This year marks the 33rd anniversary of ASLOMP.  Since its founding in 1990 over 1,200 different students have participated in the program.  Many have gone on to earn graduate degrees in the field and some return to the program as mentors to help shape the next cohort of young scientists. This year 50 outstanding undergraduate and graduate students will participate.   

As is typical of most scientific societies, ASLO meetings include greetings from local dignitaries, presentations of awards to outstanding members, and plenary talks.  The plenary talks are often general presentations on a scientific problem, and are given by recognized experts.  In sharp contrast to the rest of the meetings, the plenary presentations provide the background to help place the major points in perspective.  All other presentations are generally short (15 min.) talks given in a session of papers organized around some central theme.  These talks spend little time if any on background, going directly to the heart of the presenter's research.  Poster-presentations are also highly focused on specific research, but provide the basis for more informal discussions with the scientist.