2002 March Meeting Returns to Indianapolis

The 2002 APS March Meeting returns to Indianapolis, Indiana, which last hosted the APS in April 1996. Typically the largest meeting of the Society, with annual attendance averaging about 5,000, the conference will feature cutting edge research in condensed matter, materials physics, high polymer and chemical physics, biological physics, and laser science, to name just a few of the many APS units who participate each year. The outstanding scientific program will consist of more than 90 invited sessions and 550 contributed sessions, at which approximately 5,000 papers will be presented.

In addition, the meeting traditionally features a two day short course on the Saturday and Sunday preceding the start of the conference, organized by the APS Division of Polymer Physics, and focused this year on the topic of glasses and the glass transition. Also on Sunday, the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics will offer a half-day workshop on "Survival Skills for Successful Women Physicists" in which a panel of highly successful women physicists will share their perspectives on scientific careers, raising research funds, balancing career and family, and more.

Sunday will also feature eight half day tutorials on a variety of specialized topics: superconducting materials, spintronics, high resolution optical microscopy in materials systems, nonlinear dynamics in cellular biophysics, single electron tunneling, how Beowulf clusters can enhance computing needs, applied magnetism and information storage technology, and business fundamentals for physicists interested in entrepreneurship.

Rounding out the activities is a series of special events, such as the annual awards program, alumni reunions, and a special "students lunch with the experts" on Wednesday afternoon, March 20. Attendees will also be able to visit the larger and enhanced exhibit show, with displays by vendors showcasing their latest products, instruments and equipment, as well as computer software and scientific publications.