This volume Macromolecular Engineering: Recent Advances has been developed based on the 1 st International Conference on "Advanced Polymers Via Macromolecular Engineering" (APME ''95), June 24-29, 1995 at the Vassar College campus, Poughkeepsie, New York. In APME ''95, 100 oral and over 50 poster presentations are to be delivered from scientists around the globe. The scientific program covers recent advances in macromolecu lar engineering. It is our vision that the knowledge of the past and the promise of the future are blended together in APME ''95 to enrich and stimulate the scientists, which will bring about the progress of macromolecular engineering. Scientists from over 30 countries will be joining together to share this vision. Although over 150 papers are to be presented in APME ''95 conference, we could not include all the papers in this book for a variety of reasons, most importantly the authors willingness to contribute to this volume in time to meet the deadline. However, the 24 comprehensive chapters included in this volume are a true reflection of some of the important themes of macromolecular engineering that are part of the APME ''95 conference. We believe macromolecular engineering is the key to developing new polymeric materials and, to this end, it is hoped this volume will aid in this introspection.
