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The first Group was Manufacturing Science and

Technology in 1994. Biomaterials Interfaces was

added in 1995 and, as noted above, became a

Division in 2003. MicroElectroMechanical Systems

(MEMS) became a Technical Group in 1999.

It will be noted that even though the AVS has now

become a multidisciplinary society, there is a syner-

gistic interaction between the Divisions and Techni-

cal Groups that extends beyond the fact that they

all use vacuum as an important tool in practicing

their trade. This has given the Society strength and

tenacity, and was highlighted by the organisation of

the symposium, since 1999. along thematic lines.

The AVS places an emphasis on educational

activities which include: over 40 courses in topics

related to AVS areas of expertise, which are

offered at various locations and times through-

out the year; publication of topical monographs;

workshops for high school science teachers; and

support for the US team in the Physics Olympiad.

The AVS is a Founding Member of the IUVSTA and

has been involved in its activities since its incep-

tion. Mr. Medard W. Welch played a prominent role

in establishing and shaping the IUVSTA, serving as

the first President of IUVSTA. He established and

supported the Welch Foundation which awards an

annual international scholarship. In recognition of

his support and service to the Union he was made

an Honorary President and Founding Member of

the IUVSTA. Luther E. Preuss was active in the

IUVSTA from 1965 in various positions and was

responsible for establishing the IUVSTA Secre-

tariat in London and for the smooth and orderly

establishment of Divisions in the IUVSTA. James

M. Lafferty was active in the IUVSTA from 1970

and served as President for 1980-1983. He was

responsible for the decentralization of the IUVSTA

Secretariat and for establishing a sound finan-

cial policy for the Union. He was also responsi-

ble for establishing an organisational structure

involving the IUVSTA Divisions for the planning

of International Vacuum Congresses. Maurice

H. Francombe was the first Chairman of the Elec-

tronic Materials and Processing Division, Manfred

Kaminsky was the first Chairman of the Fusion

Division and Ron Bunshah was the first Chairman

of the Vacuum Metallurgy Division. Ted Madey

was Secretary General in 1986-1989 before serv-

ing as President in 1992-1995. Bill Rogers served

as IUVSTA President for the triennium 2007-2010.

The AVS hosted the IUVSTA International Vacuum

Congress in Washington in 1961 and the IUVSTA

International Vacuum Congress and International

Conference on Solid Surfaces in Boston in 1971,

Baltimore in 1986, and San Francisco in 2001

and 2018.

A more detailed history of the AVS was compiled

by Paul Redhead in 1994 (AVS Monograph M-15)

from previous histories by H. W. Schleuning,

John Vossen and Nancy Hammond, Jim Lafferty

and Jack Singleton on the occasions of the 20

and 40

anniversaries of the society; addi-

tional updates were compiled for the 50

and

anniversaries in 2003 and 2018.

In 2018, AVS occupies three offices: in New York

City, Chico (Northern California), and the Publi-

cations Office in Cary (North Carolina). There are

17 regional US Chapters, two International Chap-

ters (Taiwan AVS, and St. Lawrence (Canada) AVS),

and five International Affiliates (the Brazilian Vacuum

Society, the Israeli Vacuum Society, the Korean

Vacuum Society, the Polish Vacuum Society, and

the Philippine Vacuum Society). Local Chapters are

a vital part of the AVS structure. They are geograph-

ical in nature and serve to bring important technical

information to local communities on a continuing

basis throughout the year. This is done through

local symposia, courses, newsletters, dinner meet-

ings, etc. The society membership is ~5,000 with

more than 25% from outside the US.

The AVS currently organises two international

conferences: the annual International Sympo-

sium and Exhibition, which is held in the fall at

different US cities, and the biennial Pacific Rim

PacSurf Conference held in Hawaii. In addition,

there are several annual conferences organised

by the AVS Divisions. The best known of these

are the International Conference on Metallurgi-

cal Coatings and Thin Films (ICMCTF) organised

by the Advanced Surface Engineering Division

and held in the spring in San Diego, California;

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) organised by the

Thin Film Division at venues around the world;

and Atomic Layer Epitaxy (ALE) organised by

the Plasma Science and Technology Division at

worldwide venues. In the past two years, ALD

and ALE have been co-located.

AVS publishes four international journals though

American Institute of Physics Publishing (AIPP):

Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A

(focused on surfaces, thin films, and vacuum),

Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B

(nanometer-scale structures, microelectronics,

and processing), Biointerphases (biological and

soft material interfaces), and Surface Science

Spectra (a reference spectra database).

Up to date information on AVS can be found

through the AVS website. This includes the monthly

newsletter, short course offerings, monographs,

professional awards, and a calendar of events.

SUMMARY