Early registration for Rubber Division technical meeting ends March 31

AKRON—Early registration for the American Chemical Society Rubber Division's 191st technical meeting ends March 31 and along with it the opportunity to save $100 in registration fees.

The three-day spring technical meeting, which includes programming from industry experts, recognition of the industry leaders during the Science and Technology Awards banquet, and the awarding of the 2017 Charles Goodyear Medal, begins April 25. It will be hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton, located at 3663 Park E. Drive in Beachwood, Ohio.

Judit Puskas, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Akron, will be presented with the Charles Goodyear Medal. She is the first woman to receive the division's most prestigious award.

Puskas received a doctorate in plastics and rubber technology in 1985 and a master's in organic and biochemical engineering in 1977 from the Technical University of Budapest in Hungary.

She started her academic career in 1996 and since has been published in more than 370 publications. Additionally, she is an inventor or co-inventor of 31 U.S. patents and applications and has been chair or organizer of many international conferences. Before that she was involved in polymer research and development in the microelectronic, paint and rubber industries.

The technical meeting's program includes a keynote speech by Kurt Aerts, vice president of specialty elastomers & butyl at ExxonMobil Chemical.

Among the topics slated to be discussed during the three-day program are nanotechnology and nanocomposites; crystallization of rubber; new tire concepts and materials; and carbon footprint and sustainability.

New this year, attendees will have the chance to visit table top exhibits during the welcome reception and during breaks on April 25.

Prior to April 1, the cost for the technical meeting is $500 for members and $600 for non-members, and that includes a ticket to the Science and Technology Awards banquet. After April 1, those costs increase to $600 for members and $700 for non-members.

Student members receive complementary admission, but must purchase a ticket to the Science and Technology Awards banquet for $60 each.

Cost for Emeritus is complementary before April 1 and $25 after March 31. Tickets to the Science and Technology Awards banquet is not included, but may be purchased for $60 each.

Tickets for the 25-year Club Luncheon are available for $60 each.

For more information about the program or to register for the event, visit www.rubber.org.