| Abstract: | Polymer science has in recent years become one of the most dynamic components of materials science 1, 2, 3], which in turn is a powerful bridge between basic science and advanced technology. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has periodically reviewed the status of polymer science and engineering to ensure that this important field continues to develop in an appropriate fashion. Thus, the NSF asked the U.S. National Academy of Sciences on two previous occasions, in 1981 and again in 1994, to assess progress in polymer science and engineering and to make recommendations for the future. The resulting reports 4, 5] received wide circulation in many countries and helped to focus attention on the changing nature of the polymer field. A clear trend that was identified in these reports is the greater commonality with other materials‐related disciplines 1‐3] and with the biological sciences 1‐5]. Increasingly, these changes are being reflected in the programs of government agencies funding polymer research which are tending to be broader and more interdisciplinary than in the past. |
