Chemical reactions at surfaces are key processes in catalysis, coatings, lubrication, solid state devices, and other technologies that are critical for improving the quality of life while simultaneously reducing the adverse impact of human activities on the environment. The discovery and development of new surface processes and the improvement of existing ones, particularly in the area of photovoltaics, can make important contributions to securing the nation's energy supply.
This proposal requests support for the 2011 Gordon Conference on Chemical Reactions at Surfaces. The conference, which will be held at the Ventura Beach Marriot in Ventura, California on February 6 - 11, 2011, will bring together leading experts to discuss the latest and most exciting work in the field. Topics include: - catalysis by metals, - energy conversion at surfaces, - hydrogen production and separation at surfaces, - liquids at surfaces, - interfacial chemistry in photovoltaics, - chemical reactions at oxide surfaces, - surface chemistry of CO2 conversion.
A special effort will be made to support young scientists who otherwise would be unable to attend: junior faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students. Participation by young researchers will add significant value to this conference and will foster communications among current and future leaders in a field that combines academic and industrial issues. The setting and program for the conference keeps the participants on site and maximizes interactions and intellectual discourse and networking.
The Gordon Research Conference on CHEMICAL REACTIONS AT SURFACES was held at the Ventura Beach Marriott, Ventura, California on February 6 - 11, 2011. The Conference was well-attended with 155 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. Of the 155 attendees, 75 voluntarily responded to a general inquiry regarding ethnicity which appears on our registration forms. Of the 75 respondents, 21% were Minorities – 5% Hispanic, 15% Asian and 1% African American. Approximately 23% of the participants at the 2011 meeting were women. In designing the formal speakers program, emphasis was placed on current unpublished research and discussion of the future target areas in this field. There was a conscious effort to stimulate lively discussion about the key issues in the field today. Time for formal presentations was limited in the interest of group discussions. In order that more scientists could communicate their most recent results, poster presentation time was scheduled. Attached is a copy of the formal schedule and speaker program and the poster program. In addition to these formal interactions, "free time" was scheduled to allow informal discussions. Such discussions are fostering new collaborations and joint efforts in the field. Thank you for your support of this Conference. As you know, in the interest of promoting the presentation of unpublished and frontier-breaking research, Gordon Research Conferences does not permit publication of meeting proceedings.
