All papers, whether invited or contributed, whether platform or poster, must be submitted in electronic format in addition to three hardcopy printouts. Follow the new instructions on these pages and the website. All accepted papers will be published in the new CD-ROM Proceedings, a supplement to the journal Microscopy and Microanalysis. However, only select invited papers will be printed in the "paper" portion (the CD-ROM with all accepted papers will be included with the proceedings book). The deadline for receipt of all papers is 1700 PST, February 17, 2003. Papers received after that date will not be accepted. Please read all instructions carefully!

Valid submitters must complete all the following steps:

1. Register as a user at the Abstract Submission website http://www.msa.microscopy.com/ MMHomePage.html (The registration form and Abstract submission links can be found by selecting the Button called Registration/Forms) . Be sure to review this site for specific instructions about format and treatment of artwork and special characters in your abstract.

2. Provide Complete Electronic Author Data Online for each submitted abstract at the same time that you submit the electronic file of your paper. Make sure all addresses are complete and all co-authors are listed. It will be best to go out of the website and come in again for the second and subsequent papers. Special audio/ visual equipment requests must be indicated on this form or A/V availability cannot be guaranteed. Each room will be supplied with a 35-mm projector, overhead projector, and computer projector. The author data will be sent to you via a confirming e-mail following the upload of your submission.

3. Upload your Electronic Extended Abstract when requested after completing the Electronic Author Data entry. Your source file must be in Microsoft WORD (saved in Word 6.0/95 format) or Adobe "PDF" format with the figures embedded as electronic objects. Review instructions for your software to insert photos and other graphics into your abstract. Review the technical specifications for PDF files at the submission website. Color images may be used and will be viewable on the CD-ROM. The entire Abstract must be two pages, no more, no less.

4. Review and approve the PDF file generated from your submitted abstract source files. Pay particular attention to artwork and special characters.

5. Printout the Author Data Acknowlegement e-Mail with the electronically assigned Paper Number and send it plus four (4) hardcopy printouts of your abstract from the submitted computer file plus one (1) "original" of the abstract with publication quality image(s) plus the printed page of your approved data about the paper to the address below. These will be used for review purposes and to check the converted computer files. Do not use pasted-on photos - all images and figures must be embedded in the text electronically.

After completing steps 1 through 4 electronically, send the items in step 5 to Microscopy and Microanalysis - 2003, 7000 West Southwest Highway, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415. Insert a cardboard in the envelope to prevent bending. Advanced Registration Forms and Award application materials can be included in the same envelope. All materials must be received by 1700 PST February 17, 2003. No fax submissions will be accepted.

Receipt of abstract files will be acknowledged promptly via e-mail. All abstracts are reviewed by the Program Committee. Reasons for rejection include: lack of relevance; poor science quality; previous publication; excessive commercialism; deliberate fraud or hoax; lack of adherence to these instructions; and/or late submission. Authors of rejected papers will receive a written explanation for the rejection from the Program Chair. Corresponding authors will be notified of session and time assignments on or about May 15, 2003.

You are responsible for presenting your paper. If unforeseen circumstances prevent your attendance, you must (1) notify the Program Chair and Meeting Management and (2) arrange for a colleague to present your paper. Failure to do so will result in rejection of your papers at future meetings. An overhead and a 35- mm projector will be supplied for all platform presentations. Any other required audio/visual equipment (video, stereo, etc.) must be indicated on the Data Form or its availability cannot be guaranteed. Audio/visual equipment may be requested for poster presentations but cannot be guaranteed without consultation.

Information regarding the technical content of the meeting or of specific sessions can be obtained from the MSA Web page (http://WWW.MSA.Microscopy.com) or from the Program Chair:

David W. Piston, Director
W.M. Keck Foundation
Box 1816 Station B
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37235
Phone: (615) 343 6440; fax, (615) 343 1103;
email: dave.piston@vanderbilt.edu.

Direct all other questions about the meeting to the

MSA Meeting Managers
7000 West Southwest Highway
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
Phone: (708) 361 6045; fax, (708) 361 6166.

1. ELECTRONIC SETUP. Your electronic file must be submitted in either Microsoft WORD (saved as Word 6.0/95) or Adobe PDF format. The filename must have the appropriate extension (".doc" or ".pdf"). Use a 12 point Times New Roman typeface, 6 lines per vertical inch. Use italics for taxonomic terms; do not use underlines. Avoid individualized formatting and special typefaces. Follow the model on the next page.

2. TEXT. Extended abstracts should be a condensed version of the final presentation and include all significant findings. Write the text so that readers who are not specialists can appreciate the purpose of the study and understand the procedures and conclusions. ENTIRE ABSTRACT MUST BE TWO PAGES, NO MORE, NO LESS.

3. MARGINS. Set the margins for each page so that the text occupies a centered rectangle 6.75 in. wide by 9 in. high (17.1 cm wide x 22.8 cm high).

4. PAGE 1. Text only on this page, no illustrations. Title on first line must be 14-point boldface with initial capitals. For the rest of the text use 12-point Times New Roman. Use single line spacing if more than one line is needed for the title. Leave one line of space before the author names. Start the authors' names, each followed by a comma and one or more asterisks for reference to each author's affiliation. Leave one line of space between author names and affiliations. Asterisk the first author's affiliation and provide the complete postal address. Similarly, on the next line type the next author's affiliation and complete address, etc. Do not center the title, author names or affiliations; return each line to the left margin. Leave one line of space and begin the first paragraph without indentation. Skip a line between each paragraph. Review the FAQ on the website regarding special characters.

5. PAGE 2. This page may include text, figures, and/ or tables (if any). Place Table captions above tables at the left margin; place figure captions below figures. Bring all artwork to the left margin.

Examples: TABLE 1. Elements and their concentrations (after Ref. 3). FIG. 1d. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectrum from second region indicates presence of element Y.

6. LINE DRAWINGS, MICROGRAPHS AND PHOTOS. All artwork must be electronically incorporated into the text. Show figure part number and scale line (e.g., 1 µm) as needed. Color may be used and will be displayed as such on the CD-ROM; however, in the invited papers printed in the Proceedings, the figures will appear in black and white. Line art must be created either in a drawing program or scanned into a suitable format for importing into the document; check that the weights of lines and sizes of label fonts in imbedded legends allow the figure to be understandable at the final reproduction size in the document. Review the FAQ on website regarding artwork.

7. TABLES. All tables must be electronically incorporated into the text. Use the table-making functions of the word processor to create the table with a horizontal rule top and bottom and below the column headings. Indicate units (in parentheses) in column headings as needed. Type information single-spaced within the table.

8. REFERENCES. Show citations in the text as an Arabic number on the line in square brackets, preferably at the end of the sentence, before the period [1]. Collect references at the end of the paper, before the figures. Acknowledge sponsorship or help from colleagues in the last reference corresponding to a numeral at the end of the text. Do not use underlines. For three or more authors, use first-named author's name plus "et al...." Examples:

9. COPYRIGHT TRANSFER AGREEMENT. By submitting a paper to these proceedings, authors (except U.S. government employees) agree that if accepted, copyright in the Extended Abstract will be transferred to the Microscopy Society of America.