This International Symposium is sponsored by the Materials Engineering Section and the Basic Sciences Section of the Metallurgical Society of CIM and co-sponsored by the Canadian Ceramic Society. Topics covered include metal matrix composites, structural ceramics, polymeric composite materials, powder metallurgical materials and interfaces.

This International Symposium is sponsored by the Materials Engineering Section and the Basic Sciences Section of the Metallurgical Society of CIM and co-sponsored by the Canadian Ceramic Society. Topics covered include metal matrix composites, structural ceramics, polymeric composite materials, powder metallurgical materials and interfaces.

A snapshot of the central ideas used to control fracture properties of engineered structural metallic materials, Advanced Structural Materials: Properties, Design Optimization, and Applications illustrates the critical role that advanced structural metallic materials play in aerospace, biomedical, automotive, sporting goods, and other indust

The papers contained herein were presented at the Sixth International Conference on Composite Structures (ICCS/6) held at Paisley College, Scotland in September 1991. The Conference was organised and sponsored by Paisley College. It was co-sponsored by Scottish Enterprise, the National Engineering Laboratory, the US Army Research, Development and Standardisation Group-UK, Strathclyde Regional Council and Renfrew District Council. It forms a natural and ongoing progression from the highly successful ICCS/1/2/3/4 and 5 held at Paisley in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989 respectively. As we enter the final decade of this century many organisations throughout the world are adopting a prophetic role by attempting to forecast future scientific advances and their associated impact on mankind. Although some would argue that to do so is folly, without such futuristic visionaries the world would be that much poorer. IntelJigent speculation based on research trends and historical advances, rather than fanciful theories, breathes a healthy air of enthusiasm into the scientific community. Surely this is the very oxygen necessary to ignite the fir~s of innovation and invention amongst pioneers of research.

The Southern Economic Corridor (SEC), one of the priority economic corridors under the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program, was designated as a GMS flagship initiative in 2002. Efforts have been taken since then, but these were pursued mainly on a project-by-project basis. A series of consultations were conducted to initiate a holistic approach to the development of SEC. The strategy and action plan is the product of these and subsequent consultations with government officials, representatives of the private sector, and other stakeholders in these countries.Besides providing a vision and framework for developing SEC, this strategy and action plan is aimed at improving coordination, ensuring effective implementation, and helping the mobilization of resources and the broadening of support for SEC development. The second GMS Economic Corridors Forum, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 17 September 2009, discussed and generally agreed with the directions set forth in this strategy and action plan.