Many of you are already aware of the Materials Genome Initiative (MGI). It was initiated by the U.S. Government in June 2011 to increase US global competitiveness through accelerating the pace at which new materials are discovered, developed, and transitioned into manufactured products. DOE, NIST, NSF, and DoD are funding or planning to fund MGI research. In Gaithersburg MD on November 19-20, 2013, the MGI conducted a Grand Challenges Summit: Soft Materials, meant to identify the key challenges and opportunities where the MGI should focus its efforts. I was pleased to be at the workshop both as AIChE President and because an initiative I started and led when I was at NSF was a key ingredient in the MGI's creation.
Upcoming webinars
Next Monday and Tuesday, NIST is hosting four webinar workshops to report on the Summit and to solicit feedback from interested parties. The Summit had break-out sessions on four materials technology areas, and there will be a webinar for each. The anticipated format is 20 minutes for the break-out chairs to report the findings of the Summit, followed by a 25-minute feedback session where webinar attendees can offer comments and ask questions. This is your chance to hear and influence the goals of the MGI-funded research programs on soft matter. Please consider participating, and let other interested parties know, too. The webinars are: Biomaterials: [Updated Time/Day] Monday, January 6, 2014 from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM EST Samuel Stupp, Northwestern University Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science, Chemistry, & Medicine Director, Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine Register here Composite Materials: Tuesday, Dec 10, 2013 from 9:00-9:45 AM EST Byron Pipes, Purdue University John Leighton Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Register here Organic Electronics: Tuesday, Dec 10, 2013 from 10:00-10:45 AM EST Howard Katz, Johns Hopkins University Chair and Professor, Materials Science and Engineering Register here Polymers: Tuesday, Dec 10, 2013 from 11:00-11:45 AM EST Juan de Pablo, University of Chicago Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering Register here All webinars will be archived and viewable, as they become available.