4^th Global Summit on Material Science and Engineering November 07-08, 2018 Atlanta, USA

Atlanta was founded in 1837 as the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line (it was first named Marthasville in honour of the then-governor's daughter, nicknamed Terminus for its rail location, and then changed soon after to Atlanta, the feminine of Atlantic -- as in the railroad). Today the fast-growing city remains a transportation hub, not just for the country but also for the world: Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport is one of the nation’s busiest in daily passenger flights. Direct flights to Europe, South America, and Asia have made metro Atlanta easily accessible to the more than 1,000 international businesses that operate here and the more than 50 countries that have representation in the city through consulates, trade offices, and chambers of commerce. The city has emerged as a banking centre and is the world headquarters for 13 Fortune 500 companies.

Atlanta is the capital city of the Southeast, a city of the future with strong ties to its past. The old in new Atlanta is the soul of the city, the heritage that enhances the quality of life in a contemporary city. In the turbulent 60s, Atlanta was "the city too busy to hate." And today, in the 21st century, Atlanta is the "city not too busy to care.” With 5.7 million residents in the metro and outlying areas, the so-called capital of the South continues to experience explosive growth thanks to domestic transplants and international immigrants alike. Beyond the big-ticket downtown attractions you'll find a constellation of superlative restaurants, a palpable Hollywood influence, and iconic African American history. That last point can't be overstated: any nationwide African American intellectual, political and artistic movement you can mention has either had its genesis in Atlanta, or found a centre of gravity here.

Without natural boundaries to control development, it's fair to say Atlanta is more of a region than a city. Yet for all its sprawl and suburbanization, there is a lovely urban core here, covered with trees and elegant homes. Distinct neighbourhoods are like friendly small towns. The economy is robust, the population is young and creative, and the socials scene is refreshingly diverse.