<p>The CMSE promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between the polymer science and engineering program at the University of Florida and serves as a conduit between industry, government and UF.</p>
<p>In 1946, Professor George Butler joined the Department of Chemistry after four years with the Rohm and Haas Company. His research group in polymer chemistry was among the first in academics, and as interest in polymers grew, Professor Butler formed the Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering in 1970 to coordinate polymer research campus wide. The polymer program at Florida is thought to be among the oldest in the United States.</p>
<p>Today the Center is comprised of 13 faculty along with 103 students and staff operating in four departments on campus, where cumulative external funding amounted to $6.1 million in 2006-2007 [1]. Professor Ken Wagener serves as the Center director, while Professor John Reynolds and Professor Tony Brennan serve as associate directors of chemistry and engineering, respectively.</p>
<p>The Center promotes collaboration among faculty in polymer science and engineering on UF’s campus and serves as a conduit between industry, government and the university. The MacroCenter’s work spans the breadth of the polymer field including synthesis and mechanism, polymer spectroscopy, surface analysis, polymer processing, electronic properties, and polymer rheology. The MacroCenter is fully equipped to conduct research in all of these areas.</p>
<p>Faculty in the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, and Physics comprise the membership of the organization. Each faculty member operates independently of the MacroCenter, and students receive degrees directly from their respective departments.</p>
<p>More than 45 companies - past and present - have been working partners with the MacroCenter, as has been every major government funding agency.</p>
<p><a href=“http://cmse.ufl.edu/[/url]”>http://cmse.ufl.edu/</a></p>