The idea to organise International Congress on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC) Conference in Brazil arose about 5 years ago during our domestic thermoanalytical conference (CBRATEC). After collection opinions and considering the possibilities the Brasilian Association of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ABRATEC) has submitted an application to win the right of organisation of 14th ICTAC in 2008. All we were touched when in 2004 ICTAC Council entrusted ABRATEC to organise this worldwide conference.

To create a successful conference was a real challenge to the Local Organisers, since this was the first case in the history of ICTAC when such an event was held in the South American continent.

The 14th ICTAC together with the VIth Brazilian Congress on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (VIth CBRATEC) was held between September 14 and 18, 2008 in a small city, Săo Pedro, SP. The conference venue was Hotel Fazenda Fonte Colina Verde where most of the participants have been accommodated.

The Organising Committee established 10 sections. Besides the ‘classical’ ones the most fashionable topics (Pharmaceuticals, Food, Biological, Medical and Life Sciences, Process Technologies, Fuels and Biofuels) were also in the conference scope.

In the Opening Ceremony, Prof. George Liptay (Hungary) has received the ICTAC Distinguished Service Award (handed over by Don Burlett, ICTAC President) for his long-lasting activity. The 14th ICTAC was the second occasion when the Award of Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry was presented. First, Prof. Barbara Pacewska was awarded, now Prof. Valter José Fernandes Jr., Brazil received this prize. The Hungarian Thermoanalytical Group (HUNTAG) of Hungarian Chemical Society donated five honorary memberships for the Brazilian scientists: Clovis A. Riberio, Fernando L. Fertonani, Luci D. Brocardo Machado, Lucildes P. Mercuri and Marisa Spirandelli Crespi. ABRATEC honored the prof. Lazaro Moscardini D’Assunçăo due to the excellent work as the first president.

The Conference started with Robert McKenzie Award Lecture read by prof. Lauri Niinistö, Finland. Furthermore, three other plenaries (Prof. Colette Lacabane, France—TA Instruments-ICTAC; Prof. Ingolf Lamprecht, Germany—Setaram-ICTAC and Dr. Imre Miklós Szilágyi—PerkinElmer—ICTAC Young Scientist Award Lecture) and four Invited Lectures have been delivered.

Each session started with Keynote Presentations (15). Moreover, seven Technical Lectures (delivered by the representatives of instrumental companies) and a Course on the principles of thermal analysis and its applications (given by Dr. Csaba Novák for about 80 participants) were organised. During the 5 days, the 330 participants (arrived from 35 countries) could enjoy about 120 oral presentations, 330 posters and around 20 exhibitors made the programme colorful.

Besides the scientific part, the social events aimed to provide some insight to the beauty of the country and the daily life of Brazilian people. The whole event took place in an atmosphere of great enthusiasm and joy. The questionnaire of evaluation accounts for 70% of participants indicated a level of approval between excellent and very good for 14th ICTAC.

During the Closing Ceremony, it was announced that the next ICTAC will be held in Japan in 2012. On that occasion the Chairman of 14th ICTAC gave to Prof. Kimura a symbolic key to the Opening Ceremony of the 15th ICTAC.

On behalf of the Organising Committee, I wish many success for the Japanese Colleagues. Last but not least, let me take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for all who has ever helped us during the work of organisation, for the Sponsors whose financial help was essential, for all participants and accompanying persons who attended to and the staff of the Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry for their help in the preparation of this conference publication.

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Prof. Jivaldo do Rosário Matos

Chairman of the Conference