Conference Overview
In the last 20-30 years an outstanding amount of effort and resources have been put into research in ceramics, particularly for high-temperature structural applications such as turbine blades, heat exchangers, or various parts for diesel engines. Improved fabrication procedures and novel materials have been developed, understanding of the property-microstructure relationships has been achieved, and tentative modeling has been proposed, all leading to a better knowledge of the fundamentals and potential applications of ceramics in modern technology. Fracture, creep, slow-crack growth, and anelasticity are important mechanical properties at high-temperatures. These properties are strongly sensitive to environment (atmosphere, temperature, etc.) and therefore knowledge of the interaction of the environment and these properties is particularly appropriate.

Conference Objective
The general purpose of this conference is to review the "state of the art" in the field of structural ceramics and ceramic composites for high-temperature applications. Towards that purpose, a review and possible extensions of available modeling of various composite ceramic systems, a combined examination of the properties and prospective of new compounds and techniques, and a review of the environmental effects on high-temperature mechanical properties of ceramics will be discussed by world's experts

The Conference co-chairs are Prof. Antonio R. de Arellano Lopez and Prof. Julian Martinez Fernandez, Dept. Fisica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain; Dr. H.-T. Lin, Metals and Ceramics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA; and Dr. William Luecke, Ceramics Division, National Institute of Standards & Technology, USA. The UEF Liaison is Dr. Jules L. Routbort, Energy Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, USA.

This conference has additional financial support by: US Army Research Office, National Science Foundation (US), Office of Industrial Technology (US), US Department of Energy - Oak Ridge National Laboratory, European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, US Air Force Research Laboratory, Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (Spain), Junta de Andalucía (Spain), Universidad de Sevilla (Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Vicerrectorado de Relaciones Institucionales y Extensión Cultural, Vicerrectorado de Tercer Ciclo y Enseñanzas Propias). The following professional societies endorse the event: the American Ceramic Society, the European Ceramic Society, the Japanese Ceramic Society, the Sociedad Española de Ceramica y Vidrio.

Advisory Board
Matt Ferber (ORNL), Ken Goretta (Argonne National Laboratory), Tatsuki Ohji (NIRIN), Ali Sayir (NASA Glenn), Shelley Wiederhorn (NIST).

International Scientific Advisory Committee
David Wilkinson (CANADA), Gert Roebben (BELGIUM), Jean Louis Chermant, Richard Duclos, Tanguy Rouxel (FRANCE), Fritz Aldinger, Nils Claussen, U. Messerschmidt, Ralf Riedel, Manfred Ruehle (GERMANY), Atul Chokshi (INDIA), Goffredo DePortu (ITALY), Y. Mutoh, K. Niiahara, Taksuki Ohji, Giuseppe Pezzotti, Fumihiro Wakai (JAPAN), Boris Smirnov (RUSSIA), Carmen Baudin, Emilio Criado, A. Dominguez Rodriguez, Diego Gomez, Javier Llorca, (SPAIN), Richard Warren (SWEDEN), Alan Atkinson (UK), Richard C. Bradt, W. Roger Cannon, Katherine T. Faber, Nathan Jacobson, Matthew J. Kramer, Terence G. Langdon, K.L. Luthra, D. Marshall, T.E.Mitchell, G. Morscher, Steven R. Nutt, T. Parthasarathy, J.P. Singh, M. Singh, R. Tressler, Jeff B. Wolfensteine (USA)

Publication
The papers of the conference will be reviewed and published as a special issue of the Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Conference participants will receive a copy of the publication after the conference. Instructions for format can be found in www.elsevier.nl. Drafts are due at the conference.

Poster Sessions
Poster Sessions will be a part of the conference program as they offer a unique opportunity for focusing on specific topics of interest and expanding beyond the limitations of the oral presentations.

United Engineering Foundation Conferences Fellowship Program
The United Engineering Foundation sponsors a Conference Fellowship Program. Applicants are limited to those currently active in engineering or related professions with a direct interest in the conference topic. They must be within ten years of their B.Sc. degree at the time their applications submitted. The stipend is sufficient to cover the conference registration fee and on-site room and board. Transportation expenses are not included. Application information may be obtained from the WWW or by fax from the Foundation (1-212-591-7441) and must be submitted by June 30, 2001.

United Engineering Foundation Conferences
This conference is sponsored by the United Engineering Foundation (UEF). The UEF conferences program was established in 1962 to provide an opportunity for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineering from many disciplines. The format of the conference provides morning and afternooin sessions in which major presentations are made. Available time is included during the evenings for ad hoc meetings and informal discussions and is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the developments of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums. All participants are expected to contribute actively to the discussions.

Here are a couple of websites where you can get more information on Seville:
www.sol.com
www.okspain.org
www.virtourist.com/europe/seville

Transportation
High Speed Train (AVE) from Madrid (2.5 hours) with over thirty journeys daily. The AVE from Madrid runs on the hour from 07:00 to 21:00 and from Seville to Madrid from 06:30 - 21:00.

Seville's San Pablo airport is well served by a range of domestic and international airlines. Iberia the Spanish airline flies in locally and has frequent flights to Seville. Many other international airlines fly to Madrid. In Seville there are two long distance bus stations with frequent service to the rest of the country.

Hotel Meliá Sevilla (www.solmelia.com) - (melia.sevilla@solmelia.es)
Doctor Pedro de Castro, I 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Tel: +34-95-442-2611 Fax: +34-95-442-16-08

The Meliá Seville is opposite to Plaza España and the Maria Luisa Park. It is set in the center of the city, just a few minutes from the airport and very close to Santa Justa high speed station which gives the hotel a privileged site. The Meliá Sevilla provides 364 fully equipped rooms. They provide direct dial phone, air-conditioning, interactive satellite TV, Canal Plus, modem connection, safe, choice of pillows, mini-bar and 24 hour room service. The Meliá Seville has a business center that provides services such as faxing, photocopying, translation and secretarial services.

Conference Venue
The main conference venue will be the Conference Room of the Vicerrectorate for Graduate Studies of the Universidad de Sevilla, Mexican Pavilion of Expo'29, Ave. de la Palmera. It is just a ten-minute walk from the hotel.

*Early bird special for those who register before September 1, 2001. These conference fees are:
Participant (Sharing room with another participant) US$1,300.00
Participant (Single room or sharing with guest) US$1,600.00
Local Participant - No Hotel US$ 930.00
Bona fide Graduate Students** US$ 905.00
Local Graduate Student-No hotel US$ 535.00

For those who register after September 1, 2001. These conference fees are:
Participant (Sharing room with another participant) US$1,400.00
Participant (Single room or sharing with guest) US$1,700.00
Local Participant - No Hotel US$1,030.00
Bona fide Graduate Students** US$1,005.00
Local Graduate Student-No hotel US$ 635.00

Fees for # guest*** sharing room with participant:
Room, reception and many meals (eaten with conferees) US$ 365.00

*Fax us your registration form. Payment need not accompany registration but must be received by September 1, 2001.
** Graduate students must include proof of status with registration (photocopy of current ID card is acceptable)
# Participant bringing a guest must pay participant single room price plus guest price.
*** Guests are not permitted to attend conference sessions or discussion groups.
+ Please note on the registration card the Founder Society or reciprocating society of which you are a member. If you are not a member of a Founder Society or reciprocating society, please add $100 to the conference fee.

For further information, please contact:

ALL PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AND INVITED SPEAKERS) ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER.

Please send us your registration form as soon as possible.

All participants are required to complete and return the enclosed registration form and payment information form (an Adobe pdf file) by September 1, 2001. There is a discounted price for registering before this date and, in addition, we cannot guarantee hotel space for any registrations received after this date.

All conference payments must be received by September 21, 2001. We can only guarantee you a room at the hotel if payment for the conference has been received by this date. ROOM RESERVATIONS WILL BE NOT MADE WITHOUT PREPAYMENT, PURCHASE ORDER, OR SIGNED ORGANIZATIONAL PLEDGE OF PAYMENT.

Because of contractual obligations made with the hotel for room and meal functions, no shows, late arrivals, missed meals and early departures cannot receive fee adjustments.

Payment must be made by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars, payable to the UNITED ENGINEERING FOUNDATION. Checks or money orders in any other currencies are NOT ACCEPTABLE. Payment is to be sent to:

WIRE TRANSFER PAYMENT INFORMATION:

Account Name: Bank: ABA: BIC: Account Number:

United Engineering Foundation Chase Manhattan Bank Midtown East Region 111 West 40th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 021-0000-21 CHASUS33 014-1-141929

Important: To help UEF track the receipt of your wire transfer internally and credit your payment, we ask you to send a brief message (email, fax or with registration card/payment information form) with the following information:
1. your name and organization
2. date the payment was made
3. name of bank from which you made the wire transfer payment
4. wire transfer reference number
5. total payment amount
6. specific reference about the payment (i.e. invoice number, conference title)

OR fax a copy of your actual wire transfer to our office

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be received in writing at least two weeks prior to the start of the conference in order for a full refund to be issued. Cancellations received thereafter are subject to a $200 cancellation fee and any direct expenses incurred by the Foundation. A transfer of registration may be made at any time.

If you have a disability and may require accommodation in order to participate fully in this conference, please make a note on the registration card. A Foundation representative will contact you to discuss your specific needs.

If you have special dietary requirements (e.g., vegetarian or a food allergy), please make a note on your registration card. The chef needs to know this information in advance if we are to accommodate you.

Should you have specific questions regarding your registration, please contact Donna Milone at the United Engineering Foundation at 1-212-591-7836. You may also send your questions by fax (1-212-591-7441) or e-mail (engfnd@aol.com).

Information on United Engineering Foundation Conferences can be found on the UEF web site: http://www.engfnd.org