-Who we are-

2012 is our 40th Anniversary!

The International Polymer Colloid Group (IPCG) is comprised of about 70 researchers who are elected to membership. Activities include annual symposia including a biennial Gordon Research Conference, an informal, semiannual newsletter preferably prior to formal members.

Our history and rules of governance can be accessed here.

The term "polymer colloids" was coined in 1970 with the idea that it should embrace current science and technology as well as systems as yet unknown, beyond "latexes". What was, and is, known is that science and technology develop rapidly, and that it is impossible to predict what new discoveries will arise. And this certainly has been the case in our field. The thumbnail pictures below refer to articles on the frontiers of polymer colloids where there is a great richness of new advances. Colloidal particles by definition have dimensions in the nanometer range. Thus it is somewhat amusing to colloid scientists who have been working with 'nanoparticles' for over six decades, to learn about the 'new' field of nanoparticles. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, is a very exciting and truly new field which embraces not only colloidal particles of all kinds, but also functional structures at the nanometer scale. We are delighted to be in the very heart of this activity! 

R.M. Fitch  
 

 
IPCG's Secretary and Newsletter Editor is Prof. Alex van Herk of the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands. 
To send us a message, contact Webmaster Pleunie Smits (Secretary).

 IPCG MEMBERS, PLEASE NOTE:

Queens University will host the new IPCG website in 2010 Chemical Engineering Faculty member, Michael Cunningham