2015 Materials Research Society year-end review

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MATERIALS RESEARCH SOCIETY

YEAR-END REVIEW

Todd M. Osman MRS Executive Director

As we add another year to the history of the Materials Research Society (MRS), it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the Society’s achievements in 2015 and to thank our volunteers and staff who deliver our community-driven programs and services. 2015 was a year of celebrations. The MRS Fall Meeting celebrated its 40th year in Boston and continues to be considered a main focal point of the materials community. With a meeting model unique to MRS, the program is not developed by Society leadership. Instead, year after year, materials researchers working in the field, with firsthand knowledge of what is most important to the community, create exciting, informative and world-renowned events that carry on the “great meetings” legacy. The Society also celebrated a long tradition of editorial excellence with MRS Bulletin’s 40th anniversary and 30-year anniversary for Journal of Materials Research (JMR). The Bulletin commemorated its milestone with a special December issue on Materials & Engineering: Propelling Innovation, as well as a special session at the MRS Fall Meeting on the same topic. JMR observed its landmark year with the first JMR Paper-of-the-Year Award, announced during the MRS Spring Meeting. And new to our publishing portfolio—MRS Advances. Launched during the 2015 MRS Fall Meeting, this online-only, peerreviewed journal features impactful and emerging research based on topical clusters defined by MRS Meetings, with inaugural content already available. The MRS OnDemand® Webinar Series continued to flourish in 2015, with an expanded Webinar Wednesdays program engaging researchers in over 50 countries with free, live monthly webinars complementing the MRS Bulletin issue’s theme topic. In just a few short years, the Materials Research Society Foundation has developed a strong program to support community-driven programs in education outreach and peer recognition. In 2015, the Foundation funded six grassroots outreach projects from four countries—Israel, Sweden, Mexico and the United States—as well as nine University Chapter Special Projects. The University Chapter Program now boasts over 100 Chapters—20% outside the United States. And in an effort to reduce barriers for engagement, the Foundation continues to fund free electronic memberships for students studying in developing countries. A recent Board vote expands the program for 2016, reducing membership dues for professional members in developing countries as well. But with your help, there is so much more we can do. Please consider a donation to the Foundation. Every gift makes an impact.

Impact of Materials on Society, our Foundation’s new introductory materials science course bridging research in engineering, humanities and social science, is garnering rave reviews. Developed in partnership with MRS, the University of Florida, the U.S. Department of Defense and Bruno White Entertainment, the flexible, modular lessons in this undergraduate course teach students that