2002 NSF Design, Service and Manufacturing
Grantees and Research Conference
January 7-10, 2002
San Juan, Puerto Rico

This conference focuses on the engineering and science base needed to design innovative products and systems, deliver high quality products and systems by discovering new manufacturing processes and responsive systems for the manufacturing and service enterprise, and educating the diverse engineering workforce needed to thrive in a global economy. Over 600 attendees will participate in the three-day event, making it North America’s largest gathering of researchers in this field. The university attendees are at the forefront of education and research. Industrial attendees are often either partners in these projects or the entrepreneurs who take the research results to the marketplace.

You will meet:
The National Science Foundation’s Division of Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation has been the common sponsor of this conference for over 26 years. The conference began with about 75 people who had research grants meeting on a university campus. Now, in addition to the representatives from NSF’s Division of Design and Manufacture, the event includes:

• NSF representatives and grantees from the divisions of Civil and Mechanical Systems, Electrical and Computer Systems, Engineering Education and Centers, Materials Research, Social and Economic Sciences, and the NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research program
• program representatives and research projects from Canada’s National Research Council (NRC), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Mexico’s Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) and European Commission (EC)
• representatives from the industry-based National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), as well as two professional societies, ASME International and SME, which are affiliated organizations
• researchers and educational leaders (the largest group in attendance) who, after a rigorous peer review process, were awarded grants to define their field and identify innovation opportunities while educating the next generation of engineers and scientists

The conference venue and organization:
The 2002 National Science Foundation Design, Service and Manufacture Grantees and Research Conference will be held January 7-10, 2002 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Caribe Hilton, just a few minutes from historic old San Juan, is the conference hotel. Iowa State University and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez are collaborating in managing the conference for the NSF. Following are the features of the conference.

• Morning plenary sessions focusing on innovative opportunities for interdisciplinary research, collaboration among researchers in academia and industry that cross national boundaries, directions and themes of governmental agencies, and the role of research and education in creating opportunities for the nation. In previous years, speakers have included a representative from the White House, NSF’s Assistant Director for Engineering, distinguished engineers and scientists, and many more.
• More than 400 poster presentations form the core of the program, with new posters added daily. These posters present research results in engineering, science, and small business research projects, and also highlight educational innovations and collaborative projects with industry or that cross national boarders. Both presenters and attendees find this is one of the best and quickest avenues to discover novel ideas, tools and innovation and thus establish beneficial collaborations.
• Tours of industries or major laboratories near the venue are part of the late afternoon activity. The pharmaceutical, computer and biomedical industries have a major presence in Puerto Rico, and attendees will be able to choose the tours that interest them.
• Numerous opportunities for networking are made possible in this dedicated conference. There will be opportunities to mingle with the people who are defining the multidisciplinary fields of design, service and manufacture, ranging from undergraduates students to the technical, business, and political leaders who are changing the global marketplace.