The 2017 Polymers Gordon Research Conference (GRC) will assemble an international community of scholars from industry, academia and government to highlight the most recent innovations in polymer chemistry and how these materials are used in a wide variety of applications. Both synthetic and biologically-derived polymers will be discussed in the oral and poster presentations. Conference topics will focus on new methods for polymer synthesis and innovations in energy, medicine, sustainability, electronics and advanced manufacturing. Significantly, the GRC will provide a number of mechanisms for professional networking through discussion sessions and daily poster sessions. This conference will be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), which will enable future scientific leaders to network and meet current leaders from academia, government, and industry. A few outstanding lectures and posters from the GRS will be highlighted at the GRC conference. Combined, the Polymers GRS and GRC constitute an exciting, influential and important collection of presentations in the field of polymer science.