Research Tools Seminars

As a complement to the 2005 MRS Fall Meeting, the Materials Research Society (MRS) is pleased to continue Research Tools Seminars, an exciting educational program that will focus on the scientific basis and practical application of commercially available, state-of-the-art tools for materials research.

MRS is extending an open solicitation to all exhibitors to submit a proposal to present a Research Tools Seminar at the upcoming 2005 MRS Fall Exhibit in Boston, November 29 - December 1.

About the Program

Research Tools Seminars are intended to provide an educational service to attendees and the general materials research community. The seminars will address frequently encountered research challenges in the following three categories: processing, characterization and computational simulation. Each individual seminar will describe a technical approach to meet a particular challenge, as embodied in commercially-available products or tools. Simple but not comprehensive examples, without priority or prejudice, are shown in the table below.

Topical Area	Materials Challenge	Approach
Processing	Deposition of thin films with specified composition or morphology	CVD; Laser Ablation; Molecular Beam Epitaxy
	Free-form creation of structures	Micro-pen; Laser Sintering; Slurry Deposition
	Controlled surface modification	Ion Implantation; Rapid Thermal Processing
Characterization	Determination of microstructure	STM; Small Angle Scattering; Automated Orientation Mapping
	Measurement of electrical properties	LCR Bridges; Microwave Reflectometry
	Measurement of mechanical properties	Lateral Force Microscopy; Nanoindentor
Computational Simulation	Calculate thermodynamic properties	Monte Carlo Software
	Calculate dynamic properties	Molecular Dynamics Software
	Calculate molecular bonding	Quantum Chemistry Software

Seminars will be held in the Exhibit Hall, November 29 - December 1, during regular exhibit hours. Each seminar will be 30 to 45 minutes in length and will be followed by a brief question and answer session. During the presentation, the seminar speaker is expected to cover the scientific basis, the advantages and limitations, and the practical applicability for the chosen approach. Basic chemistry, physics and materials science issues should be discussed. The goal is to provide listeners with a technical appreciation or understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the products or tools featured. Examples should be given to illustrate the broadest practical use of these tools as they relate to materials research.

As an official MRS function, the Research Tools Seminars are not an appropriate venue for marketing, selling or price information and the MRS session chairperson will stop any presentation violating this restriction.

Proposal Guidelines

MRS Fall Exhibitors are invited to submit proposals to present a Research Tools Seminar in any of the three categories: processing, characterization or computational simulation. As the basis for evaluation, the proposal must clearly state the following: 1) topical area; 2) research challenge; and 3) approach (including featured products or tools). The proposal should also include an Abstract of the presentation.

Cooperative proposals among two or more exhibitors are encouraged, but not required. Collaboration with academic or other scientific users is also encouraged in order to provide scientific depth, when needed.

Proposal Requirements Summary

• Affirmation by presenting company of their intent to exhibit at the 2005 MRS Fall Meeting and agreement to pay the required fee for the opportunity to present a Research Tools Seminar
• Presenter's name and e-mail address
• Topical area, research challenge and approach (including product/tools featured)
• Abstract of presentation
• Proposal due at MRS Headquarters by September 1 . Send to watterson@mrs.org.

Selection Process

The proposals will be evaluated and selected by a team of knowledgeable MRS members. The main evaluation criteria will be the quality of the scientific, educational and presentation content as described in the submitted materials. The highest ranking proposals will be those which feature a new and significant advance in capability, and those that are best aligned with the research topics addressed at the MRS technical meeting.

Final acceptance is contingent upon review of the PowerPoint presentation prior to the meeting. Presentation due for final review at MRS Headquarters by October 14.

Presentation Guidelines

Each seminar will be 30 to 45 minutes in length and will be followed by a brief question and answer session. Company names and logos are permitted in the presentations, however, the seminars are not an appropriate venue for marketing, selling or price information. Product specifications should relate directly to the main technical issues.

Requirements for Accepted Proposals

• PowerPoint presentation (30 to 45 minues in length) due for final review by October 14. Send to watterson@mrs.org.
• Attendance at an on-site seminar preview session to be held on Monday, November 28

Fees

The cost to each presenting company/spring exhibitor is $1,000. A reduced fee of $500 is available to qualified start-up companies with innovative techniques.

Promotion

MRS will promote the seminars prior to as well as during the technical meeting in order to maximize attendance and create a positive impact on the exhibit. Promotion will include, but is not limited to, prominent on-site signage, inclusion in the MRS Bulletin and Program & Exhibit Guide, and acknowledgement on the MRS Web site.

Deadlines

In order for these seminars to receive maximum exposure in all meeting publications and on the MRS Web site, and for them to be reviewed prior to the actual presentation at the exhibit, the following deadlines will be strictly enforced:

Contact Information

Contact the following people to obtain additional details:

Administration
Mary E. Kaufold
Materials Research Society
Tel: 724-779-8312
Fax: 724-779-4397
kaufold@mrs.org

Donna Watterson
Materials Research Society
Tel: 724-779-3004, X542
Fax: 724-779-4397
watterson@mrs.org

Technical Content
Matthew A. Willard
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
willard@anvil.nrl.navy.mil

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