞争力将贯穿这些主题，贯穿整个研讨会。除了由6至10名与会者组成的6个小组讨论上述每一个主题外，讲习班开始时将有7名全体发言人就重要和及时的问题发言。这些将包括技术功能材料、生物和医学中的聚合物、能源生产和储存、环境和可持续性、网络科学和聚合物以及全球安全。更广泛的影响：整个研讨会将强调教育和国际竞争力，这也是第一天小组讨论的主题。研讨会将建立一个网站，作为向聚合物界征求关于这些主题的意见和建议的工具，并提供有关研讨会组织、时间表和（最终）结论的信息。研讨会的参与者将反映出广泛的多样性，包括领先的高级和初级学术研究人员、聚合物教育者、行业和政府实验室的成员，以确保本次研讨会的结论在聚合物研究和教育领域广泛适用。一些被选中的研究生（包括助理）也将从这种独特的经历中受益。研讨会结束后，组委会将向NSF报告对整个小组的建议，并随后发布最终报告。该报告将讨论关键的新研究和教育方向，以及不断变化的工业需求和聚合物研究的全球背景。由此产生的报告将通过印刷品和互联网广泛传播，预计将影响全球聚合物科学和工程界。许多其他联邦机构对这次研讨会表示了极大的兴趣，预计它们将参加并共同赞助这次研讨会。

This Workshop, supported by the Division of Materials Research and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, isfocused on providing broad guidance on future directions in polymer science, engineering, and education.INTELLECTUAL MERIT: Given the major developments in scientific research inpolymers and the simultaneous evolution of the polymer industry in the 10 yearsfollowing the last NSF Workshop on Interdisciplinary Macromolecular Science andEngineering, it is essential and timely that a new workshop be held now to identify and update specific science and engineering research opportunities and strategies. At the same time, reflecting the increasing globalization of science and technology, it is essential toexamine the polymer field under this light and to identify opportunities and challenges in terms of education and international competitiveness. For this purpose, a two-dayworkshop will be held at NSF headquarters with the participation of leading scientists,engineers, and educators from academia, industry, and national laboratories. Thisworkshop is to tbe organized by a committee of six individuals representing very broadacademic and industiral perspectives and having expertise across the polymer field and itsinterfaces with areas such as physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, andexngineering. The following six topics have been identified for study and discussionamong the workshop participants: (1) Polymer synthesis and new polymeric materials,(2) Design and manipulation of complex polymer systems, (3) Computational modelingand theory, (4) Processing and assembly, (5) Characterizatin and properties, and (6)Polymer technology in the service of society. Education and competitiveness will bewoven into each of these themes and throughout the workshop. In addition to the sixsubgroups fo 6 to 10 particpants to discuss each of the above topics, the workshop willbegin with seven plenary speakers on issues of major importance and timeliness. Thesewill include hiearchical functional materials, polumers in biology and medicine, energyproduction and storage, environmental and sustainability, cyberscience and polymers, and global security.BROADER IMPACTS: Emphasis on educaton and international competitiveness willbe given throughout the workshop and will also be the subject of a panel discussion on the first day. The workshop will create a web site that will be used as a tool to solicitinput and suggestions on these topics from the polymer community and to provideinformation about workshop organization, schedule, and (evenutally) conclusions.Participants in the workshop will reflect a wide diversity and include leading senior and junior academic researchers, polyer educators, members of industry and governmentlaboraties to ensure that the conclustions of this workshop are broadly applicable acrosspolymer research and education. A few selected graduate students (to be included asassistants) will also benefit from this unique experience. Following the workshop, the organizing committee will report to NSF on the recommendations fo the entire group, andwill subsequently publish a final report. The report will address key new research andeducation directions, as well as the changing industrial needs and global context ofpolymer research. The resulting report will be broadly disseminated through publicationin print and on the Internet and is expected to influence the global polymer science and engineering community. Major interest for this workshop has been expressed by manyother Federal Agencies, which are expected to participate and co-sponsor it.