The International Conference on Materials and Mechanisms of Superconductivity and High Temperature Superconductors is a key forum to discuss fundamental issues in the field of superconductivity and related phenomena.

The 7^th conference in the series will cover topics of current interest in the area of superconductivity, including experimental and theoretical approaches to the physics of superconductivity, its mechanisms, material synthesis, processing, characterization and applications. Certainly new exciting results in HTSC will form an important part of the Program. Plenary talks, parallel sessions, contributed oral and poster presentations are planned.

We have the honor to organize the first conference in the south hemisphere. The celebration of the 7^th M2S Conference in Rio certainly will encourage the investigation in all Latin America.

The Brazilian Physics Society (SBF) supports this conference and the Brazilian Center for Research in Physics (CBPF), in Rio de Janeiro, is the host institution of the conference.

Rio de Janeiro is, more than ever, a city well suited to host International Conferences.

All the efforts will be made to provide a most exciting conference in Rio de Janeiro in May 2003.