Space research -- Fundamental concepts, mathematical models and scaling analysis for the microgravity environment -- Dispersed droplets and metal alloys -- Growth of semiconductors : the floating zone technique -- Macromolecular crystal growth : surface kinetics and morphological studies -- Macromolecular crystal growth at macroscopic length scales -- The growth of biological tissues.

In a microgravity experiment, the conditions prevalent in fluid phases can be substantially different from those on the ground and can be exploited to improve different processes. Fluid physics research in microgravity is important for the advancement of all microgravity scients: life, material, and engineering. Space flight provides a unique laboratory that allows scientists to improve their understanding of the behaviour of fluids in low gravity, allowing the investigation of phenomena and processes normally masked by the effects of gravity and thus difficult to study on Earth. Physics of Fluids in Microgravity provides a clear view of recent research and progress in the different fields of fluid research in space. The topics presented include bubles and drops dynamics, Maragoni flows, diffustion and thermodiffusion, solidfication,a nd crystal growth. The results obtained so far are, in some cases, to be confirmed by extensive research activities on the International Space station, where basic and applied microgravity experimentation will take place in the years to come.

The peaceful use of space flight systems for research and technological devel opments in the context of promoting European and international cooperation represents the essential motivation for the programmes of the European Space Agency (ESA). One of ESA's programmes is dedicated to microgravity research, which is now an established discipline in Europe, with a dedicated group of scientists participating. The Challenger disaster has resulted in a serious dis continuity of flight opportunities in the next few years but the forthcoming International Space Station, new launchers and reentry vehicles are expected to provide ample opportunities for microgravity research in the long term. Meanwhile parabolic aircraft flights, sounding rockets as well as the delayed Shuttle-dependent missions, Spacelab D-2, the IML-missions and EURECA I, will be employed to keep microgravity experimenters reasonably busy in the interim period. To prepare the ground for these activities, both regarding research and experiment facilities, an in-depth analysis of the state of the art is an essential requirement at this time. Such an analysis is presented in this volume. It ad dresses all of the topics that have been identified to be of relevance. Besides a presentation of the fundamental aspects justifying microgravity research, the results of experiments already performed are reviewed and recommendations for future activities are made. Close to fifty European scientists have cooper ated in the preparation of this volume and their dedicated and concerted effort is greatly appreciated.

Substantial progress has been made in the field of fluid mechanics under compensated gravity effects (microgravity). The main task of this disciplinehas evolved tremendously. Starting out with the aim of providing assistance in describing flow problems in other microgravity sciences, microgravityfluid mechanics has itself now become acknowledge as a powerful means of research. The IUTAM Symposium on Microgravity Fluid Mechanics has pro- vided the long-awaited forum for scientists from 15 coun- tries to discuss and concretize the "state-of-the-art" in this discipline. The main themes treated are: Interface Phe- nomena, Convective Processes; Marangoni effects, Solidifica- tion, Combustion, Physico-Chemical Processes, Multiphase Phenomena, Residual Acceleration effects, Fluid Handling and Non-Newtonian Flows.