Future Programming
Future symposia topics are under consideration for the Fall 2026 meeting and beyond. If you are interested in hosting a symposium at the National ACS Meeting in a PMSE-related topic, please view our page on how to submit an symposium idea.
Atlanta – Spring 2026
| Symposia Title | Symposia Description | Division Info |
|---|---|---|
| Polymer Dynamics and Structure by Neutrons and X-ray spectroscopy Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The physical properties of polymers arise from the self-assembly of elementary units into nano- to mesoscopic structures. This process is driven by a complex and cooperative interplay of dynamics across numerous degrees of freedom and hierarchy of scales. Moreover, these dynamics are significantly influenced by environmental conditions, external stimuli, and processing methods. Understanding the dynamics of polymers across a wide range of length and time scales in bulk and within various confining matrices is important for structure-composition-property control. However, achieving a comprehensive understanding of polymer dynamics remains a significant challenge. Our symposium will highlight theoretical and experimental advancements in elucidating the multi-scale dynamics and structure of polymer systems, including melts, solutions, surfaces, interfaces and in general with soft matter—through the use of neutron and X-ray spectroscopy techniques. This can span a wide range of spatial and temporal domains. The sessions will highlight contributions of various techniques including: neutron scattering, to investigate diffusivity and diffusion mechanisms, reflectometry in thin film interfaces, environmental control, biological systems, and other soft matter phenomena . We also welcome contributions from advances in computational methods, AI/ML driven methods, and other experimental approaches that enhance the use of synchrotron and neutron techniques. | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Laura R. Stingaciu, Naresh C Osti, Rigoberto Advincula, Honghai Zhang |
| PMSE/POLY Student Chapter Symposium Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | 0 | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Dominik Konkolewicz |
| Soft Polymer Networks: Linking Chemistry, and Mechanics Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Soft polymeric materials are critical in engineering and biomedical applications, including elastomers for tires, dampers, and seals; hydrogels for contact lenses and artificial prosthetics, and pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) for packaging labels, healthcare materials, and wearable electronics. In these applications, soft materials consist of polymer networks with a low elastic modulus and an outstanding ability to largely deform. However, because network topologies are complex and crosslinks remain static under loads, how molecular structure relates to bulk physical properties—both during service and after use—remains unknown. Thus, despite being foundational to polymer science—consider the example of rubber vulcanization— the molecular design of soft polymer networks continues to raise critical questions for the development of sustainable materials in modern society. For example: (1) how can we design crosslink dynamics and covalent bond energies to enable chemical or mechanical recycling post-use? (2) How can we engineer network architecture to tune stress distributions among chains, control irreversible damage, and prevent failure to extend mechanical lifetime? And (3) how can we integrate recent advances in polymer chemistry, polymer physics, and continuum modeling to predict mechanical behavior under complex, three-dimensional loading conditions? This symposium aims to address these questions by convening experts in (i) polymer chemistry, (ii) physics, (iii) engineering, and (iv) fracture mechanics. By engaging stakeholders from academia, industry, and government, we will work towards holistic solutions, with particular emphasis on: – Novel chemistries for synthesizing sustainable polymer networks, endowing them with on-demand recycling, controlled degradation mechanisms, and tunable mechanical properties. – Advanced characterization tools to quantitatively map strain, stress, and damage fields, especially at large deformations and high strains. – Multi-scale modeling frameworks that connect network topologies and dynamic bonds with chain breakage events, crack nucleation, and fracture. – Design of hierarchical or architected structures that rationally delocalize stress, mitigate damage, and enhance fracture resistance in both cohesive and adhesive failure scenarios. | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Scott Danielsen, Gabriel Sanoja, Chris Ellison, Chris Bates, Hyunki Kim |
| Polymers at Bio-interfaces Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The intersection of polymer science and biological interfaces represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving field with broad implications for healthcare, environmental science, and advanced materials. This symposium will highlight recent advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of polymeric materials that applied in biological systems in controlled and functional ways at interfaces. We are particular looking for new materials and interfacial models including AI/ML driven synthesis and characterization methods, that gives a dynamic and even real-time understanding of the biology and chemistry at polymer interfaces. We welcome contributions that explore how polymer structure, functionality, and processing affect interfacial phenomena at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. A central focus will be on understanding and manipulating polymer–bio interactions to engineer surfaces and materials with desired biological outcomes. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Bio-inspired, stimuli-responsive, multifunctional polymer interfaces (e.g., anti-fouling, bio-compatible, conductive, sensing, thermo-conductive, adhesive) • Next generation of hydrogels and interaction at surfaces including particles • Polymers for drug delivery and controlled release • Simulation and AI/ML directed work flows in the synthesis and characterization of surfaces • Advances in interfacial characterization techniques (e.g., neutron reflectometry, SFG, SPR, AFM, QCM, XPS) The symposium will also provide a platform for emerging areas of polymers for bio-interfaces, natural and hybrid polymer systems, and the use of machine learning or computational modeling to predict polymer–bio interactions. Studies that combine experimental and theoretical approaches or bridge disciplines such as materials science, chemistry, biology, and biomedical engineering are especially encouraged. We aim to foster cross-disciplinary discussion by bringing together researchers from academia, national laboratories, and industry who are developing materials that function at or near biological interfaces. Both fundamental investigations and application-driven research are welcome. By exploring how polymeric materials can be tailored to modulate or mimic biological systems, this symposium will contribute to the advancement of technologies in healthcare, diagnostics, and sustainability. We have contacted invited speakers, with consideration of the diversity of speakers with respect to career stage, employment sector, gender, and members of historically underrepresented groups. Graduate students, early-career researchers, and established scientists are all encouraged to submit abstracts and participate in this exciting session. | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Rigoberto Advincula, Stefan Zauscher, Zhefei Yang, Charini Maladeniya |
| Polymers and Boron Nitride Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The Polymers and Boron Nitride symposium will focus on fundamental polymer research relevant to boron nitride nanomaterials with an emphasis on boron nitride nanotubes, which have unique properties rivaling or exceeding carbon analogues. Polymers are significant to all stages of boron nitride materials development. There is noteworthy fundamental polymer research being pursued in the preparation of boron nitride materials, from their purification using techniques such as polymer wrapping, to synthetic modification of boron nitride and polymer resins to improve compatibility, to the preparation of boron nitride composites, to fibers and films. This symposium offers an opportunity to share the latest developments in boron nitride materials and foster further collaboration between researchers. The symposium will cover technical areas pertinent to synthesis, characterization, and computation and all relevant parties are highly encouraged to contribute oral and poster presentations. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Jessica Cash, Christa Homenick |
| Emerging Properties of Pi-Conjugated Polymers & Macromolecules Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Conjugated macromolecules are at the heart of numerous current and emerging technologies addressing critical societal needs with global impacts. Notable examples include novel optoelectronics, energy conversion and storage, healthcare/biomedicine, sensing, information science, manufacturing, consumer applications, defense, and many others. Progress remains driven by foundational advancements in macromolecular science and engineering spanning disciplinary boundaries across chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, and engineering disciplines. This symposium aims at gathering world leaders from academic, industrial, and defense sectors to discuss cutting edge research on “Emerging Properties of -Conjugated Polymers & Macromolecules”. Topics to be covered: • Computation: theory, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) • Synthesis: emerging synthetic methods, advanced synthesis and catalysis, fresh chemical approaches to conjugated macromolecules, 2D conjugated frameworks, and automation • Transport properties, emerging doping methods, conductivity, and electrochromism • Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs), bioelectronics, wearables • Optoelectronics: photovoltaics, photodetectors, and flexible electronics • Materials design, processing, and device engineering, monolithic integration, and advanced metrology and characterization • Spin, magnetic, and quantum functionality | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Jason D. Azoulay, Thuc-Quyen Nguyen, John R. Reynolds, Zhenan Bao, Antonio Facchetti |
| PMSE/POLY Poster Session. Poster Only Contributed Submission Allowed | 0 | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Dominik Konkolewicz |
| Innovations in Thermal Management and Fire Safety Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The Innovations in Thermal Management and Fire Safety” symposium aims to gather a diverse group of researchers from academia, industry, and government with expertise in fire science applicable to various fields such as automobiles, construction, space, and consumer goods. The focus is on both fundamental and applied research. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Materials for fire-resistant environments, Novel flame retardant technology, Polymers to Ceramic conversion technology, Novel fire characterization tools and standards implemented, Thermal barrier coatings, foams or composite materials, Materials for elevated temperatures, Modeling, simulation in Fire Science and prediction, Machine Learning in Fire Science, Advancements in fire-fighting foams, and Bio-based or sustainable fire-protective materials | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY Organizers: Sravya Nuguri, Grace Wan, Todd Emrick, Rocky Zhu |
| Automation & AI in Polymer Science: Accelerating Discovery of Functional Polymers Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The future of polymer science lies at the intersection of automation, high-throughput experimentation, and intelligent data-driven design. This symposium will explore how cutting-edge tools—ranging from autonomous synthesis and rapid characterization to machine learning, and computational modeling—are transforming the pace and precision of materials discovery. By accelerating the screening and optimization of polymers with targeted properties, these integrated approaches are redefining how we innovate. Bringing together academic, industry, and government leaders, this session aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and inspiration around the next generation of polymer innovation driven by digital and automated technologies. Themes ● Autonomous Synthesis & High-Throughput Platforms Explore how robotic workflows and automated characterization are enabling the rapid generation of polymer libraries and accelerating the materials discovery pipeline. ● Machine Learning & Data-Driven Design From property prediction to formulation optimization—learn how AI and data science are powering smarter decision-making in polymer research. • Computational Modeling & Predictive Simulations Delve into the role of multiscale modeling, quantum calculations, and physics-informed simulations in guiding the design of complex polymer systems. ” Career and Professional Development Eleni Papananou hellen@ucsb.edu Atif Afzal atif.afzal@schrodinger.com Metin Karayilan mxk1334@case.edu Martin Seifrid m_seifrid@ncsu.edu Nairiti Sinha sinha@psu.edu Wenjie Xia wxia@iastate.edu Boran Ma Boran.Ma@usm.edu Xiaodan Gu Xiaodan.Gu@usm.edu 07/07/25 12:59 PM 06/04/25 9:54 AM j_blair@acs.org PMSE|POLY PMSE | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Eleni Papananou, Atif Afzal, Metin Karayilan, Martin Seifrid, Nairiti Sinha, Wenjie Xia, Boran Ma, Xiaodan Gu |
| Advanced Manufacturing and Concepts for Functional Coatings, Thin Films, and Interphases Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Polymeric coatings and interphases are ubiquitous in our daily lives, from mass-produced commodity products to specialty high-tech applications. These thin films protect surfaces, control mass and energy transport between phases, amplify interface properties, and even endow surfaces with volumetric properties. This symposium covers both novel synthesis, fabrication, and advanced manufacturing methods for polymer-based thin films and coatings on planar and non-planar or porous surfaces and particles, as well as their multi-facetted applications, including next-generation lithography, energy storage and conversion, sustainable packaging, separations, and electronics. Fabrication and Manufacturing: – Gas-phase deposition and coating methods including initiated/oxidative chemical vapor deposition (i/o-CVD), molecular layer deposition (MLD), vapor deposition polymerization (VDP). – Self-limiting and other electrospray deposition methods. – Surface grafting methods, including surface-initiated polymerizations and grafting-to approaches. – Electropolymerization and electrochemically assisted deposition of polymers. – Layer-by-layer assembly of functional polymer thin films. Applications: – Advanced resists for lithography and nanofabrication, including block copolymer lithography, EUV- and e-beam lithography. – Interfacial polymers and assemblies for functional liquid-liquid and liquid-gas interphases – Coatings for advanced or bio-inspired (electro)catalysis with increased efficiency and selectivity – Coatings and multi-layer architectures for advanced and sustainable packaging. – Redox-active polymer thin films and coatings for energy storage (polymer batteries, pseudo/ supercapacitors) and electrochromic applications, as well as artificial interphases in energy storage and conversion applications. – Thin-film membranes and coatings for gas and liquid separation or capture technologies, including direct air capture of carbon dioxide. – Thin films in nano/micro-electronics, including low- and high-K polymer dielectrics. – Theory of interfacial phenomena and functional interphases. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Joerg Werner, Luyi Sun |
| Bioinspired Functional Polymer Engineering: Materials Science from Ukraine Oral Only Invited-Only | This symposium highlights advancements in materials science, emphasizing novel, bio-inspired structural-functional materials and composites of 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructures, both bio-derived and organic/inorganic synthetic components. It covers a broad spectrum of applications, including healthcare and biomedical technologies, energy storage and conversion, environmental solutions, and electronic and optical devices for human and robotic performance monitoring. This special event will promote international collaboration, emphasizing the collaboration of Ukrainian scientists alongside their global counterparts from various fields, including bioengineering, chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology. The aim is to initiate discussions on fundamental science as well as theoretical, experimental, and computational approaches. This symposium aims to highlight the transformative impact of innovative materials in tackling global challenges through enhanced international cooperation. Topics will include, but are not limited to: 1) Bioinspired and biomimetic materials and composites for therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine; 2) Ultrathin membranes, mixed-matrix membranes, and hierarchical porous membranes from bio-renewable sources; 3) Surface interactions at the interface of functionalized natural polymer membranes with various nanomaterials; 4) Synthesis an design of multifunctional nanomaterials and composites for water, energy, electronics, healthcare, and environmental protection; 5) Fundamental interactions at selective and responsive surfaces and interfaces of hierarchical structures; 6) Self-assembled, layered, and multilayered nanomaterial composites for optical, photonic, sensing, and advanced nanotechnology. The symposium is expected to catalyze new research initiatives, strengthen international collaborations and promote the translation of scientific research into practical applications that benefit society as a whole. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Nag Gavvalapalli, Chenfeng Ke |
| Benny Freeman’s 65th Birthday Symposium & Celebration Oral Only Invited-Only | This symposium is dedicated to Professor Benny Freeman of the University of Texas at Austin, on his 65th birthday, to highlight his seminal contributions to various aspects of membrane science and technology, as well as to the development of human capital. Alumni, friends and collaborators will talk about current issues in membrane science and technology, recent advances and outline future trends. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Michele Galizia, Haiqing Lin |
| 6th International Symposium on Polybenzoxazines Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Polybenzoxazine is a new field of theosetting resins that is now spreading throughout the world. It is now leading the renaissance of the thermosetting resin field. It has the most versatile molecular design flexibility of all the polymers. It is also one of only a few newly commercialized new polymers in the past 45 years. The symposium subjects range from sustainable, green materials, smart coatings, shape memory resins, next generation aerospace materials including deep space applications, biomedical applications, marine technology, advanced composites, optical devices, energy applications, advanced carbon materials, non-metallic catalyst, high surface area materials for CO2 capture and rare metals, and many other areas. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Hatsuo Ishida, Pablo Froimowicz, Ian Hamerton, Bimlesh Lochab |
| Celebrating Polymer Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This session will highlight the research accomplishments of faculty members of all ranks at primarily undergraduate research institutions (PUIs) who contribute to the advancement of polymer science and engineering through their integrated research and teaching endeavors. We invite presentations that span topics in macromolecular synthesis, processing, characterization and applications. We also invite presenters to share best practices for guiding undergraduates through impactful research projects and strategies for obtaining external funding for undergraduate research at PUIs. By integrating scientific discovery with educational practice, this symposium aims to foster a collaborative community that advances both polymer science and undergraduate research engagement. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Melissa Gordon, Bassil El-Zaatari, Ryan Van Horn, Leslie Hamachi |
| COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AWARD Oral Only Invited-Only | This is an annual award session | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dominik Konkolewicz |
| Characterization and Prediction of Properties of Polymeric Materials Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This is our general session on the characterization and properties of polymers | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dominik Konkolewicz |
| Fabrication & Processing of Polymeric Materials Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This is our general session on the fabrication and processing of polymeric materials | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dominik Konkolewicz |
| The Future of High-Performance Polymers: Integrating Computational Design, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning and Advanced Synthesis Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | High-performance polymers (HPPs) are critical materials in advanced applications in multiple sectors, including aerospace, electronics, and automotives. Their exceptional thermal stability, mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and other multifunctional properties make them desired as well as indispensable for demanding environments. Recent advancements in polymer chemistry, computational modeling, and machine learning have significantly accelerated the discovery and development of novel HPPs with tailored properties. This symposium aims to address the current state-of-the-art in HPP research while identifying opportunities for future advancements. It will provide a platform for experts and researchers from academia, industry, and national laboratories to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging trends, foster collaborations, and building future workforce advance development and maturation of next-generation HPPs. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Vikas Varshney, Michael Sims, Rampi Ramprasad, Olivia McNair |
| Physics and Chemistry of Foams Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Foams are complex, dynamic systems that bridge colloidal science, interfacial chemistry, and materials engineering. This symposium will explore the latest advances in understanding and manipulating foams across a range of chemistries and applications. Topics will include foam formulation strategies, surfactant and emulsifier design, the chemistry of fire retardants in foams, solubility and behavior of blowing agents, and analytical methods for probing the physical and chemical events during foam generation and aging. Emphasis will be placed on thermoset foaming systems and emerging approaches to improve the sustainability of foam materials. The symposium will also highlight application areas such as energy storage and conversion, thermal insulation, and biomedical foams. We welcome contributions that showcase new experimental techniques, modeling approaches, or application-driven studies. This symposium is designed to bring together academic researchers, students, and industry professionals to foster collaboration and discussion around both fundamental challenges and innovative solutions in foam science. Please note that thermoplastic foams and processing-specific studies of thermoplastic materials are generally out of scope for this session. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Kshitish A. Patankar, Abhishek Shete |
| Novel Applications of Polymeric Materials Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This is our general session on new applications of polymers | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dominik Konkolewicz |
| Advances in Polymer Electrolytes Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The development of high performance polymer electrolytes that are lightweight and flexible with improved safety are imperative for next generation energy storage and conversion technologies, including lithium (Li)-ion batteries, sodium (Na)-ion batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, flow batteries, and many others. High-performance solid-state polymer electrolytes have the potential to address various challenges in electrical energy storage devices if they can meet the requirements of (i) high ionic conductivity; (ii) sufficient mechanical strength; (iii) high transport number; and (iv) wide electrochemical stability window. Furthermore, polymer electrolyte membranes and ionomers (i.e. binders) are critical enabler for fuel cell, electrolyzer, and flow battery technologies. This symposium provides an opportunity to share and learn the most recent advances in polymer electrolyte development, including synthesis, characterization, theory, and simulation in both fundamental and applied research, especially toward enhancing ion conductivity, selectivity, and stability. Through collaborating with multiple ACS divisions, the symposium will gather knowledge on how to address various challenges of polymer electrolytes and highlight recent success and advancement. | Sponsored by: PMSE + POLY + ENFL Organizers: Tomonori Saito, Jodie Lutkenhaus, Xi Chelsea Chen |
| Hybrid Functional Materials of Polymers and Inorganic Nanoparticles Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Many inorganic nanoparticles show interesting optical, electronic, and magnetic properties that are strongly dependent on their aggregation or assembly states. Engineering the spatial organization of inorganic nanoparticles into larger or hierarchically ordered structures as macroscopic materials is essential to control their ensemble properties. When hybridizing inorganic nanoparticles with polymers, polymers can direct the self-assembly of inorganic nanoparticles to nanostructures in a controlled manner in two ways. On one hand, polymers have rich self-assembled nanostructures either in solution or in thin films. Co-assembly or post functionalization can integrate inorganic nanoparticles into well-defined nanostructures of polymers. On the other hand, polymers can act as surface ligands to refine the interparticle interaction through weakening the long-range interparticle forces. Polymers as surface ligands also stabilize the assembled nanostructures of inorganic nanoparticles in various media which play a key role in the applications of those hybrid nanostructures in nanomedicine and biosensors. This symposium will be a forum for the community to discuss new polymer-assisted self-assembly of inorganic nanoparticles. A broad range of topics from molecular designs, synthesis, mechanisms, theory modeling to applications of those hybrid materials are welcomed to submit to this symposium. | Sponsored by: PMSE + COLL Organizers: Zhihong Nie, Jie He, Yao Lin, So-Junk Park, Luis M. Liz-Marzán |
| Hi-Tech Innovations in Bio-Based Polymers: from Fundamentals to Industrial Perspectives Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Bio-based Hi-Tech polymers are a cornerstone in the transition toward sustainable, high-performance materials for the next generation of advanced and industrial manufacturing. Sponsored by the ACS CELL and PMSE divisions, this symposium will spotlight the pivotal role of green chemistry and biobased polymers in enabling technologically advanced solutions across a broad range of industries using bio-based polymers. This program will explore how molecular design and structure-property relationships of biobased polymers influence their assembly, functionality, and integration into scalable manufacturing processes. Special emphasis will be placed on innovations in additive manufacturing (including 3D printing and self-morphing materials), and real-world applications in areas such as drug delivery systems, medical diagnostics, development of artificial skin, sustainable concrete, architectural design, energy storage, and environmental remediation. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of: • Innovative synthesis and fabrication techniques for renewable and biodegradable polymers, including advanced 3D printing technologies, porous material formation, and reactive processing strategies grounded in green chemistry principles. • Structure-function correlations at the molecular level that dictate thermal, mechanical, physicochemical, acoustic, and biomedical properties, enabling tailored performance across diverse applications. • Next-generation energy and electronics applications, including biopolymer-based materials for flexible electronics, batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells, offering lightweight, high-performance, and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional materials. • Carbon capture and environmental solutions featuring biobased polymer systems designed for CO₂ adsorption, separation membranes, and catalytic platforms • Industrial case studies demonstrating the successful integration of biobased polymers in advanced manufacturing workflows, with a focus on life cycle assessment (LCA), circular economy models, and economic scalability. • Emerging multifunctional materials, such as self-healing and stimuli-responsive systems, with applications in smart textiles, soft robotics, and adaptive architectural components. By bridging polymer chemistry, polymer physics, materials engineering, and additive manufacturing, this symposium aims to inspire innovation in bio-based material solutions. Researchers, engineers, product developers, and industry leaders will find valuable insights into leveraging bio-based polymers to meet high-performance demands. | Sponsored by: CELL + PMSE Organizers: Tatiana Budtova, David Salas-de la Cruz, Kevin Miller, Shu Yang |
| Celebrating 97 years of natural fiber materials research Oral Only Invited-Only | Starting with the inception of the Institute of Paper Chemistry in 1929 in Appleton Wisconsin, training and research, first in paper science and later more broadly in natural fibers and renewable bioproducts has been enabled by strong partnerships between industry leaders and chemistry researchers. To honor the 97th anniversary of the Institute of Paper Chemistry, which has evolved to become the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute, this symposium will bring together leaders in the core pillars of natural fiber research: new materials, manufacturing, and sustainability. These pillars include themes relevant to CELL and PMSE, reflected in both traditional products that combine paper and polymers, as well as emerging materials like lignocellulosic monomers for new biopolymers. The symposium will also include a student poster session to continue the long tradition of industry-trainee engagement. | Sponsored by: PMSE + CELL Organizers: Blair Brettmann, Carson Meredith, Christopher Luettgen |
| Circular Economy of Synthetic and Bio-based Polymers: Advances in feedstocks, (bio)degradation, recycling, and chemistry Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Our society is shifting from a linear economic model (take-make-use-dispose) to a circular economic model (raw-make-use-recycle/regenerate to raw) with the use of recycling and upcycling processes. This symposium focuses on three principles of circularity, designing at the beginning, applying re-approaches during the process, and using biodegradable/bio-sourced for sustainability (green). Scientists, engineers, and technologists interested in the latest developments and advances in this diverse field are highly encouraged to contribute oral and poster presentations and join the discussion. Topics include but are not limited to: 1) Upcycled products from waste-carbon feedstocks – for example, surfactants from waste plastics, chemicals and polymers from waste biomass or CO2; 2) Upcycling Processes and associated techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA); 3) Product Characterization – for example, process-structure-property relationships and property/composition/impurities relative to virgin materials; 4) Recyclable-by-Design Polymers – for example, the design of circular materials using waste carbon and green carbon building blocks. | Sponsored by: PMSE + CELL Organizers: Yujing Tan, Kate Knauer, Dimitrius Collias, Slawomir Lomnicki, Diego Gomez-Maldonado, Yuanqiao Rao |
| Microplastics Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | The fate of microplastics and water-soluble polymers is a critical issue, yet there is a lack of comprehensive data to inform sound decision-making. This symposium aims to address key questions such as: • How can we characterize microplastics and water-soluble polymers? • What methods or standard practices can quantify bioaccumulation and toxicity? • How do microplastics and water-soluble polymers interact with cells and transport in water and across cell membranes? • How can we remove these substances from the environment and control their degradation? • What is the effect of the chemical composition, particle size, shape, or surface chemistry of particles? • New material development | Sponsored by: COLL+ ANYL + BIOT + PMSE + POLY + TOXI Organizers: Abigail Nason, Sushil Kanel, Mark Blenner, Rosa Maria Espinosa Marzal, Kevin Goodall, Jing Jin, Alice Savage, Grover P. Miller |
Fall 2026 – Chicago
| Symposia Title | Symposia Description | Division Info |
|---|---|---|
| Eastman Chemical Student Award in Applied Polymer Science Oral Only Invited-Only | This symposium honors the recipient of the Eastman Award in Polymer Science. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Kelly Burke, Tayler Hebner |
| Frontiers in Polymer Design for Human and Environmental Health Oral Only Invited-Only | This symposium will highlight cutting-edge advances in polymer science that address pressing challenges in human and environmental health. As society seeks sustainable solutions for healthcare, resource management, and pollution mitigation, polymer materials offer transformative potential through tailored functionality, degradability, and biocompatibility. This joint symposium, co-organized by PMSE and CCS-PD, aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among academic, industrial, and government researchers. This will be an invited-only event for 2 half days. By bridging polymer chemistry, materials engineering, and life/environmental sciences, we seek to highlight how polymer innovation can drive progress toward healthier people and a cleaner planet. Some of the topics include the molecular design, synthesis, and mechanistic understanding of polymers engineered for biomedical applications—such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and responsive therapeutics—as well as those developed for environmental remediation, circular economy strategies, and sustainable manufacturing. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Jennifer Schaefer, YuanQiao Rao |
| Henkel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research in Polymer Science and Engineering Oral Only Invited-Only | This symposium honors the recipient of the Henkel Award. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Helen Tran |
| Heroes of Polymer Science Poster Only Invited-Only | This invitation-only poster session will feature eminent polymer scientists from academia, industry, and national labs at different career stages. It will also serve as a networking session for POLY and PMSE members. | Sponsored by: PMSE/POLY Organizers: Julia Kalow, Graham Collier, Dhriti Nepal, Dominik Konkolewicz |
| Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award Oral Only Invited-Only | This symposium honors the recipient of the Journal of Polymer Science Award. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Craig Hawker, Joe Krumpfer |
| Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success: Symposium in Honor of Eric Appel Oral Only Invited-Only | This invited symposium is in honor of Eric Appel, the recipient of the Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| PMSE Early Investigator Symposium Oral Only Invited-Only | This invited symposium features the PMSE Early Investigators. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Adrianne Rosales, Christian Pester, Stephanie Barbon, Christopher Stafford, Shudipto Dishari |
| PMSE Emerging Professionals Symposium Oral Only Invited-Only | This invited symposium features early investigators bound for non-academic careers in polymer science and engineering. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Stephanie Barbon, Luke Baldwin, Tom Ribelli |
| PMSE Future Faculty Symposium Oral Only Invited-Only | This invited symposium features future faculty members in polymer science. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Adrianne Rosales, Christian Pester, Stephanie Barbon, Christopher Stafford, Shudipto Dishari |
| Polymer Informatics Oral Only Invited-Only | Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) is a modern manifestation of principles tracing back to the Hammett equation proposed in 1937. Cheminformatics expands on the QSAR concept through a confluence of tools and methods from computational chemistry and statistics to address descriptive and predictive chemical problems using in silico environments. Analogous to Cheminformatics, the newer discipline named Material Informatics uses principles from mechanical engineering, chemistry, physics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, image processing, and informatics to discover and develop novel materials. This subfield of material science has focused on a range of solid systems such as metals, glasses, ceramics, alloys, and metal organic frameworks. Applying a similar approach to polymers affords the subspecialty called Polymer Informatics, and referred to herein as PolyInf. We believe a symposium in PolyInf will be of great interest to the PMSE community. Although progress in PolyInf has begun to move quickly over the last few years, there are many opportunities for growth. In this connection, the proposed symposium will bring together researchers from academia and industry to share recent results in PolyInf. The purpose of this exchange is to facilitate cross pollination of ideas which is known to accelerate the evolution of a field, particularly for extremely interdisciplinary work such as PolyInf. A similar symposium was organized at the Fall ACS National Meeting in 2016. The uptick in publication and start-ups in this area since 2018 suggest it is an appropriate time to regroup the major players, and help guide this relatively nascent field. The symposium will mix presentations with panel discussions affording the opportunity for greater interaction with participants. The following four sub-themes will be used to focus the discussions. • Machine Learning (ML) for discovery – the wide range of learning algorithms used to discover • AI-driven PolyInf – going beyond supervise paradigm with generative methods • Physics-informed PolyInf – computational soft-matter physics is used to generate data • Tools – molecular representation, data repositories, software platforms, the changing industry Invited presenters will include representatives from industry, government labs, and academia. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: George Rodriguez, Sam Tallury, Gustavo Carri |
| Roy W. Tess Award in Coatings Oral Only Invited-Only | This is the Tess Award symposium. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Jaime Grunlan |
| US-German Joint Symposium Oral Only Invited-Only | The US – German Joint Symposium, “Polymeric Materials: From Synthesis to Application”, will highlight and celebrate US – German collaboration in the field of polymers and engineering. The Symposium will be held under the “Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering” Division and will feature prominent Invited Speakers from both Germany and the US presenting their recent work. We hope that this will be the first in a series of Symposia taking place alternately in the US and in Germany that will help engender, enhance, and promote such international and interdisciplinary collaborations. | Sponsored by: PMSE POLY Organizers: Christian Pester, Wilfried Weber, Robert Hickey, Johannes Brendel, Amy Petersen |
| ACS Polymers Au: Innovations in Polymer Science Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This symposium will celebrate the trajectory of ACS Polymers Au and its mission to support trailblazers in polymer science. As the journal has now established itself as the highest Impact Factor ACS polymer science journal, we would like to reflect with the community that facilitated its growth, and refocus our efforts towards supporting that same community. Sessions will focus on the highly cited & read authors from ACS Polymers Au. | Sponsored by: PMSE/POLY Organizers: Sébastien Perrier, Graham Smeddle |
| Advanced Characterization & Predictive Modeling of Polymeric Materials Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | This symposium seeks to bridge the gap between polymer synthesis, experimental characterization, and computational modeling to accelerate the design and discovery of next-generation functional polymers and composites. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| Advancing the Chemistry of Circular Refrigerant Economies Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) are essential to human quality of life but exact a significant environmental toll. Most current refrigerants are high-global-warming-potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with up to 4000 times the impact of CO2. High HVACR-associated energy consumption and HFC leaks account for 7.8% of total greenhouse-gas emissions. The chemical stability of HFCs, combined with challenges associated with separating HFC blends into components, make sustainable recycling and repurposing difficult. To create a transformative “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” to address the HVACR ecosystem’s key technical and societal challenges, researchers are working to: (1) lower HFC emissions, (2) create safe, low-GWP refrigerants, and (3) increase HVACR energy efficiency. Polymer materials play a central role in enabling the technologies necessary for a circular refrigerant economy. For example, polymer membranes are needed to recover and recycle refrigerants as legacy formulations are phased out. Charged polymer membranes may also serve as separators in emerging electrochemical refrigeration systems currently under development. Conductive polymers can be used in sensing devices that detect low-level refrigerant leaks from HVACR systems as well as electrochromic coatings that limit heat transfer into climate-controlled spaces. Additionally, responsive polymers offer potential for energy-efficient dehumidification technologies. This symposium would provide a valuable opportunity for the polymers community to share recent advances in these areas and to explore new challenges and material needs associated with next-generation refrigerant technologies. | Sponsored by: FLUO/PMSE Organizers: William (Bill) Phillip, Bess Vlaisavljevich, David Vicic, Rick Wang, Rui Sun, Jessica Tami |
| Celebrating 150 Years of Industry-Academia Collaborations in Polymeric and Inorganic Materials for Societal Needs Poster + Oral Invited-Only | This symposium will showcase landmark industry-academia collaborations that have shaped and continue shaping polymer science and inorganic chemistry. By convening prominent experts from both sectors, the event aims to foster discussion on significant past achievements and emerging areas within these disciplines, which are integral to advancements in today’s chemical industry. In celebration of ACS’ 150th anniversary, this symposium welcomes cross-divisional industrial and academic speakers to discuss the transformative power of chemistry. Morning speakers will discuss past commercialization stories of high-performance adhesives, elastomers, inorganic catalysts and composites in healthcare, electronics, and national security applications. Afternoon session will highlight modern partnerships advancing next-generation sustainable materials, renewable feedstocks, and lifesaving biomedical treatments. All talks will emphasize how fundamental innovations enable new technologies, while sharing best practices and lessons learned for the next century of collaborations addressing grand societal challenges. | Sponsored by: PMSE/POLY Organizers: Jeff Ting, Rachel Letteri, Nora Radu |
| Fundamentals and Science of Polymer Fabrication & Processing Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | This symposium focuses on the fundamental science and underlying principles of polymer fabrication and processing. It emphasizes the deep understanding of how processing conditions affect polymer structure, dynamics, and ultimately, material performance. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| Novel Applications of Polymeric Materials Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | This symposium showcases novel and high-impact applications of polymeric materials across emerging technological sectors. Topics include the design, fabrication, and integration of polymers into smart, functional, and sustainable systems. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| PMSE Early Career Researcher Poster Session Poster Only Contributed Submission Allowed | None Available | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| PMSE General Poster Session Poster Only Contributed Submission Allowed | None Available | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| PMSE Graduate Researcher Poster Session Poster Only Contributed Submission Allowed | None Available | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| PMSE Undergraduate Researcher Poster Session Poster Only Contributed Submission Allowed | None Available | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
| Polymeric Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This symposium will provide a forum to share and discuss recent advances in the development and application of polymeric materials and composites in electrochemical energy storage devices, including but not limited to lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and redox flow systems. Contributions will address the design and synthesis of polymers and polymer-based composites, as well as innovative processes and approaches for integrating these materials into cell components such as electrodes, electrolytes, separators, and interfacial layers for energy storage applications. The symposium will also cover advances in understanding charge transport and material reactivity in electrochemical energy storage devices. For instance, mechanistic insight into ion transport within electrolytes and their reactivity at the electrode-electrolyte interface (SEI/CEI) is key to informing the design of new high-performance materials. Symposium contributions will highlight the use of analytical techniques, theoretical analysis, or computational studies to support this understanding. | Sponsored by: ENFL/PMSE Organizers: Jeffrey Lopez, Whitney Loo, Xi Chelsea Chen, Brian Cromer, Chibueze V. Amanchukwu, Yan Yao, Yuepeng Zhang, Shrayesh Patel, Wenjun Wu |
| Polymeric Materials for Wastewater Reclamation Applications Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | This session invites cutting-edge research and innovative applications of polymeric materials in wastewater reclamation for both municipal and industrial sectors. With increasing global demand for sustainable water management, polymer-based technologies offer promising solutions for filtration, adsorption, membrane separation, and catalytic degradation of contaminants. We welcome contributions that explore the synthesis, characterization, performance, and lifecycle analysis of polymeric systems designed to enhance water reuse efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and improve cost-effectiveness. Topics of Interest Include: • Advanced polymeric membranes and membrane fabrication strategies (e.g., nanocomposites, mixed matrix, functionalized membranes, Roll-to-Roll and 3D printing fabrication) • Biopolymers and biodegradable materials for eco-friendly water treatment • Polymer-based adsorbents and flocculants • Hybrid systems combining polymers with inorganic or biological components • Surface modification and fouling resistance strategies • Performance evaluation in real-world reclamation scenarios | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Mohamed K. Hassan, Samer Adham, Mustafa Nasser, Khaled Mahmoud, Kenan Song |
| Polymers in Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers: From Molecular Design to System Integration Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Polymers are at the heart of fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies, enabling critical functions for their performance, such as ion conduction, gas separation, electron insulation, and water management, while maintaining structural integrity for system durability. This symposium will focus on recent advances and emerging trends in the design, synthesis, characterization, and applications of ion-conducting polymeric materials (ionomers) in electrolyzers and various types of fuel cells (including—but not limited to—proton-/anion exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs/ AEMFCs)). Topics of broad interest include: • Novel ionomer synthesis and functionalization for enhanced conductivity, durability, and advanced functions • Structure–property relationships of ionomers in membranes and catalyst binder layers • Ionomer behavior at interfaces and under confinement • Performance and stability under extreme operating conditions (e.g., high temperature, low humidity, high pressure) • Degradation mechanisms and mitigation strategies • Advanced characterization, modeling, and simulation of ionomer behavior in fuel cells/electrolyzer components/systems • Integration of polymers into membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), system-level design, and performance studies This symposium aims to bring together researchers from academia, industry, and national laboratories—spanning chemistry, materials science, and engineering—to share innovations that will advance the efficiency, durability, and commercial readiness of next-generation fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies. | Sponsored by: ENFL/PMSE Organizers: Shudipto Konika Dishari, Gaohua Zhu, Zhongyang Wang, Sarah Park |
| Porous Polymers Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Porous materials, especially porous polymers, are at the heart of many technologies needed to solve major societal challenges and which align with many of the UN’s sustainable development goals. Notable examples include membranes for gas separation and water purification, crucial for access to clean water and energy security for our vulnerable communities. The secret to high-performance porous polymers lies in their chemistry, which is critical for applications such as hydrogen separation and carbon capture. The Porous Polymers Symposium will highlight how polymer science and engineering can be used to bring porous polymers to the forefront of the advanced technologies that are of vital importance to mankind. | Sponsored by: COLL/PMSE/POLY Organizers: Michael S. Silverstein, Neil R. Cameron, Ruilan Guo, Ulrich Wiesner |
| Regenerative Thermoset Polymers and Composites Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Manufacturing of thermosetting polymers and polymer-based composites with realistic end-of-life strategies presents one of the most significant scientific and societal challenges for this century. Thermoset polymers and composites possess the necessary chemical and mechanical properties critical for achieving lightweight, durable structures in the energy (wind turbine blades), aerospace (aircraft and drones), and transportation industries (electric vehicles and trains), but the vast energy input required for initial manufacture (Gigajules), long cure times to develop desired structural properties (hrs) and lack of end-of-life strategies render these materials unsustainable. Given increasing environmental concerns surrounding both the production and disposal of thermoset polymers, transformative strategies are required for sustainable low-energy manufacturing and end-of-life management. The most critical knowledge gaps hindering the rapid development of much needed regenerative thermosetting polymers include a lack of fundamental understanding of how the chemical modifications necessary for programmed end-of-life strategies impact the ability to efficiently cure, manufacture, deconstruct and/or regenerate over many life cycles while maintaining properties and performance and how network structure and crosslinking evolves with each generation. This symposium provides an opportunity to share and learn the most recent advances in chemical recycling and regeneration of thermoset polymers and composites. Topics of interest include design and discovery of cleavable comonomers, cleavable crosslinkers, and covalent adaptable / dynamic networks, catalytic deconstruction, synthesis, characterization of properties over multiple cycles, topology evolution, effects of reinforcing phases, and regenerative manufacturing strategies. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Nancy Sottos, Jeff Moore, Leah Appelhans |
| Strain-Stiffening Materials and Their Applications Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Strain-stiffening materials have grown in popularity over the past decade as an area for interdisciplinary and innovative polymer network development. Initial interest in this space has led to the development of soft yet tough elastomers and hydrogels. From there, the field has branched into subgroups consisting of the following: natural fibrillar materials (e.g. collagen, fibrin), synthetic fibrillar materials (e.g. EKgels, PIC hydrogels), and synthetic low-entanglement or dynamically crosslinked networks (e.g. bottlebrush polymer networks, dynamic covalent networks). These subgroups have led to a broad range of applications of these materials from modeling of extracellular matrix mechanics to build in vitro disease models to tough elastomers used in soft electronics. This symposium will highlight this growing field with talks from some of the well-established leaders in the field in addition to junior faculty who are rapidly expanding the materials scope through commercial and biological applications and highlight the inherently interdisciplinary nature of strain-stiffening materials researchers. This symposium will focus on materials development – highlighting examples of strain-stiffening materials from all three subclasses (natural, synthetic fibrillar, and synthetic networks) – and on applications of strain-stiffening materials in biology, energy, and sustainability. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Monica Ohnsorg, Aidan Gilchrist, Elisabeth Prince |
| Strategies for Advancing Food Packaging Technology and Safety Oral Only Contributed Submission Allowed | Food packaging uses specialized materials and systems to protect our food supply from biological, chemical, and physical hazards. The technical requirements of food packaging are stringent: packaging materials must be safe to consumers under their intended conditions of use, inert, inexpensive, lightweight, easy to reuse or discard, able to withstand extreme conditions during processing, impervious to diverse storage and transport conditions, and resistant to physical abuse. Satisfying these packaging requirements is becoming more difficult as food production and supply chains have grown increasingly complex, consumer desire for sustainability and plastics stewardship increases, and growing populations place strain on the global food system. These evolving challenges have motivated chemists, polymer and materials scientists, engineers, and the packaging industry to develop new materials and technologies that are better able to adapt to the shifting landscape of packaging in the 21st century. This symposium will highlight the latest research in food packaging from across academia, government, and industry. Topics include but are not limited to: emerging packaging materials (including plant-based/biopolymers, recycled content, and nanocomposites) and their properties; sustainability, biodegradability, compostability, and recycling; packaging migration and safety of chemicals of concern; smart, active, and intelligent packaging; and regulatory compliance and international policy. | Sponsored by: AGFD/PMSE Organizers: John Koontz, Timothy Duncan |
| Structure to Function in Supramolecular Biomaterials Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This symposium seeks to gather a broad range of researchers that explore the design, preparation, and characterization of functional supramolecular polymers and materials. It will feature both fundamental and applied systems that utilize supramolecular interactions, with the potential for control over various length scales and realization of biomedical, electronic and materials applications. It will be a forum to discuss the most exciting recent results and discoveries, which will pave the way for future research directions of the rapidly growing field of functional supramolecular polymers. In addition to presentations, the symposium will feature a terminology discussion to address a current IUPAC project, with the goal of building consensus and refining terminology. | Sponsored by: PMSE/POLY Organizers: John Matson, Pol Besenius, Roxanne Kieltyka, Tristan Clemons |
| Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Vinyl-Addition Cyclic Olefin Polymers Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | Routes to polymerize cyclic olefins, such as norbornene, consist of free-radical and cationic polymerizations, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), catalytic arene-norbornene annulation (CANAL) polymerization, and vinyl addition polymerization (VAP). Radical and cationic polymerization routes are less studied as they typically yield low conversion and/or low molecular weight materials. ROMP is by far the most studied due to the availability of catalysts that provide good functional group tolerance and living modes of polymerization. CANAL polymerizations were only recently discovered and yield cyclic olefin copolymers via step-growth polymerization. In contrast to these methods, VAP, though less investigated than ROMP, dates to the early 1960s in which an early transition metal Ziegler-Natta-type systems were used to generate VAP poly(norbornene) that has remarkable properties as compared to cyclic olefin polymers produced via other mechanisms. In recent decades, the development of vinyl addition catalyst systems spanning the periodic table has led to capabilities that rival ROMP systems in terms of functional tolerance and control over molar mass, dispersity, and living/controlled polymerization behavior. Moreover, several commercially relevant polymer systems have emerged that take advantage of the inherent properties of cyclic olefin polymers and copolymers produced via VAP, such as high thermal stability, low moisture uptake, and low dielectric constant, among others. This symposium aims to highlight new catalyst systems for the VAP of cyclic olefins, the advantageous thermo-mechanical properties of these cyclic olefin materials, and their applications thereof. | Sponsored by: PMSE/POLY Organizers: Brian Long, Larry Rhodes |
| Virtual Science and Engineering of Polymeric Materials Poster + Oral Contributed Submission Allowed | This will serve as a general virtual symposium, encompassing all aspects of polymer science and engineering. | Sponsored by: PMSE Organizers: Dhriti Nepal |
Future Symposia
Future Symposia for Fall 2026 and beyond will be listed when available.