The International Thermal Conductivity Conference was started in 1961 with the initiative of Mr. C. F. Lucks and grew out of the needs of researchers in the field. From 1961 to 1973 the Confer ences were held annually, and have been held biennially since 1975 when our Center for Information and Numerical Data Analysis and Synthesis (CINDAS) of Purdue University became the permanent Spon sor of the Conferences. These Conferences provide a broadly based forum for researchers actively working on the thermal conductivity and closely related properties to convene on a regular basis to ex change...

The International Thermal Expansion Symposium was started in 1968 with the initiative of Messrs. R. K. Kirby and P. S. Gaa1. These Symposia cover the deve10pments and advances in theoretica1 and experimental studies of the thermal expansion of so lids and its relation to other re1ated properties, and provide a broad1y based forum for researchers active1y working in this fie1d to convene on a regular basis to exchange their ideas and experiences and report their findings and resu1ts. The Symposia have been se1f-perpetuating and are an examp1e of how a technica1 community with a common purpose...