Frontiers of Macromolecular and Supramolecular Science symposia

Abstract

Frontiers of Macromolecular and Supramolecular Science is the name given to a symposium series created in 2008, under the name Frontiers of Macromolecular Science, and continued under the new extended name. This symposium is based only on invited plenary speakers and is held under the auspices of the Romanian Academy of Science, to celebrate the life and achievements of Professor Christofor I. Simionescu, who was Director of the Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Iasi, Romania, for 30 years (1970–2000). During this time, Simionescu promoted intense research activity and advanced the field of organic and macromolecular chemistry over several domains including the chemistry of wood, cellulose materials and polysaccharides, the synthesis of new initiators, new monomers and polymerizations, mechano-chemistry of polymers, plasma-chemistry and origins of life, electro-initiated polymerizations, and macromolecular charge-transfer complexes (CTC). He developed the chemistry for the synthesis of acetylenic macromolecular compounds and derivatives with photoconductive properties, and elaborated the conduction theory in organic compounds. As the name of the series implies, the symposia have featured, from the outset, frontier science. Importantly, participating plenary speakers have included the leaders of macromolecular science from the USA, Europe, and Asia. The symposia, which are typically held in the Romanian Academy in Bucharest, as well as in the Romanian Academy's Petru Poni Institute in Iasi, provide a fitting and continuing tribute to Professor Christofor I. Simionescu, the founding father of Macromolecular Science in Romania.