French Group for the Study of Polymers and their Application

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GFP
French group for the study of polymers and their application
Groupe Français d’Études et d’Applications des Polymères
Formation1970
FounderGeorges Champetier
André J. Kovacs
TypeLearned society
HeadquartersStrasbourg
Location
  • France
Fieldspolymer chemistry
polymer physics
Official language
French
Secretary General
Delphine Chan-Seng
President
Gustavo S. Luengo
AffiliationsFédération française des matériaux
European Polymer Federation
Websitehttp://gfp.asso.fr/

The French group for the study of polymers and their application, also called more simply French polymer group (GFP) is a French nonprofit organization and learned society, which aims to promote polymer chemistry, physics, and material science in French industry and institutes of higher learning.

History[edit]

Creation of the GFP[edit]

The GFP was created in 1970[1] by the polymer physicist André Kovacs and the chemist Georges Champetier, one of the first researchers in France to study polymer science.[2] The statutes of the GFP set out the following goals:

  • the advancement and dissemination of studies on macromolecular substances,
  • the grouping of researchers studying polymers in order to promote exchanges of ideas and facilitate knowledge of scientific and technical progress in this field,
  • the development of relationships between basic research and its applications.

The GFP is based in Strasbourg, where in 1954 the physicist Charles Sadron founded the first CNRS laboratory dedicated to polymer science, which became the Institut Charles Sadron in 1985. Its first general meeting was held on November 26–27, 1970 in Paris. Its first committee comprised Georges Champetier (President), Charles Sadron and René Riou (Vice-presidents), André Kovacs (Secretary general) and Constant Wippler (Treasurer). Since its founding, the presidency of the GFP has alternated between researchers based in academia and industry, while the secretary has always been a member of the Institut Charles Sadron (originally the CRM).[2]

Sister societies and federations[edit]

In May 1990, the GFP reached an agreement with the Société chimique de France, becoming its Division of "Polymeric materials and elastomers". In 2001 this agreement was modified to create a "Polymer and Materials Chemistry" Division that was common to the two societies. In 2002, a similar agreement with the Société française de physique created a common "Polymer" Division between the two organizations.[3] The GFP is a founding member of the Fédération française des matériaux (French Materials Federation), [4] and a member of the European Polymer Federation, whose first conference was organized by the GFP in Lyon in 1986.[5] In 2020, the GFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Society of Polymer Science Japan.[6]

Activities[edit]

Conferences and Workshops[edit]

The GFP organizes numerous national and regional conferences and workshops. Its flagship event is the Colloque national du GFP, held each November in a different French city, with a typical attendance of 180-250 participants. In addition, the JEPO [1] is an annual conference aimed at students and early career researchers, while the RNJP targets newly established researchers in permanent positions.[7] Finally the GFP organizes regular workshops and training sessions on more specialized subjects.

Regional sections[edit]

The GFP comprises 7 regional sections, covering different geographical areas of France (Grand Ouest, Nord, Ile de France, Est, Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne, Méditerranée, Sud Ouest).[8] Each section elects a president who participates in the Administrative Council of the GFP. Organisation of national events (the Colloque national and JEPO) rotates between the sections, while each section organises local events.

Publications[edit]

The GFP publishes a newsletter "Actualités du GFP", 2-3 times per year.[9] Additionally, its Education Commission periodically releases books on different aspects of polymers and their applications. In 2004, the GFP joined forces with the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry to promote education in polymer science in French-speaking countries.[10]

Awards and distinctions[edit]

The GFP bestows several annual or biennial awards, alone or jointly with the SCF or the SFP:

  • Polymer Thesis Award of the Education Commission of the GFP (annual)
  • Polymer Division Award, jointly awarded with the SCF, recognizing an early career scientist (less than 40 years old) for significant scientific results or original techniques in polymer chemistry (biennial, since 1992)
  • Polymer Division Award, jointly awarded with the SFP, recognizing an early career scientist (less than 40 years old) for significant scientific results or original techniques in polymer physics (biennial, since 2004)
  • Grand Prix of the GFP, recognizing the career or the complete works of a French or international researcher in polymer science (biennial, since 2003)
  • Prix d'Honneur of the GFP, recognizing a scientific career dedicated to polymer science (annual, since 2017)

Presidents and secretaries general[edit]

President Secretary general
Vincent Monteil Nov 2023- Fanny Bonnet Nov 2023-
Gustavo S. Luengo 2021-2023 Delphine Chan-Seng 2020-2023
Sophie Guillaume 2018-2021
Jean-Marc Pujol 2016-2018 Michel Bouquey 2015-2020
Jean-François Gérard 2013-2015 Yves Holl 2010-2015
Michel Glotin 2010-2012
Yves Gnanou 2007-2009 Jean-Michel Guenet 2009-2010
Pascal Barthélémy 2004-2006 Pierre Lutz 2005-2009
Jean-Pierre Pascault 2001-2003 Claude Mathis 2000-2005
François Erard 1998-2000 Léonard Reibel 1995-2000
Jean-Pierre Vairon 1995-1997
Bernard Sillion 1992-1994 Emile Franta 1989-1995
Ernest Maréchal 1989-1991
Jean Minoux 1986-1988 Jean Brossa 1986-1989
Jean-Baptiste Donnet 1983-1985 Bernard Lotz 1980-1986
Emile Bouchez 1980-1982 Paul Rempp 1974-1980
Adolphe Chapiro 1978-1979
Bernard Besançon 1977
Georges Champetier 1970-1976 André Kovacs 1970-1974

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ a b Chapiro, A. (December 1977). "The french polymer group "G.F.P." for the study of polymers and their application". Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Letters Edition. 15 (12): 769–770. doi:10.1002/pol.1977.130151211. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  2. ^ a b Michel Fontanille; Jean-Pierre Vairon (November 2020). "De l'aube des polymères au cinquantenaire du GFP". L'Actualité Chimique (in French): 17–21. ISSN 2105-2409.
  3. ^ "Création d'une Division commune SFP-GFP" (PDF). Bulletin du GFP (in French) (94): 27. March 2003. ISSN 1148-1412.
  4. ^ Paul Riboud (28 April 2003). "Compte rendu de la réunion "Suites de Matériaux 2002"". Fédération française des matériaux (in French).
  5. ^ "History of European polymer federation". www.epfwebsite.org. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  6. ^ PELASCINI, Frédéric. "SPSJ – GFP Memorandum of Understanding Groupe Français d'Etudes et d'Applications des Polymères" (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  7. ^ "RNJP 2000". perso.univ-lemans.fr. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  8. ^ "Sections Locales | Groupe Français d'Etudes et d'Applications des Polymères" (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  9. ^ "Le premier Bulletin du GFP" (PDF). Bulletin du GFP (in French) (1). February 1971. ISSN 1148-1412.
  10. ^ "Design of Polymer Education Materials for French-Speaking Countries". Chemistry International -- Newsmagazine for IUPAC. 27 (4): 32. January 2005. doi:10.1515/ci.2005.27.4.31. ISSN 1365-2192. Retrieved 2021-01-06.

External links[edit]