ACSeries 2005 educational events off to a successful start with programs on Research Methods and Nanotechnology.

The FSCT-sponsored Advancements in Coatings Series (ACSeries), introduced this year, is designed to meet the specific educational and training needs of coatings professionals. The Series opened with a successful start in New Orleans, LA on May 18-20, 2005. Held at the New Orleans Marriott, "Research Methods in the 21st Century: A Toolkit for Competitive Advantage" was a three-day symposium that combined tutorials with paper presentations. The program addressed the various methods used in designing today's research and development protocols, such as high throughput systems, design of experiments, and combinatorial methods.

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Sixty-four attendees from North America, as well as England and New Zealand, gained an awareness of how these new methods can impact current research activities. Speakers provided real-world examples of how these new methods and tools are used to enhance and improve research and development.

The task force responsible for developing the symposium was chaired by Dean Webster, North Dakota State University, and included Bret Chisholm, NDSU; Marc Hirsh, Luna Innovations, Inc.; and Rick Roesler, Bayer MaterialScience, LLC.

The Research Methods symposium was followed on June 8-10, 2005 with the second ACSeries event, "Nanotechnology in Coatings: Realizing the Potential." This three-day symposium, which included a one-day short course followed by two days of paper presentations, was held at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport in Seattle, WA.

The 140 attendees, drawn from the United States and eight additional countries, heard tutorials and presentations regarding the most recent developments in nanotechnology and nanocomposites in the coatings industry. Among the highlights was a presentation on "Nanotechnology in Coatings--How Far Along Is the Revolution?" by Anna Andrews, of Ferro Corporation. Leading authorities from industry and academia provided valuable insights into the ways that nanotechnologies and nanomaterials will impact the industry.

Chaired by Ray Fernando of Cal Poly State University, who is also the chair of the FSCT Technical Events Coordinating Committee (TECC), the task force was comprised of Anna Andrews, Ferro Corporation; Marc Hirsch, Luna Innovations, Inc.; and Lipiin Sung, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

To round out the ACSeries Symposia for 2005, "Coating Wood and Wood Composites: The Changing Future" is slated for September 25-27 at the Marriott Charlotte Executive Park, Charlotte, NC. Endorsed by Master Painters Institute, RadTech International North America, and the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, the educational offerings will cover various aspects of wood coating to include moisture issues, new developments in interior finishes, meeting the future VOC requirements of the wood industry, and getting the most out of wood testing methods.

This task force, chaired by R. Sam Williams, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, includes George Daisey, Rohm and Haas Company; Michael DePietro, Omega Testing and Weathering Services, LLC; D. Douglas Mall Sr., The Dow Chemical Co.; Dave Salman, U.S. EPA OAQPS Coatings and Consumer Products Group; and Victoria Scarborough. The Sherwin Williams Company, Wood Care Group.

Plans are underway for 2006 ACSeries symposia to include topics such as Coating Operations Topics: Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, etc., and Additives for Coatings 2006. Additional information about these and other upcoming programs is available for review at www.coatingstech.org.