The purpose of the Waterborne Symposium is to advance the science and technology of coatings while providing professional development for industry professionals and students. By offering expert-led short courses, technical presentations, and networking opportunities, the symposium fosters innovation in paint, coatings, polymers, inks, and adhesives. Its mission is to bridge academic research and industry practice, support emerging talent, and promote sustainable and high-performance solutions in the coatings industry worldwide.

From its inception, the Annual International Waterborne, High-solids, and Powder Coatings Symposium has been organized and executed by faculty, staff, and students of the School of Polymers and Engineering (formerly the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials) at USM. Proceeds from the Symposium are very important to USM and the School of Polymer Science and Engineering. Funds received are used for various elements of academic program development, including graduate student stipends, junior faculty development, equipment acquisition and maintenance, and especially, scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in Polymer Science & Engineering, most of whom enter the coatings or related polymer industries upon graduation. These scholarships are critical to the university’s efforts to recruit the highest achieving students into our program.

The symposium serves as a vital technical platform, with a primary focus on eco-friendly coating technologies. This symposium offers a stage for presenting research papers from academic, governmental, and industrial sectors, unveiling innovative findings across all facets of coatings.

Spanning five days, the event unites coatings experts, chemists, industry leaders, business owners, suppliers, students, and educators, fostering networking and the exchange of cutting-edge research and technology within the field of paints and coatings. Waterborne Symposium delivers educational and technical presentations, deepening our understanding of coating theory, science, production, and marketing, pushing the boundaries of coating performance beyond conventional expectations.

The Waterborne Symposium is an important event in the coatings industry, serving as a platform for knowledge exchange, employee training, networking, and supporting the development of academic programs and students at the University of Southern Mississippi.