The Macromolecular Divisionรs contribution to the Royal Society of Chemistry Symposium in Aberdeen in 1997 was dedicated to celebrating the contribution which Professor G. G. Cameron has made to polymer science. The papers collected in this issue reรect two of the areas in which he has made a signiรcant contribution to research within the area of polymer science. The รrst collection of papers are associated with polymer electrolytes and ionic conduction through polymer media. The second set of papers reรect Professor Cameronรs interest in polymer dynamics and the inรuence of molecular architecture and morphology within the polymeric state, on this type of behaviour. Professor Cameron, in his introductory lecture, touched on both of these aspects of his research and it is รtting that the รrst paper in this publication is a conspectus of his contribution to polymer science.
The important contribution which electron spin resonance can make to the understanding of molecular dynamics has been pioneered by Professor Cameron. It is only relatively recently that this has attracted a wider audience and, hopefully, in the future may be continued as a topic of active research. The papers presented during this meeting give an interesting overview of the current state of ion conduction in polymeric materials and indicate that both in this area and in molecular dynamics there still continues to be active research, which hopefully will lead to a greater understanding of some of the fundamental issues in these areas in the not too distant future. It is a reรection of the esteem in which Professor Cameron is held that so many of the authors were willing to contribute to this commemorative issue. I express my thanks on behalf of myself and Professor Ingram for the trouble to which they have gone in presenting these papers and may we wish Professor Cameron many happy years of retirement.