The 1^st Stanisław Gorczyca Summer School on Advanced Electron Microscopy was held at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. It was an international event, especially organized for PhD students and young electron microscopists. In organising the School we wished to commemorate Professor Gorczyca, doctor honoris causa of our University, and to emphasise his important contributions to the microstructural studies of materials, especially in the field of transmission electron microscopy.

The School was organised by the Polish Society of Microscopy (PTMi) assisted by the Faculty of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the University of Science and Technology (AGH-UST) and the Centre of Excellence for  Materials Characterization by Electron Microscopy (CoE - MEM) at AGH-UST. The School was generously supported by European Microscopy Society (EMS).

The School was attended by 56 participants from 7 countries. The School was an open forum for high-lighting the current state-of-the-art in specimen preparation techniques and for dissemination of the know-how concerning advanced transmission electron microscopy applied to materials science and physics.

The scientific programme of the School consisted of 26 invited lectures given by internationally recognized speakers and several contributions presented by the School participants as posters. Two of the invited speakers were kindly supported by EMS. The lectures and poster contributions reflect the progress that has been achieved in microstructural studies, especially in the examination of the materials microstructure by means of transmission electron microscopy. All contributions have been published in two volumes of School Proceedings (ISBN 83-7108-118-9; edited by A.Czyrska-Filemonowicz and B.Dubiel, published by AKAPIT).

The School provided an opportunity for young scientists to learn modern TEM specimen preparation techniques for various materials (metals and alloys, ceramics, thin films, composites, powders etc.) and to discuss the everyday problems encountered in electron microscopy. It was also an opportunity to meet in Krakow, a city with its unique character, which contributed to the pleasant and informal atmosphere of the School and the various associated social activities.