NOVELTY - Making (M1) polymer particles in gel form via emulsion or suspension polymerization involves reacting first reaction mixture comprising phenolic monomer, aldehyde monomer, and first catalyst to produce prepolymer; combining the prepolymer with carrier fluid and second catalyst to produce second reaction mixture, where the second catalyst comprises dicarboxylic acid, anhydride, and/or dihydroxybenzene; and polymerizing the prepolymer to form polymer particles in gel form.    USE - For making polymer particles in gel form that can be further processed in to aerogel (claimed), xerogel, and/or cryogel particles. The polymer particles in gel form can be used in applications e.g. capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells, medicine, e.g. drug delivery, transportation, e.g. hydrogen or other fuel storage, sensors, sports, catalysts, hazardous waste water treatment, catalyst supports, sorbents, dielectrics, impedance matcher, detectors, filtrations, ion exchange, high-energy physics applications, waste management, such as adsorption of waste fluids and/or waste gases.    ADVANTAGE - The polymer particles ( greater than or equal to 50%) in gel form have an average cross-sectional length of greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. The polymer particles avoid the intermediate production of a monolithic gel structure that requires mechanical processes, e.g. grinding, milling, pulverizing, this additional step being labor, capital and time intensive.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for making (M2) aerogel involving making a prepolymer from a first reaction mixture comprising a phenolic monomer, formaldehyde, and a first catalyst; combining the prepolymer with a carrier fluid and a second catalyst comprising maleic anhydride, and/or second dihydroxybenzene to form an emulsion or suspension; polymerizing the prepolymer in the emulsion or suspension to form polymer particles in gel form, where greater than or equal to 40% of the polymer particles in gel form have an average cross-sectional length of greater than or equal to 1 mm; and drying the polymer particles in gel form to produce an aerogel.