ISPAC 2017 Preview

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The International Symposium on Polymer Analysis and Characterization (ISPAC) will be held in Linz, Austria, on the 11–14 June 2017. This preview offers a flavour of what to expect.

The Governing Board of the International Symposium on Polymer Analysis and Characterization (ISPAC) will hold its forthcoming 30th anniversary conference in Linz, Austria, on the 11–14 June 2017.

ISPAC is a non-profit scientific organization formed to provide an international forum for the presentation of recent advances in the field of polymer analysis and characterization methodologies. This unique symposium brings together analytical chemists and polymer scientists involved in the analysis and characterization of polymeric materials. Meetings are held annually, rotating to venues in the USA, Europe, and Asia, with ISPAC 2016 taking place in Singapore. ISPAC sessions will comprise a three-day programme with invited lectures, poster sessions, discussions, and information exchange on polymer analysis and characterization approaches, techniques, and applications. Invited talks will include state-of-the art developments. Each session will feature lectures and a 1-h open discussion period. The participants typically come from academic, industrial, and government settings and work with different aspects of polymer analysis and characterization approaches, techniques, and applications. The symposium is a perfect platform to network with one another, exchange information and tips about different techniques, and learn about the latest developments.

ISPAC 2017 will focus on a number of topics including a broad spectrum of polyolefin-related themes, specific topics on advanced fractionation, natural polymers, solar applications of polymers, and electrical properties of polymers. Esteemed scholars from different institutions will give plenary lectures that will be followed by invited and contributing papers. The first day of the conference will be a workshop on advanced characterization methods specifically designed for graduate students and young researchers. The topics and speakers of the workshop will be as follows: Andreas Schoenhals, from BAM, in Berlin, Germany: “Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy as a Complementary Analytical Tool to Characterize Polymer Systems”; Manfred Wilhelm, from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, in Germany: “Rheology: From the Basics up to Complex Polymers”; Stepan Podzimek, of the University of Pardubice, in the Czech Republic: “Determination of Molar Mass Distribution and Branching of Synthetic and Natural Polymers Using Separation Techniques with Advanced Detection”; Antje Potthast, from the Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur, in Tulln, Austria: “Analyzing Lignocellulosic Biopolymers–Challenges, Requirements, and (some) Solutions”; and Clemens Schwarzinger, from the Johannes Kepler University, in Linz, Austria: “Advanced Mass Spectrometry of Polymers”.

The following speakers have already confirmed their attendance: Steve Armes (Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, UK); Siegfried Bauer (Soft Matter Physics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria); Hiroshi Jinnai (IMRAM, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan); Yonggang Liu (Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS, Changchun, China); Manfred Wilhelm (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany); Wolf Hiller (Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany); Roberto Simonutti (University of Milano, Italy); Chrys Wesdemiotis (University of Akron, USA); Joao Soares (University of Alberta, Canada); Petra Mischnik (Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany); Kay Saalwächter (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany); Jacques Tacx (SABIC, Geleen, The Netherlands); Ulf Gedde (Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden); and Nikos Hadjichristidis (KAUST, Saudi Arabia).

There will be a number of sponsors supporting the conference in addition to an instrument exhibition, featuring the latest developments in polymer analysis. 

More details on ISPAC 2017 including registration and abstract submission can be found at www.ispac-conferences.org

The organizers of the conference, Harald Pasch (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa) and Clemens Schwarzinger (Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria), are pleased to welcome all attendees to the ISPAC conference in its anniversary year.