MRS/E-MRS joint chapter

Understanding how materials are put together, or how they can be used, how they can be changed, how they can be improved—or creating new materials that have never existed before—that’s materials science. From the Stone Age to today’s nanotech era, the quality and even length of our lives have always depended on our ability to manipulate materials around us.

As such, the Materials Research Society (MRS) was established in 1973 by a visionary group of scientist who shared the belief that their professional interests were broader in scope than existing single-discipline societies, appealing for an advanced interdisciplinary organisation. Followed with the foundation of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) in 1983 by like-minded scientist, the MRS/E-MRS has become a vastly growing and member-driven organisation of currently 20,000 materials researchers from academia, industry and government—now established as a recognised leader in the advancement of interdisciplinary research worldwide.

MRS/E-MRS members hail from a broad spectrum of STEM (physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics) fields, spanning membership over 90 countries. Setting an environment for collaboration and open exchange of ideas across all scientific disciplines, the society targets multilateral projects as a global enterprise with the ultimate goal to advance materials that improve society. This increasingly advancing cross-disciplinary worldwide activity in materials research also manifests itself every year in the preeminent bi-annual Fall- and Spring Meetings organised both in the U.S. and Europe. With cutting-edge research at the heart of the meetings, the bi-annual gatherings provide a glimpse into the future of material science, amongst distinguished and high-level scientists.

The tremendous growth and success of MRS/E-MRS is a result of the exceptional member input and the energetic efforts of many volunteers. Offering their precious time, their spirit, their passion, their expertise and above all their unique perspectives for the betterment of the materials community worldwide, these contributions embody the framework upon which this global society continues to flourish. Dreaming of a world with a stable environment, and abundant and clean energy and water, this international interdisciplinary materials venture considers all demographics and geographic regions, committing to endeavours in the broad spectrum of materials research serving the scientific community, with the fundamental purpose of advancing global sustainability

As an extension of their continuing growth, MRS/E-MRS have initiated a University Chapter Program to connect passionate and talented network of student from universities around the world. Supported by the European Materials Research Society and the Materials Research Society Foundation, the program fosters an environment for collaboration and open exchange of ideas across all scientific disciplines, spanning campuses and continent— as the student members represent the next generation of material researchers whom are preparing to carry the torch forward in advancing materials.

Approved and founded in the Fall of 2015 under auspices of MRS and E-MRS University chapter program, the Chapter of Hasselt University prides itself as the first ever chapter in the BENELUX region (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), and is currently ranked in the top five chapters within the European Union. As one of the few existing joint chapters, recognised by both the E-MRS and MRS Foundations, the UHasselt MRS/E-MRS joint Chapter bridges communities of both societies and aims to create high-level activities for materials researchers within the university and surrounding regions.

The joint chapter creates a platform for materials researchers, aiming to broaden their horizons with a profound interest in topics such as education, scientific outreach activities through high-schools and popular science communication in the provincial region of Limburg and the country. Furthermore, meaningful interaction for sustainable research and development are presented to improve technological challenges impacting the region of Limburg, ultimately targeting collaborations between academia and industry.

Since its founding, the MRS/E-MRS joint Chapter of Hasselt University has made efforts to regularly hold scientific lectures on a regular monthly basis, by inviting established academic researchers and industrial speakers, at both the regional, national and international level in materials science. The MRS/E-MRS joint UHasselt Chapter has expanded to organizing visits to industry throughout the year, concurrently participating at annual meetings of the MRS and E-MRS societies and related projects and activities.

Taking into account the alarming nature of global warming, and particularly its strong interplay with the development of sustainable materials and technologies for future generations, the MRS/E-MRS joint Chapter of Hasselt University is organising events, activities and lectures within the framework of the MRS initiative Focus on Sustainability. With a strong focus on raising awareness on the nexus between materials, materials research, and sustainable practices, the chapter aims to address societal, environmental and economic challenges associated with sustainable development by taking an integrated materials research approach.

The MRS/E-MRS joint Chapter of Hasselt University is a volunteer organisation with a strong focus on the interplay between various disciplines in academia, industry and government, to promote communication for the advancement of interdisciplinary materials research,  to achieve the most opportune developmental and sustainable outcomes for society.

The MRS/E-MRS joint Chapter of Hasselt University aims to build a dynamic, interactive and local community of material researchers at the international level to advance excellence and provides a framework for materials related disciplines to convene, collaborate, integrate and advocate.

Since its foundation in 2015, member PhD candidates have organised and managed Chapter UHasselt, with an advisory board of two member principal investigators with each respectively holding a membership at one of the two corresponding society.