The GRC on Polymer Colloids helped to bring together scientists from a wide range of disciplines, from physics to medicine. This type of interaction helped to improve the mechanism of synthesis method (emulsion polymerization), advance theoretical physics, and also find new applications for polymer colloids.
- D. Sunil Jayasuriya
The Electrochemistry GRCs in Santa Barbara were seminal to me. I entered the area of electrochemical research with scant formal training, as a one year postdoc, and worked my way into a major field through GRC interactions. To be sure, the wonderful setting on the ocean transmitted a certain magic to the conferences.
- William Geiger
The field of molecular clusters was brought together in part by the Molecular and Ionic Clusters GRC established in 1990 with Will Castleman as chair. Its first meeting in Volterra, Italy was superb - complete with great memories of good science, Roman ruins, excellent food, and wonderful camaraderie.
- Timothy Zwier
While taking a canoe trip, Mike Fritze from MIT/Lincoln Labs swung from a rope at a swimming hole and gave a Tarzan-like scream before plunging into somewhat shallow water. Fortunately, Mike was not injured and had a superb sense of humor about the incident. Classic!
- Gregory Cardinale
I remember a GRC where a large number of the attendees ended up going to the hospital after joining in a soccer game. The Thursday night session looked like a meeting of wounded soldiers.
- Dennis Klug
The Composites GRC grew out of the Polymers conference and served to focus the early research in the area of structure-property relations in fiber reinforced composite materials. Many of the initial government-funded research projects in composites grew from suggestions made at the GRC.
- John L. Kardos