On behalf of the AVS community, we invite you to participate in, and submit an abstract to, the 60th International Symposium & Exhibition (AVS-60), to be held in Long Beach, California, October 27-November 1, 2013.

The AVS Symposium is a full-week conference; we anticipate having 12-15 parallel sessions sponsored by 10 divisions, 2 technical groups, and 16 focus topics surrounded by an extensive equipment exhibition and a wide range of networking and career advancement events. We encourage you to contribute to these exciting sessions and events and submit your abstract before the deadline on Monday, May 6, 2013.

This year's Symposium promises to be more exciting and forward-looking than ever with feature programming in cutting edge topical areas in addition to the core AVS technical program. Running concurrent with the symposium, for the 60th we have organized a range of new Focus Topics (FTs) featuring state-of-the-art research on Advanced Imaging of Cell and Bacteria Interactions with Surfaces; Biomolecules at Aqueous Interfaces; Nanoparticle-Liquid Interfaces; Accelerating Materials Discovery for Global Competitiveness; Atom Probe Tomography; Ions at Aqueous Surfaces; and Synchrotron Analysis. In addition, we have the following exciting FTs continuing in areas of Actinides and Rare Earths; Spectroscopic Ellipsometry; Energy  Frontiers; Graphene and Other Related Materials; Helium Ion Microscopy; In situ Spectroscopy and Microscopy; Scanning Probe Microscopy;  Transparent Conductors and Printable Electronics, and Tribology. If your work focuses on any of these  leading-edge surface and interface research areas – then AVS-60 is the place to showcase your advances!  

Nanoscale science and technology is a prevailing theme throughout the symposium, as the properties and processing of nanoscale materials are strongly affected by surfaces and interfaces. The use of nanostructured materials is ubiquitous and ranges from energy harvesting to electronic, optical or biomedical devices. Three quarters of the planned program encompass various aspects of Nano Science and Technology. If you work in or with Nano, consider submitting an abstract to one of many sessions on nanoscale science and technology. AVS-60 is also highlighting cutting research in the field of biological surface science. We start with the Biomaterials Plenary on biomembranes and new tools to look at nanoscale features of biointerfaces. This is a prelude to several Focus Topics on non-linear optics techniques applied to biointerface science and super resolution imaging of cells and bacteria at surfaces. Also covered is a comprehensive program on new developments in biomaterial surface science including research on cell and biomolecule interactions with surfaces, including the latest research on QCM, and much more! The foundation of the AVS is vacuum science and technology, which over the years has evolved into the use of controlled and sophisticated environments for quantitative measurements and processing of material surfaces and interfaces. While there are many direct links to vacuum science and technology in many of the program topics, controlled environments and measurements are now being applied to a spectrum of in vacuo, in situ, in operando, and in vivo systems. If your work involves the development of controlled environments, the processing of interfacial systems, or quantitative interfacial analysis - from vacuum, to plasmas, to biological systems, then the AVS is the venue where you need to present your work! As you examine the Call for Abstracts, we are certain that you will see many sessions that will interest you and still many others that will be a perfect fit for your latest research. We think that you will benefit greatly by participating in this Symposium and networking with the rest of the AVS community.  

We look forward to receiving your abstract and seeing you in warm, sunny Long Beach!