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The More Eccentric the theBetterforMRS Recently I had the opportunity to read the letters of the English philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). As I begin a year as Président of the Materials Research Society, two of his quotations seem to resonate: "AU good things which exist are the fruits oforiginality. " and "That sofew now dare to be eccentric marks the chief danger ofour time. " It is appropriate that MRS should examine itself in the context of both of thèse statements. The applicability of the first quotation to MRS is obvious. In a period when materials research has become internationally recognized as one of the most enabling of technological activities, MRS stands out as the premier materials society which programs, publishes, and carries out other professional activities in truly original ways. The structure of the Spring and Fall Meetings, with différent groups of meeting chairs reinventing the program twice each year, allows and even demands originality in the knowledge development the Society offers its members. At the same time, major publications of the Society—the Journal of Materials Research, the MRS Bulletin, and more than 500 Proceedings Volumes—capture the overwhelmingly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary spirit and character of

research reported regularly at the meetings. To complément the excellence of the programs and publications, the basic committee structure of MRS is constantly evolving and strives to be inclusive in the goal to seek out original a p p r o a c h e s toward supplying member needs. Thèse approaches include elecrronic publishing on the MRS website of rapidly evolving news items and technologies such as the MIJ-NSR Nitride Journal. Yet, perhaps the biggest danger to the remarkable success which MRS originality has engendered is the success itself. The Society must continue to reinvent itself, to dare to be différent, and to flirt

with failure on new, exciting, and indeed eccentric ventures. The second quotation by Mill must be taken as a challenge, lest it become hauntingly applicable to activities in years to corne. In broad terms, MRS must become even more dynamic and responsive to the n e w e s t d e v e l o p m e n t s in materials research. It must welcome ail materials researchers to participate in ever-evolving types of programming and provide professional identity and services that will enable members throughout their careers. It must lead the world by having an international perspective in ail of its activities, developing stratégie alliances with other materials societies, and providing outreach on materials issues to the gênerai public and leaders of society. The paths by which MRS achieves such goals must corne from member ideas. In later articles, PU share some of the ideas being developed in the MRS Executive Committee and Council. What would you like to see MRS do? And in what ways would you like to participate? Please let me know, either directly by e-mail, phone, or fax or through the MRS Headquarters at 506 Keystone Drive, Warrendale