Rubber science and engineering is an area with a long history and great tradition. Over the years it has also become an area of high-level science and manufacturing technology. The increasing interest arising from this has led to the need for a forum where the latest developments and knowledge can be exchanged. A series of International Seminars on Elastomers (ISE) was thus initiated in the late 1970s. The first Seminar was organized by Prof. M. Morton, Director of the Institute of Polymer Science at the University of Akron (USA) and Prof. N. Yamazaki in 1977. A second Seminar was held in Japan on October 22-24, 1985, following the International Rubber Conference in Kyoto.
A third Seminar, also entitled an International Seminar on Elastomers, was held at the University of Akron on October 25-28, 1988. The meeting was organized by Prof. J. L. White, Director of the Polymer Engineering Center at the University of Akron, and Prof. K. Marakami of the Chemical Research Institute of Non-Aqueous Solutions at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. 35 papers were presented at the Seminar, which was attended by 230 people.
On October 7-9, 1990, a fourth International Seminar was held in Kurumé, Japan. The organizing committee was composed of Prof. K. Murakami, K. Kageyama, Prof. S. Kawabata and Prof. Y. Tanaka. Prof. J. L. White was the foreign coordinator. Representatives of seven nations (the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom, plus Malaysia indirectly via the Malaysian Rubber Producers Research Association) took part in this Seminar. 37 papers were presented to the 109 participating in the event.
On July 14-16, 1993, a fifth ISE was held in Akron, Ohio. This was followed by a sixth Seminar in Kyongju, South Korea, in August, 1996. The papers presented during the third, fourth and fifth Seminars were published in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Applied Polymer Symposia.
Following the success of the seventh ISE, held in Bangkok, Thailand in December 1998, it was decided that the next Seminar would be held - for the first time - in Europe. A team of university professors composed of Prof. J. C. Brosse of the Université du Maine, Le Mans; Prof. J. Schultz of the Université de Haute Alsace, Mulhouse, and Prof. J. L. Leblanc of the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris; and their collaborators, agreed to organize the event in France.
The city of Le Mans was chosen for the Seminar, which was attended by over 160, including an important delegation from Thailand. During the Seminar it was decided that the 9th Seminar would be held in Kyoto, Japan, in April 2003. Prof. S. Kohjiya of Kyoto University and Prof. Y. Uchiyama of Kanazawa University organized the 9th ISE. The former capital of Japan offered an excellent cultural backdrop and ideal conditions for fertile scientific discussions and abundant contacts between researchers from Asia, Europe and America. 45 papers and 28 posters were presented at this successful seminar.
During the ISE 2003 the International Committee decided that the 10th Seminar would be held - for the first time - in Rio de Janeiro, on April 5-8, 2005. Held in the vicinity of the famous Copacabana and organized by Professor Cristina Furtado from the Rio de Janeiro State University, the ISE 2005 offered not only an opportunity for researchers and professionals in Brazil's Elastomer Science and Technology area to engage in an exchange of ideas and experiences with international colleagues but also a chance for those attending the conference to enjoy the tropical delights of one of the world's most beautiful cities. The four days provided an excellent forum for presentation of papers to and discussion of matters of interest in the elastomers area with renowned national and international professionals.
To continue this tradition, the International Committee took the decision to organize the 11th ISE in Freiburg, Germany. Material scientists and experts from industry, universities and research institutes have presented recent results and the very latest concepts in Rubber Science and Technology there. Freiburg, situated on the edge of the Black Forest, is the city where Hermann Staudinger made such trail-blazing discoveries in polymer chemistry. As the site for the 11th ISE in 2007, it provided an ideal setting for fruitful discussions and lasting friendships.
The 12th ISE will be held in 2009 at Thailand.
View towards Freiburg/Breisgau from Lorettoberg
Target
Engineers, chemists, physicists, professors, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, business people and professionals in elastomer science and technology.
