Explore the abstract summaries by clicking the sections below.

The technical track “Additive Manufacturing and Colloid Metamaterials” will explore the cutting-edge advancements and interdisciplinary research in the fields of additive manufacturing and colloid metamaterials, which can be harnessed for a variety of applications, including photonics, sensing, and drug delivery. We particularly encourage submissions in the following research areas:

• High-resolution printing and nanofabrication, Integration of additive manufacturing with traditional manufacturing processes.
• Synthesis and fabrication of colloidal particles, Colloidal lithography, self-assembly and directed assembly of colloids, Optical, mechanical, and thermal properties of colloid metamaterials, Applications in photonics, sensing, and energy storage.
• Hybrid manufacturing approaches, Functionalization of 3D printed structures with colloid metamaterials, Challenges and solutions in combining these technologies.
• Emerging Trends in smart materials and responsive systems, Environmental and sustainability aspects of additive manufacturing and colloid metamaterials, Future research directions and interdisciplinary collaborations.

This exciting track aims to be a forum to discuss the transformative potential of AI in surface and colloid sciences for discovery process, data interpretation, and methodologies. It will provide a unique opportunity to present your research to an audience of scientists, industry experts, and fellow academics from around the globe. We welcome submissions that showcase innovative applications of AI techniques in the following areas:

• Utilizing machine learning and AI models to understand and predict surface interactions, modifications, and reactions.
• AI-driven approaches to studying the stability, aggregation, and dynamics of colloidal systems.
• Applying AI to investigate and optimize interfacial properties and phenomena in complex material systems.
• Machine learning methods to analyze the behavior and properties of soft matter and complex fluid systems.
• AI-enhanced computational techniques for modeling and simulating surface and colloidal phenomena.
• Harnessing AI for the discovery and design of new materials with tailored surface and colloidal properties.
• AI applications in environmental remediation, drug delivery, and other biomedical fields involving surface and colloid science.
• Insights on using AI to optimize manufacturing processes involving surface and colloid science.
• Leveraging AI for the design, synthesis, and analysis of nanoparticles, enhancing their functionality and applications.

Biological and bio-based colloids and interfaces have attracted significant attention in the past few years, particularly for sustainable development within the water-energy-food-health nexus, as outlined by the United Nations. This transdisciplinary track focuses on the fundamental and applied aspects of colloids and interfaces that occur in biological systems or are inspired by biological phenomena and processes. Via marrying biology with chemistry, physics, and/or engineering, this track aims to gather scientists from across the world to share their most recent advancements on the following topics:

• Biological Colloids and Interfaces.
• Bio-Inspired Soft Matter.
• Biomimetic Colloids and Interfaces.
• Bio-Based Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine.
• Biocolloid-Enabled Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental Applications.
• Interfacial Phenomena in Biological Systems.
• Applications in Biotechnology and Medicine.
• Advanced Bio-Characterization Techniques.

Capillary field effects leverage electric, magnetic, gravitational fields, and mechanical forces to manipulate liquid transport and interaction with surfaces. These effects have emerged as a game-changer in a variety of areas such as micro/nanofluidic technologies. By controlling the natural capillary action of liquids in confined spaces, this method enables precise control over passive fluid flow within intricate channels and devices. The ability to manipulate liquid movement at such small scales has opened up a plethora of opportunities, from diagnostics and drug delivery to chemical analysis. This track welcomes submissions in this area including, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Fundamentals of Capillary field effects. 
• Theoretical and Computational Modeling.
• Emerging Applications in capillary phenomenon and field effects.

Colloids are increasingly important in solar energy harvesting, water treatment and remediation, biodegradable composites and decarbonization. We solicit contributions dedicated to the fundamental science, phenomenology and practical applications of colloids in ensuring a sustainable future and/or achieving energy harvesting/conversion/storage. The sustainable synthesis, novel self-assembly and advanced characterization of colloids have broad application. Contributions to the following topics are of particular interest:

• Scalable synthesis and device applications of core-shell semiconductor nanoparticles.
• Engineering stable dispersions of 2D materials, controlled interfaces and their practical applications.
• Plasmonic nanoparticle dispersions for photothermal and photocatalytic applications.
• Synthesis, characterization and applications of cellulosic dispersions and nanocomposites.
• Applications of colloids in recycling waste and recovery of value-added products.
• Physicochemical understanding and practical remediation of microplastics.
• Colloids for water purification and desalination.
• Nonlinear optical characterization of colloidal and planar interfaces.
• Rational design of surfactants and dispersants for energy and sustainability.

We welcome contributions related to food colloidal systems based on experimental, computational or theoretical considerations. We encourage submissions dealing with new products, techniques, manufacturing, and food digestion and nutrient delivery. Contributions to the following topics are of particular interest:

• Physicochemical, rheological and interfacial characteristics of food colloids, gels, emulsions and foams.
• Functionality, encapsulation and release of active compounds in food formulations, bioavailability and bioaccessibility. 
• Film forming properties of hydrocolloids with application in edible films, coatings and active packaging and 3D printing. 
• Sustainability, reuse of by products, sustainable food processing, fermentation, plant and marine based new products. 
• Physiology of food, sensory, taste, aromas, texture, digestibility and health aspects.
• Interfacial particles and crystals in food emulsions.

We welcome contributions from all theoretical, computational, and experimental aspects of colloid and interface science, especially those that do not necessarily fit into other tracks. We particularly encourage submissions in the following research areas:

• Fundamentals of colloidal interactions, including depletion interaction, double layer interaction, and its relation to functional properties of colloidal dispersions.
• Intermolecular and surface forces.
• Phase behavior and structure of dense systems and mixed colloids.
• Structure, rheology, sedimentation and diffusion of anisotropic colloids, such as rods, plates, and cubes.
• Environmental, health, and safety aspects of colloid and interface science.
• Active colloid and active matter focusing on out-of-equilibrium self-assembly.
• Generation and applications of droplets, bubbles, and foams.

Colloid and surface chemistry problems are omnipresent in industrial and technological applications. We welcome contributions from the non-academic / industrial sector from all areas of colloid and surface science, from classical surfactants and dispersions to the development and use of nanoparticles, biological interfaces, biocolloids, advancement in drug delivery formulation, smart materials, active colloids, and surfaces, etc. The primary focus of the track is to provide an insight into current issues of the industry, with the aim of creating opportunities for subsequent interaction and collaboration with academic research groups. Contributions are solicited on topics including, but not limited to:

• Challenges of recent or upcoming colloid and interface related projects.
• Retrospective evaluation of product design (both successful and unsuccessful), experiments optimization, prediction models and unresolved experimental outcomes.
• Real-life lessons of complex colloidal systems. 
• Approaches to successful product launch using colloidal techniques to develop new materials, formulations.

The technical track “Microfluidics” will focus on the fundamental and applied aspects of microfluidic approaches, especially those that occur in biological and diagnostic systems. Microfluidic techniques are essentially required for automation and miniaturization which are indispensable parts of point-of-care testing (POCT). This track will cover cutting-edge advancements and interdisciplinary research in the fields of microfluidics and nano/biosensing devices from wearable systems and additive manufacturing to nanobiosensors and artificial intelligence. We aim to gather scientists from across the world to share their most recent advancements on the following topics:

• Microfluidics in wearables and health monitoring. 
• Implantable microfluidics. 
• Multiplexed sample delivery systems.
• Micromixers and microreactors. 
• Nano/microfluidics for single cell/molecule analysis.
• Microfluidics for diagnostic applications.
• Microfluidics for screening and drug development.
• Nanosensors and integrated microfluidics.
• Capillary and paper microfluidics.
• Digital microfluidics.

Surfactants, proteins, polymers, along with soft and rigid particles adsorbed at fluid interfaces, form an intriguing category of soft matter. The interplay between molecular forces and the wetting characteristics of particles by the liquid provide a diverse platform for investigating fundamental processes including adsorption kinetics and self-assembly. These molecules and particles play a crucial role in stabilizing multi-phase systems such as foams and emulsions, and they hold significance in various industrial applications. We welcome the contributions from theoretical, computational, and experimental aspects of molecules and particles at fluid interfaces, including but not limited to the following topics: 

• Thermodynamics of surfactants adsorption at fluid interfaces.
• Surfactant adsorption at various fluid interfaces.
• Complex molecules at fluid interfaces.
• Foam and emulsion films.
• Colloidal and soft particles at fluid interfaces.
• Forces controlling the assembly of particles at fluid interfaces.
• Soft particles at fluid interfaces.
• Pickering emulsions.
• Antifoaming effects of solid particles.
• Attachment of particles to air bubbles in froth flotation.

The technical track “Rheology and Tribology of Complex Fluids” focuses on the rheological behavior of liquids and soft materials with complex microstructure, including their applications to tribology. Examples include polymer solutions and melts, particle suspensions, colloidal gels, foams and emulsions. We welcome theoretical, computational, and experimental contributions from researchers and professionals in the fields of mechanical and chemical engineering, materials science, physics, and related disciplines. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Rheological behavior of complex fluids.
• Tribological properties of complex fluids.
• Interfacial dilational rheology.
• Flow characterization in complex fluid systems.
• Linear and non-linear viscoelasticity.
• Non-Newtonian lubricants.
• Friction and wear in complex fluid systems.
• Interactions between particles and fluids.
• Applications in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and others.

Self-assembly is widespread in biology and industrial applications. Particles and molecules can organize into well-defined hierarchical 3D structures of different length scales, underpinned by the delicate balance between inter-molecular/inter-particle forces. Further sophisticated control of the structure and function of self-assembled systems can be orchestrated by elegant manipulation with an external field (e.g. optical, heat, acoustic, magnetic, and heat) and a synergistic combination of different building blocks. Contributions to this track may be broadly related to the following topics:

• Fundamental insights into self and directed assembly.
• Bio-inspired self-assembly.
• Self-assembly at interfaces.
• Polymer-surfactant interactions.
• Colloidal self-assembly.
• Dynamic self-assemblies and dynamics in self-assembly.
• Directing and tuning self-assembled nano- and meso-structures.
• Interactions mediated by hierarchical self-assemblies.
• Design, fabrication, and characterization of novel self-assembly building blocks.
• Self-assembly in biological processes and diseases. 
• Advances in application of self and direct assembly.

We welcome contributions from all theoretical, computational, and experimental aspects of soft matter science relevant to the colloids and interface science community. In particular, we encourage submissions related to the following topics:

• Smart soft materials via self-assembly.
• Electrophoretic active matter.
• Triboelectric nanogenerators.
• Granular matter.
• Assembly of crystals.
• Charged interfaces: fundamentals and applications.
• Solid-liquid and liquid-liquid charging.
• Contact electrification-driven adhesion.

The roles of surfactants and colloidal systems in resource extraction continue to attract research attention in areas such as oil/gas and mineral processing, and remediation for such processes . We welcome submissions on the study of colloidal systems for resource extraction and remediation, with particular interest in the following topics: 

• Processes involving extraction or processing of mineral ores, bitumen, conventional oil and gas and wood-based cellulosic materials (e.g. pulp, nanocellulose). 
• Use of surfactants, liquid crystal phases, coacervate phases, emulsions, microemulsions, foams (e.g., froth-based processes), particle suspensions, polymeric and metal nanoparticles, or nanoporous materials in the above processes.
• Use of surfactants and colloidal materials in the treatment of waste streams, including aqueous and gaseous streams (e.g., CO2, H2S or particle capture) obtained during the extraction, processing, storage or transport of the extracted resources.

For this track we seek contributions dedicated to the dynamics and thermodynamics of surfactant layers adsorbed at fluid interfaces, in particular at water/oil interfaces. This includes single surfactants as well as mixtures with other surfactants or with polymers or particles. Contributions to the following themes are of particular interest:

• Adsorption mechanism of surfactants and mixtures with polymers or particles.
• Adsorption phenomena at short adsorption times.
• Experimental protocols for adsorption effects at fluid interfaces.
• Interfacial dynamics of nanofluids.
• Study of peculiarities of adsorbed layers at water/oil interfaces.
• Thermodynamic models as basis for adsorption layer dynamics.
• Theoretical simulations to analyze adsorption layer structures.
• Characterization of emulsion films.
• Principle of HLB and similar concepts.
• Formation and stabilization of emulsions.
• Application of emulsions.

Wetting and adhesion includes all phenomena related to adhesion between two solids surfaces and the contact between a liquid, fluid and solid. This technical track welcomes submissions in a broad range, from equilibrium to dynamics, and from theory to practice. Contributions are solicited on topics including, but not limited to: 

• Friction and lubrication.
• Super liquid-repellency.
• Contact angles hysteresis, dynamic contact angles, and imbibition. 
• Interaction of wetting with transport phenomena and phase change.
• Adhesion phenomena and mechanisms.