One Hundred Years of Colloid Science: The ACS CSSS Centennial Convenes at Delaware
The 100th ACS Colloid and Surface Science Symposium meets June 21–24, 2026, at the University of Delaware. The first meeting of this series took place a century ago, bringing together a small group of chemists to work through the new science of colloidal dispersions and interfacial films. That gathering has grown into the premier North American conference for colloid science and surface chemistry. The centennial edition adds two special programs that distinguish it from a standard annual meeting.
A Program Shaped by the Milestone
The History Symposium traces 100 years of progress in the field, from early monolayer experiments through modern nanoparticle systems. Dr. Ramanathan Nagarajan, the Army's Senior Research Scientist in nanomaterials-based technologies and long-serving program chair of the ACS Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, will reflect on the intellectual arc of the discipline. Dr. Margaret Schott presents on Katharine Burr Blodgett, whose thin-film deposition work at GE Research Laboratories stands as one of the field's foundational chapters. Dr. Matt Gebbie, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at UW–Madison, brings a newer researcher's perspective on where the science is heading.The Art Conservation Special Session takes place at Winterthur, the decorative arts museum and estate outside Wilmington. Colloidal systems govern the behavior of paints, inks, varnishes, and adhesive materials used in conservation work — this session puts those connections in front of an audience that can examine the actual objects. Few colloidal chemistry meetings include a field session at a decorative arts museum. This one does, and the reason is genuine: conservation science depends on controlling colloidal behavior in aged organic films and pigment dispersions.
Why This Meeting Reaches the Full Soft Matter Community
The technical program spans colloidal stability, rheology, directed assembly, active matter, emulsions, polymer networks, and microscale transport. Between 400 and 600 researchers are expected, drawn from academic, government, and industrial institutions. The organizing team — Eric Furst, Bramie Lenhoff, and Norm Wagner at Delaware — leads one of the country's strongest research programs in complex fluids and colloidal physics.Industrial participation from Procter & Gamble, GSK, and Dow reflects where the science intersects with formulation chemistry, drug delivery, and process engineering. Graduate students and postdocs in soft matter or fluid mechanics will find a room where fundamental theory and applied processing share the same agenda — a useful orientation whether you are aiming for academic or industrial careers.
Logistics
Dates: June 21–24, 2026
Location: University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
Abstract submission: Closed (deadline was March 27, 2026)
Registration: Open — visit sites.udel.edu/colloids2026 for current details
Organized by: Eric Furst, Bramie Lenhoff, and Norm Wagner (University of Delaware)
Registration remains available as of April 2026. Check the symposium website for fee schedules and capacity before booking travel.
Attend — Especially This Year
The Córdova-Figueroa Research Group follows this symposium closely every year. The centennial program is a good reason to attend if you have been considering it. Graduate students, postdocs, and senior undergraduates in soft matter, colloidal physics, or transport phenomena will find the combination of forward-looking technical sessions and historical reflection useful — both scientifically and professionally.
If you are a student at UPRM or elsewhere in the Caribbean and Latin America considering graduate school or a research career in soft matter or fluid mechanics: this meeting is where the field introduces itself in full. Arrive with a clear question about your interests, and you will leave with more contacts and directions than you came with.
More details and registration: sites.udel.edu/colloids2026
