The International Thermoelectric Society (ITS) and the Asian Association on Thermoelectrics (AAT) are soliciting organizations from the Asian region interested in hosting its 38^th Annual International Conference on Thermoelectrics (ICT 2019) as well as the annual 4^th Asian Conference on Thermoelectrics (ACT 2019) as a joint conference in the year 2019.

The ICT/ACT is considered the most important annual meeting for scientists, engineers, and industry in the field of thermoelectric research, development of new materials and applications in power generation, refrigeration, thermal management, and sensing equipment. The international prestige of this conference has continued to grow over the years with attendance at our most recent meetings typically exceeding 500 - 600 attendees.

The ITS holds a three year rotation for conference sites between Europe, Asia and the Americas, where most of the activities in thermoelectrics research are located. In 2019, the ICT is scheduled to return to Asia. Thus, the ITS and AAT Board’s preference are for candidate organizations, especially universities and national laboratories, located in Asia to host ICT/ACT 2019. It is also expected that the proposing organizations must be or have strong connections with a well-known thermoelectric group.

Interested parties should first send, as soon as possible, a brief notice of intent to propose hosting the 2019 ITS/AAT Conference to Proposals Committee Chair, preferably by e-mail. Upon receipt of the notice, details will be provided relative to anticipated conference organizers’ responsibilities, guidelines and other ITS expectations. Full proposals should be sent, as early as possible, but no later than April 15, 2017, preferably by e-mail, to Professor Jihui Yang (jihuiy@uw.edu) and copied to Dr. Ryoji Funahashi (funahashi-r@aist.go.jp).

Proposals should include relevant information about host organization, location, conference facilities, preliminary dates, Conference Chairperson, projected sponsors and prospects for financial support, and accessibility; briefly state the expected advantages to the ITS/AAT for awarding the conference organization to your institution; describe accommodation facilities and  expected hotel costs, travel connections, plans for accompanying persons, the possibility of holding short courses, evening and satellite events; and last but not least, the expected registration costs for regular participants, students and accompanying persons.

The ITS Board plans on reviewing the proposals prior to the annual ITS Board Meeting that is held in conjunction with the beginning of the ICT 2017 on Sunday July 30^th, 2017 and award the organization of the conference at the ICT 2017 in Pasadena, California, USA (July 31^st -August 3^rd, 2017). The candidates will be invited to give a brief presentation on your proposal to the ITS Board on Sunday July 30^th, 2017 at the conference in Pasadena.

On behalf of the International Thermoelectric Society and Asian Association on Thermoelectrics, we are looking forward to your conference proposals for ICT/ACT 2019.

Best regards,

ITS/AAT 2019 Conference Proposals Committee

Jihui Yang and Ryoji Funahashi