Materials Research Society

Meetings

MRS hosts two annual meetings for its members and the materials community to network, exchange technical information, and contribute to the advancement of research. These meetings are held in Boston, Massachusetts, every fall, and in different cities (on the west coast) every spring. Each meeting incorporates more than 50 technical symposia as well as many “broader impact” sessions that include professional development, government policies and funding opportunities, student activities, award talks and special events. Each of these meetings is attended by approximately 5,000–6,000 materials scientists, researchers and engineers.

MRS also partners with other materials organizations to develop meetings such as the International Materials Research Congress (IMRC), held annually in Cancun, Mexico.

In addition, MRS offers meeting expertise and logistical/operational infrastructure to other scientific communities in need of conference support via the Conference Services Program.

Advocacy and policy

MRS, through its Government Affairs Committee, advocates for sustainable funding of science, provides forums for public-policy discussions, offers itself as a scientific resource for policymakers, and delivers timely information on emerging public policy issues, federal programs and other activities of importance to its members and the materials community. MRS advocacy efforts include:

• Materials Voice—A program that sends letters to Congress about issues in materials science.
• Intersections Newsletter—A publication that discusses the intersection of material research and government, including what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and with the government affairs activities of MRS.
• MRS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowships—Fellows serve a one-year term working as a special legislative assistant on the staff of U.S. congressional offices or committees in Washington, D.C.

Materials Research Society Foundation

The Materials Research Society Foundation was founded in 2012 to support the MRS mission and to ensure and enrich MRS’s education, outreach and peer-recognition programs. Foundation programs include:

• Awards—MRS presents awards for outstanding contributions to the progress of materials research each year during its Spring and Fall Meetings. The MRS Awards Program includes:

1. MRS Fellow
2. Von Hippel Award
3. David Turnbull Lectureship
4. Innovation in Materials Characterization Award
5. Mid-Career Research Award
6. Materials Theory Award
7. MRS Medal
8. Outstanding Young Investigator Award
9. Kavli Foundation Early Career Lectureship in Materials Science
10. MRS Postdoctoral Awards
11. MRS Graduate Student Awards
12. Arthur Nowick Graduate Student Award
13. MRS Impact Award
14. MRS Nelson "Buck" Robinson Science and Technology Award for Renewable Energy
15. MRS Woody White Service Award

• Broadening Participation in Materials Science—promotes diversity and inclusion within the broad professional community
• Focus on Sustainability—highlights the Society’s sustainability science activities, including publications, special events, social media and symposia
• Impact of Materials on Society (IMOS)—an introductory course that delves into how engineering shapes, and is shaped by, social and cultural variables, and illustrates how a career in engineering is not only about math and science, but also about social problem-solving
• Professional Development—workshops and seminars held at MRS Spring and Fall Meetings that encourage and enhance professional communication and leadership skills
• Strange Matter—an interactive traveling science exhibit with over a dozen hands-on experiences developed by MRS, the National Science Foundation and the Ontario Science Centre
• MRS University Chapter Program—fosters an environment for interdisciplinary collaboration, professional growth, education outreach and leadership development