The present Conference is the eleventh in a series held at three-year intervals since 1977 at the following locations:

1977:   Asilomar, California, USA
1980:   West Berlin, Germany
1983:   Callaway Gardens, Georgia, USA
1986:   Helsingør, Denmark
1989:   Banff, Alberta, Canada
1992:   Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
1995:   Snowmass/Aspen, Colorado, USA
1998:   Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands
2001:   Kurashiki, Japan
2004:   Snowbird, Utah, USA
2007:   Crete, Greece

Distinctive characteristics of PPEPPD include

• An unusual breadth in scope.  There is fertile exchange of ideas among people doing research in very different scientific disciplines, or working in different branches of industry.  The unifying thread is the language of thermodynamics and an interest in the measurement, calculation, and prediction of properties. The goal of  all work being discussed is the design of new and better products and processes for a healthier, longer, safer, and happier living.  The object of design may vary widely in nature and scale, e.g., from new molecules to chemical plants.
• A well-balanced participation of both academia and industry.  This is achieved by striking an optimal balance between fundamentals and applications, between theory and practice, and by maintaining very high standards of quality.
• An emphasis on both product and process design, following the shifting paradigms in the chemical engineering profession worldwide.
• An adherence to innovation and excellence as the basic selection criteria.  Every effort is made to attract top-notch invited speakers and to screen posters and contributed talks for originality and quality.  As a consequence, the conference is not only broad, but also deep.  Everyone leaves the conference having learned a great deal and eager to embark on new investigations.
• A coherence in format and an emphasis on interaction.  There are no parallel sessions and the size of the conference is limited to 250 participants.  There are intense discussions among participants, which are greatly aided by the abundant poster sessions and workshops.
• An optimal combination of renewal and continuity.  The same speaker is almost never invited to speak on consecutive conferences and talks are seldom given by members of the International Organizing Committee.  The participation of  “new blood” is encouraged.  In setting up to the program, organizers are keen to highlight promising new areas of technology; at the same time, important advances in traditional areas are also covered.  A unique perspective is afforded by the conference having run continuously for 30 years.
• An open, informal atmosphere that encourages participation by everyone.  In PPEPPD conferences one finds senior members of the profession alongside novice graduate students.  Common meals, the conference excursion and dinner are designed to promote mixing of participants.  Participation of young researchers is encouraged by subsidizing their costs.