The 14th and last International Congress of Electron Microscopy (ICEM) of the century was held in Cancun, Mexico on August 31-September 4, 1998 under the chairmanship of Dr. Miguel José Yacaman. Held every 4 years in a different international location, these ICEMs are renowned for the science presented, the state-of-the-art instrumentation exhibited, and the mix of international scientists in attendance. They are also made memorable by the unique scientific and cultural contributions from the host country. This Congress was no exception and the 14th ICEM in Cancun, Mexico, characterized by all of these features, was further augmented by the intrinsic beauty and archaeological interest of the Yucatan Peninsula region.