On behalf of the entire AVS community, we welcome you to Tampa and the 59th AVS International Symposium and Exhibition.  We wish you a productive and stimulating week filled with discussions and new insights as you enjoy the technical program and related activities. 

This year, Dr. Joel Kostka, Georgia Institute of Technology, will present the plenary lecture entitled "The BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico: Are Microbes Helping to Clean up the Mess?” (Monday, noon). Dr. Kostka will provide us with a visionary platform that brings together aspects of multiple surface science programs with emphasis on Biointerfaces, Biofilms and Biofouling. 

AVS is committed to developing a fundamental understanding of surfaces and interfaces through core programs in electronic and magnetic materials, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems, nano-electronics, nanometer science and technology, plasma science and technology, surface science to inter-facial phenomena, surface engineering, thin films, and vacuum science and technology.  We are certain that you will find new insights and knowledge as you enjoy these foundational sessions.  Enjoy! 

In an effort to bring emphasis to prominent research issues across our broader core programs, a number of focus topics have been organized and will be featured in the symposium including Actinides and Rare Earths, Biointerphases, Electron Transport in Low Dimensional Materials, Energy Frontiers, Graphene and Related Materials, Helium Ion Microscopy, In Situ Spectroscopy and Microscopy, Nanomanufacturing Science and Technology, Transparent Conductors and Printable Electronics, Oxide Heterostructures, Scanning Probe Microscopy, Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, and Tribology.  Here you can enjoy the benefit of multidisciplinary perspectives that are the strength of AVS.  Engage your own perspectives as well! 

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 Jim Fitz-Gerald, who will Chair the 60th AVS Symposium in Long Beach, CA; attend the awards ceremony on Wednesday evening; stop by the AVS Publication 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. We encourage all participants to submit their work to our internationally recognized scholarly Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A & B (http://avspublications.org/jvsta/or http://avspublications.org/jvstb/). 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 worked to create this exciting program.