The following distinguished researchers have confirmed plenary lectures in Carbono 2011.

Prof. R. Judd Diefendorf (Clemson University)
R. Judd Diefendorf is the McAlister Chaired Professor of Advanced Materials (Emeritus) at Clemson University. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Rochester and his Ph. D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Toronto, before going to work at the General Electric Research Laboratory. At General Electric, he performed research on pyrolytic graphite as a reentry and rocket nozzle material, and made the first CVI carbon/carbon composites. His interest in the theoretical properties of graphite resulted in making HOPG by heating pyrolytic graphite to 3600C. He moved to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he began studies on the processing, structure and properties of high performance fibers, such as boron, and PAN and pitch precursor carbon fibers. The research on pitch included liquid crystal theory and molecular modeling of disk and rod like polynuclear aromatic molecules. Other research areas have included carbon heart valves, high temperature materials, electronic materials and semiconductor interconnects, and ceramic fiber/matrix composites. Prof. Diefendorf has received several prestigious awards including the Skakel Memorial Award (American Carbon Society), Sauveur Achievement Award (American Society of Metals), Mueller Memorial Lecture (American Ceramic Society), Humboldt Foundation Senior Scientist Award for Teaching and Research, and the Ishikawa Prize, as well as several best conference paper awards.

Dr. Timothy Burchell (Oak Ridge National Laboratory - USA)
Besides being the leader of the Carbon Materials Technology Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Dr. Burchell is editor of the Carbon journal, chairman of ASTM's Committee on Manufactured Carbon and Graphite, member of the scientific committee of the National Center for Fibers and Films at Clemson University and former Secretary/Treasurer of the American Carbon Society. He is the author of 19 patents and more than 100 papers, and has edited the book Carbon Materiais for Advanced Technologies.

Dr. Gareth Neighbour (Hull University - UK)
Dr. Neighbour received his Ph.D. from Bath University in 1992, where he stayed as leader of the Nuclear Materials Group. He is currently a senior lecturer and Director of Teaching at Hull University and his main research interest is the effectiveness of gas-cooled nuclear reactor core designs. He has authored more than 60 papers and 50 technical reports for nuclear companies. He has edited the book Management of Ageing Processes in Graphite Reactor Cores and is editing the book Securing the Safe Performance of Graphite Reactor Cores, to be published in 2009. He is the current chairman of the British Carbon Group (BCG)

Dr. Sylvie Bonnamy (Orleans University/CNRS - France)
Dr. Bonnamy is Director of Research of the Center for Research of Divided Matter at Orleans University, where she received her Ph.D. in 1981. Her main research interest is the carbonization and graphitization of carbon materials and she is a specialist in optical and electronic microscopy. She has authored 8 book chapters and more than 70 papers, and she was Secretary of the French Carbon Group (GFEC) between 2001 and 2006.

Dr. James Klett (Oak Ridge National Laboratory - EUA)
Dr. Klett received his Ph.D from Clemson University in 1994, joining Oak Ridge National Lab, where he works in various carbon forms, from biomedical implants to aerospace heat shields and nuclear reactor materials. His main research interest is thermal management materials, after discovering a process for the production of high thermal conductivity graphite foam. Currently he holds 24 US patents on carbon materials, and more than 35 foreign patents.

Dr. Alain Penicaud (Bordeaux University - France)
Dr. Alain Penicaud is a chemist and member of the carbon nanotube/graphene research group at Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, in France. He has worked with carbon materials since 1990, starting with C60. For the past eight years he has been working on carbon nanotubes and also chemistry of graphene and other carbon nanoforms. He has worked in many countries, including US, Mexico and Brazil and has published more than 40 research papers and patents.