The following has been accomplished for MARM 2008 during 2007

MARM 2008 will be hosted by Queensborough Community College May 17-21, 2008.

The conference will be preceded by the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) which will held in the morning of May 17. It will be concurrent or followed by POGIL, Chemagination and Project SEED that same day.

Professors Jack Norton (Columbia University,  jrn11@columbia.edu)) and John Sowa (Seton Hall,  sowajohn@shu.edu)) have accepted to serve as MARM 2008 Program Chairs following the resignation of Professor Yorke Rhodes.

Professor Luis Avilla (Columbia University, laa4@columbia.edu ) has accepted to serve as the Exhibits chair

Mr. Frank Romano (frank.romano@agilent.com) and Mr. Ken Lewis (Kenrick.Lewis@momentive.com) will serve as the fundraising chairs.

Mr. Frank Romano (frank.romano@agilent.com) will continue to serve as the treasurer

Dr. Gloria Proni  (gproni@jjay.cuny.edu) will serve as the Publications (program book) chair

The MARM 2008 website has been up and running  http://www.marmacs.org/2008/index.html

More than 60 sessions have been proposed. Professors Norton and Sowa have already prepared the schedule for all sessions.

The non-technical program is fully developed and includes workshops, short courses, panel discussions, awards, networking events, and special breakfasts, lunches, and dinners

Abstract submission is open and several abstracts have already been posted.

Registration is not yet open as we are waiting for the National ACS to initiate it. However the registration fees are already posted.

Fundraising has started slowly but has recently improved with more pledges. The total amount of confirmed donations is approximately $12,000.

Four exhibitors have returned completed contracts. Others have made verbal or email commitments. A discount is offered to companies who wish to sponsor URS and exhibit at MARM.

Advertising of the conference has been sent to the newsletter of the neighboring ACS sections such as the ones in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Washington DC. The Chemical Education program is being publicized through contacts in the NY-ACS and the NYC Dept. of Ed, and the ACS Division of Chemical Education newsletter.

ACS-ORM has contracted with two nearby hotels. A third is being approached by ORM.

Respectfully submitted,

Paris Svoronos, Ph.D.
Program Chair

David Sarno, Ph.D.
Secretary