Welcome
to Boston and the 2005 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research
Society. The Fall Meeting
Chairs-Yang-Tse
Cheng, David S. Ginley, Kathryn E. Uhrich, and Ralf B. Wehrspohn-have
worked with their symposium organizers to assemble an exceptional
array of technical symposia and special events that will
make for an outstanding week. The program is reflective of
the broad and innovative perspectives that these meeting
chairs have brought to the Society, and also retains the
core symposia that we have always associated with MRS Meetings.
- There are 42 technical
symposia covering the MRS's usual
broad range of topics. Notable new features include an
entire cluster of symposia in energy/ environment
and one in soft materials. The program also provides strong
coverage of traditional Fall Meeting topics, including
electronic and photonic materials, and mechanical properties.
The technical symposia are linked to eight topical tutorial
sessions; these enormously popular features of the Meeting
provide an excellent way to get an overview of an area
from a recognized world authority on the topic. In addition,
Symposia PP and QQ focus on key issues concerning materials
science education and developing an inventive concept into
a feasible project for commercialization, respectively.
Beyond this excellent technical program, there is a range
of other events that provides a broader experience for the
Meeting attendee. Some of these are new activities for the
MRS, brought to life by the Meeting Chairs. I encourage all
of you to join in these exciting events.
- A
Hydrogen
Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge will offer students
from local area high schools a hands-on, active learning
experience about hydrogen, fuel cells, and car building,
culminating in a "friendly competition" race.
- On
Tuesday and Wednesday, a live display of technologically
advanced clothing made possible by materials research,
the "Wearables
Runway," certainly
a first for MRS, should be both interesting and entertaining.
- Symposium
X session topics this year include self-organization
in the economy as well as in biomaterials, and insights
on "smart" clothing, as well
as insights from some of the smartest materials scientists.
- A special Congressional Communication workshop will enlighten
attendees about the legislative process and when, where,
and how they can make a difference.
In addition to these new features, the conference includes
events of great interest that have become MRS traditions:
the special government
agency sessions discussing trends
in research funding, the plenary session and award ceremony,
Women in Materials Science and
Engineering Breakfast, equipment
exhibit, networking opportunities associated with Symposium
X, poster sessions, and other forums. The recipients of the
David Turnbull Lectureship Award, MRS
Medal, and Von Hippel
Award will present talks on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I hope that you will have the opportunity to benefit from
many or all of these activities, and find time to meet with
many of your colleagues, see something of this wonderful
city, and, of course, enjoy a high-quality, excellent beer
at the poster sessions. My thanks and congratulations are
due to all who have worked to make this such an exciting
meeting, including the meeting chairs, symposium organizers,
and MRS staff. I hope that everyone attending has an enjoyable
and productive week.
David J. Eaglesham
2005 MRS President
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