Engineering Diverse Soft Matter Systems

The Colloidal, Macromolecular and Polyelectrolyte Solutions GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

Colloids, macromolecules and polyelectrolytes serve as building blocks for biological and synthetic materials with microstructures that are often far from equilibrium. Such complexity and diversity give rise to unique properties with endless potential for innovation. Recent advances in characterizing and precisely controlling their structure and properties are enabling a wide array of applications from novel delivery vehicles to green materials to living and non-living systems that may provide insights into the origins of life. Due to the intricate nature of these systems, their study requires a unique approach involving a combination of experiments and theoretical analyses. The 2024 GRC on Colloidal, Macromolecules and Polyelectrolyte Solutions aims to explore the innovation of these materials and techniques for their characterization, focusing on engineering diverse soft matter systems.