Polymer chemistry and physics are facing a new era from simple polymers to more sophisticated macromolecular systems. The IUPA Polymer Conference on the Mission and Challenge of Polymer Science and Technology (IUPAC PC2002) was held in December 2-5, 2002 in Kyoto as the first strategic symposium of IUPAC Macromolecular Division (MMD). The program covered all areas of macromolecular chemistry and was arranged into 6 sessions from a strategic viewpoint:

• Polymer Concepts in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology



• Frontiers of Polymer Science



• Advanced and Emerging Polymers Technologies



• State of the Art in "Bio-Polymers"



• Polymers and the Environment



• Commodity Polymers and the World Economy.

This volume presents most of the invited lectures from the conference and represents an excellent perspective of the Mission and Challenges of Polymer Science and Technology.