We are very fortunate to have Dr. Thom Mason, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, kicking off the week on Monday with his plenary lecture on “Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Scientific Discovery and Innovation for the Energy Challenge.” This subject is particularly appropriate because a key feature of this year’s program is Energy Frontiers, one of the thirteen focus topics featured in this year’s symposium. The Energy Frontiers focus topic encompasses several aspects of energy science and technology and includes the AIP Industrial Physics Forum that will address such issues as Global Energy Prospects, The Supply/Demand Challenge of the Electric Economy and Materials for a Sustainable Future. The other twelve focus topics featured in the symposium are Graphene and Related Materials, Helium Ion Microscopy, Biofabrication and Novel Devices, Nanomanufacturing Science and Technology, Neutron Scattering, Transparent Conductors and Printable Electronics, Actinides and Rare Earths, Marine Biofouling, Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, Tribology, Electron Transport in Low Dimensional Materials and In Situ Spectroscopy and Microscopy. Sessions in these topics are in addition to our core program on exciting topics ranging from fundamental surface science to interfacial phenomena, surface engineering, micro- and nano-electronics, nanometer science and technology, thin films, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems, plasma science and technology, electronic and magnetic materials, and vacuum science and technology. 

The end result is a program that consists of ~140 oral sessions, more than ~1,300 talks, over 250 invited speakers, and two evenings of poster presentations where stimulating and passionate scientific discussions will be facilitated with low temperature libations. Many of us will also get a chance to visit the Exhibition Hall where ever-increasing numbers of exhibitors will be displaying their latest technology and equipment that make cutting edge science and the latest applications possible. 

If this is your first time at an AVS meeting, we want to invite you to be a regular member of the AVS community. Stop by the division business meetings (most are on Tuesday in the late afternoon); get involved with next year’s programming by talking to Chip Eddy, who will Chair next year’s Symposium in Tampa, Florida; attend the awards ceremony on Wednesday evening; stop by the AVS Journal booth to talk to the Staff and the Editors; take advantage of your membership and become engaged in the dynamic and diverse research community that is AVS. The only way to find out what AVS has to offer is to experience the AVS community and there is no better time to start than this week. 

Thank you for your participation and contribution to this year’s AVS Symposium and thanks to all the dedicated volunteers and the outstanding AVS staff who have invested many hours of work to create this exciting program.                                                             

Enjoy the week!

2011 Program Chair Susan B. Sinnott University of Florida

2011 Vice-Program Chair Charles R. "Chip" Eddy, Jr. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory