The award consists of free registration for the meeting, a copy of the Proceedings, and an invitation to the Sunday Opening Reception and the Presidential Reception. In addition, MAS provides a substantial contribution towards travel and lodging expenses. Applicants must be bona fide students at a recognized college or university at the time of the meeting. Awards are based on the quality of the paper submitted for presentation at the meeting. The applicant must be the first author of the submitted paper. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at the meeting in order to receive the award

The award consists of free registration for the meeting, a copy of the Proceedings, and an invitation to the Sunday Opening Reception and the Presidential Reception. MSA will reimburse awardees for travel (roundtrip, lowest airfare, USA) and student housing. Applicants must be bona fide students at a recognized college or university at the time of the meeting. Awards are based on the quality of the paper submitted for presentation at the meeting. The applicant must be the first author of the submitted paper. The paper may be submitted for platform or poster presentation. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at the meeting in order to receive the award. The awardees are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting. Former winners are ineligible for another award.

Applications consist of:

1) A supporting letter from a member of MSA, preferably a research advisor, attesting to the applicant's status;

2) A scientific paper for presentation, submitted according to the detailed instructions described elsewhere.

The Professional Technical Staff Awards (PTSA) were created to stimulate attendance at the Annual Meeting of MSA for professional technical staff who ordinarily might not participate in a national meeting, and to encourage supervisors to support their staff in professional activities. There will be quality of a first authored paper submitted for presentation at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005. The awards consist of free full registration for the meeting, a copy of the Proceedings and the Sunday Opening Reception event. MSA will reimburse awardees up to $600 for travel, lodging and other expenses. Applicants must be regular paidup members of MSA at the time of application. Abstracts will be judged by the MSA Technologists' Forum. Successful applicants must present their papers personally at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in order to receive the award. They are expected to attend and participate in the entire meeting. Former winners will not be eligible for another award.

Catherine Johnson, Technologist's Forum, 6422 Simms St. #66, Arvada, CO 80004 USA, Phone: 3034206373, Email: cjohnmicro@aol.com

1. Advances in Instrumentation & Techniques
2. Applications of Microscopy & Microanalysis - Biological
3. Applications of Microscopy & Microanalysis - Physical

First Prize $200, Second Prize $100. Prizes will be awarded in each category. NOTE. All posters must be available from Monday through Wednesday.

MSA Student Poster Awards will be presented for the best posters in each category (see above). To be considered for the Student Poster Awards, the first author on the poster must be a student. When completing the Data Form, please identify your paper as "Student Poster" so that you will be eligible for the Student Poster Award Program. First Prize $200, Second Prize $100. Prizes will be awarded in each category.

MSA Traveling Poster Exhibit Awards for the ten best posters (5 physical, 5 biological) as determined by a panel of judges chosen by the MSA Education Committee. These posters are sent around the country to local society meetings throughout the year under the coordination of the MSA Traveling Exhibit Chairperson. In order for your poster to be considered, it must fit into the shipping cases. The guideline for this is that each individual board must be less than 28 x 46 inches. Onepiece rollup posters are acceptable. If your poster is accepted, you may leave it at the meeting with the Traveling Exhibit Chairperson or ship it to them after the meeting. In either case, a drawing of the poster layout should be included. So that photos can be taken and arrangements made for the poster to join the Traveling Exhibit, poster winners or designee should be at their poster at a time Wednesday afternoon which will be announced in the meeting Daily Newsletter. These awards are sponsored by the MSA Education Committee.

A Photomicrograph Competition sponsored by MSA is held at Microscopy and Microanalysis, with the purpose of promoting the innovative blending of art and science. The competition is open to all forms of microscopic imaging. Winners will be selected on the basis of artistic merit and general audience appeal. It is important, however, that the winning entries be scientifically significant. In particular, they must contain novel information useful in resolving a scientific issue and/or present established information in a way that dramatically enhances its comprehension or interpretation. A maximum of three awards will be presented. First Prize $200. A maximum of 2 runnersup: $50 each.

The rules for entries are:

1) Any individual may submit a maximum of two entries. (No individual may win more than one prize).

2) Entries must have overall dimensions of 11 x 14 inches, can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and must be affixed to a stiff lightweight support, such as 1/4" foam board. Micrographs may be mounted so they have borders.

3) Each entry must have a separate text sheet with the title and a 200word maximum description of the image including the technique and its scientific significance. It is recommended that the text be printed in 14point Times New Roman font on a separate 8.5 x 11 inch sheet. The entrant's name, address, and image title shall be posted on the back of the 11 x 14 inch entry.

4) Entries must be brought to the meeting and mounted on the display boards by noon on Monday. Nonwinning micrographs should be removed Thursday afternoon. Micrographs remaining on the display boards after 3pm on Thursday will be discarded.

Winning micrographs will be incorporated into the MSA Traveling Poster Exhibit for 20052006, and will be returned to the owner during the summer of 2006. Winners will be announced at the meeting. Submitted micrographs remain the property of the entrants subject to the conditions above.

The IMC is an annual event cosponsored since 1972 by the International Metallographic Society and ASM International. It is a truly international competition showcasing the finest work of metallographers, scientists, technicians, and students.

The contest embraces 12 classes representing various material categories and methods of revealing structure such as microphotography, optical and electron microscopy, and a unique analytical techniques category. All monetary awards will be issued in U.S. dollars. Best in Show will receive the JacquetLucas Award and $3000.00. (The IMS Pierre Jacquet Medal and the ASM Francis F. Lucas Award.) First Place winners in Classes 1 through 11 will receive $200.00. First Place undergraduate student winners in Classes 9 and 10 also receive the George L. Kehl Plaque. First Place winner in Class 12 will receive the DuBose-Crouse Award (No Monetary Award). The Second Place winners in Classes 1 through 11 will receive $100.00. Third Place winners in Classes 1 through 11 will receive $50.00. A certificate of appreciation will be awarded for Honorable Mention in Classes 1 through 11. If in the opinion of the judges the standards expected of prize winners are not met, one or more awards in that class may be omitted. Entries are prominently displayed at the annual IMS Convention following judging. Winning entries will also be displayed at ASM headquarters

1. Light Microscopy Metals and Metal Alloys Only
2. Light Microscopy All Other Engineering Materials
3. Electron Microscopy Transmission and Analytical
4. Electron Microscopy Scanning
5. Unique, Unusual, and New Techniques in Microscopy
6. Color Microscopy
7. Artistic Microscopy Color Only
8. Artistic Microscopy Black and White Only
9. Undergraduate Student Entries Metals and Metal Alloys Only
10. Undergraduate Student Entries All Other Engineering Materials
11. Digital Microscopy Artistic
12. DuBose-Crouse Award Any Technique or Material

Digitally captured images are permitted in all categories but the images must depict true structures which have not been significantly altered from their original appearance (except in Class 11).

Judging is based on: Technical content (45 %), Quality and uniqueness of specimen preparation (25 %), Photographic quality (20 %), and Uniqueness of Presentation (10 %). Judging of classes 7, 8 and 11 is based on the artistic value of the micrographs only.

For additional requirements, detailed rules, and submission procedures, visit http://www.internationalmetallographicsociety.org/contest.html or contact IMS, Jeff Stewart (jeff@metallography.com)