INTELLECTUAL MERIT: The award will support a three and one-half day symposium on biological materials science at the annual meeting of The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) to be held March 9-13, 2008 in New Orleans. An international slate of keynote and invited speakers will address sessions on Mechanical Behavior of Biological Materials, Implant Biomaterials, Bioinspired Design and Processing, Scaffold Biomaterials, and Functional Biomaterials. The program will incorporate a session for presentation of posters as part of a student poster contest. Funds will be used exclusively for supporting student participation through registration waivers and travel awards. The six-member organizing committee includes international representatives from Europe and Asia. The goals of the symposium are to generate enthusiasm and interest among students in the field of biomaterials, to facilitate interaction of students and junior investigators with senior investigators in the field, to educate participants about prior and impending advances in biomaterials, and to promote a global exchange of knowledge. Symposium sessions address topics of current interest in the field and each will offer a blend of keynote speakers, invited speakers, and contributed talks.
BROADER IMPACTS: The symposium will foster international contacts among scientists in the biomaterials field and will provide exceptional opportunities to stimulate student interest and involvement in the field.
