Inside E-MRS World - Vol. 3 / No. 2 - September 2024
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SOCIETY NEWS
E-MRS has a new General Secretary
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With the approaching retirement this year of E-MRS General Secretary Paul Siffert who was a founding organizer of the E-MRS in 1983, a new General Secretary, Dr. Patrick Bressler of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, was appointed by a vote at the May meeting of the Society’s Ordinary General Assembly. Dr. Bressler has held many positions relevant to the materials R&D community. He was a member of the E-MRS Governing Board from 2005 to 2015 and was Chairman of the European Materials Science and Engineering Expert Committee (MatSEEC) from 2012 to 2015. Trained as a physicist, he has been Head of Unit both at the Berlin Synchrotron BESSY and for Physical Sciences and Engineering of the European Science Foundation (Strasbourg, 2004 to 2008). In addition to holding an adjunct professorship at Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA, his Fraunhofer roles have included Director of Fraunhofer Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Executive Vice President of Fraunhofer USA (Plymouth, USA); and Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Microelectronics Office in Berlin.
Dr. Bressler is currently the director for international cooperation, emerging technologies and innovation at the Fraunhofer Microelectronics Group (Forschungsfabrik Mikroelektronik Deutschland (FMD)) where his responsibilities include technology evaluation, developing partnerships for research, innovation and workforce development, and advancing European and international R&D&I programmes. He will have many opportunities to communicate with the E-MRS membership. Following is his brief inaugural editorial.
EDITORIAL
Challenges and Drivers in Materials Research and Engineering for Millennials and Gen Z — or at Least for the Next Decades
Look up the word industry in dictionaries and you can find various definitions such as The production of goods from raw materials, typically on an economic basis, or The art of making things. It is an easy thought then that materials are at the core of all industries, at the beginning of almost all value chains. With that in mind, research in materials is an economic game changer: a multidisciplinary combination of science, art, and economic competition. New materials drive new technologies and innovation. Materials research addresses some of the most pressing challenges faced by modern societies such as energy conversion, manufacturing, new semiconductors, and better food production. These challenges are great and global in light of sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. The search for solutions is driving the future of materials research. Let us consider four of these drivers.
Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Materials
A most critical challenge in materials research is to develop sustainable manufacturing processes that may use new materials to minimize their environmental impact. Today’s manufacturing processes are often resource-intensive and produce hazardous waste. For instance, semiconductor chipmakers seek a transition to greener materials and processes, e.g., that reduce the reliance on rare earth elements or toxic chemicals and promise similar or superior performance.
Higher Efficiency in Energy Conversion and Energy Storage
Energy efficiency and storage remain at the forefront of global challenges. Materials research will be instrumental in improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of energy storage systems. The development of lighter, stronger, and more sustainable materials plays a significant role in improving energy efficiency in various industries from construction to automotive and aerospace. For instance, advanced composites and high-strength alloys are pivotal to improving vehicle components or buildings. Additionally, research on new materials and processes for energy harvesting and conversion is not only targeting energy and materials efficiency but also scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Leaner Supply Chains and a more Circular Economy
As industries strive for greater sustainability and efficiency, there is a growing need to improve value chains across sectors such as semiconductor chips, battery production, and energy storage. Materials research will be crucial in developing materials that are not only high-performing but also easier to manufacture, process, and recycle. This could involve designing materials with simpler or more energy-efficient synthesis methods or developing recycling-friendly materials that retain their properties through multiple life cycles.
Materials Discovery by Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become ubiquitous. The integration of AI into materials research is already accelerating the discovery and development of new materials — and repeating — New materials drive new technologies and innovation. New ML algorithms and AI-driven models can predict properties and behaviour of materials, enabling materials by design and significantly reducing the time and cost associated with traditional experimental methods. AI-based design promises novel materials and material systems with unprecedented tailor-made properties, for instance, super-hard, lightweight, or superconducting, which yield better engineering solutions for industries ranging from aerospace to electronics.
At least three of these drivers are actually very dear to young people today, e.g., to Millennials and Gen Z. The scientific challenges are exciting and the tools and trends in materials research are quite intriguing. Yet, you still need trained scientists and engineers, many of them, i.e., a well-developed workforce that Europe does not (yet) have. Young generations need to see the opportunities in materials research and that means showing them the relevance and reward. I believe the European Materials Research Society, E-MRS, can and must play a significant role not only in fostering research and scientific cooperation in the field but also in helping young scientists- and engineers-to-be to learn the skills, become part of the community, grab the opportunities, and reap the rewards materials research offers for the future.
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