SURFACE AND INTERFACE ANALYSISSurf. Interface Anal. 28, 1 (1999)

Preface

Asia-Pacific Surface and Interface Analysis Conference 1998 (APSIAC’98)was held at the Pan-Pacific Hotel in Singapore on 30 November–4 December,1998. APSIAC’98 was an international conference arising from the growingneed and development of the Asia-Pacific region in the usage, understandingand industrial application of surface and interface analysis. Thus, one of themost important aims of the conference was to foster a much closer linkbetween the surface science community in this region and those in Europeand America. In this regard, APSIAC’98 was most fortunate to have anInternational Advisory Board comprised 25 of the world’s most renownedsurface scientists. With the strong support of our colleagues in the Asia-Pacificregion, as well as from Europe and America, APSIAC’98 has also inauguratedthe Asia-Pacific Surface and Interface Conferences. The organisation of the2nd conference, APSIAC’2000, in Beijing, China in October, 2000 is alreadyunderway.

There were 6 plenary lectures, 20 invited lectures, 102 contributed papers,and over 90 poster papers at APSIAC’98. Fifty-nine of the papers fromthe conference are published in this special issue of SIA. Seven majormanufacturers of surface science equipment and two publishers held a tradeexhibition during the conference. Finally, we thank our colleagues from allover the world for their support in making APSIAC’98 a great success!

K. L. Tan and E. T. KangAPSIAC’98 Chairpersons

CCC 0142–2421/99/130001–01 $17.50Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.