Last year, young materials researchers around the world took advantage of two events designed for them by their professional societies. The International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS) launched the International Conference of Young Researchers on Advanced Materials (ICYRAM) hosted by MRS-Singapore. And the Materials Research Society joined the European-MRS to organize the second International Summer School with a focus on “Materials for Renewable Energy,” held in Erice, Italy.

The school in Erice, held July 18–28, introduced young researchers to world-leading experts who presented over 20 lectures concerning materials science relevant to the production, utilization, and storage of sustainable and renewable energy. The school also presented a global overview about the political-socioeconomic impact of the energy production and business of renewable energy and insight into intellectual properties and patenting. The students—representing 70 countries from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East—presented posters and participated in a student challenge working on scenarios to provide renewable energy to different countries.

The directors of the course were past MRS presidents David Ginley (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA) and John Poate (Colorado School of Mines, USA), past president of European-MRS Abdelilah Slaoui (InESS-CNRS, France), and from the University of Catania, Italy, Emanuele Rimini and Antonio Terrasi. The next school is scheduled for July 12, 2014.

In Singapore, IUMRS-ICYRAM—held on July 1–6—provided a platform for researchers under the age of 40 to present technical findings of their research, to network within the international community of other young researchers, and to increase the breadth of their general materials-based knowledge. The topics presented included biomaterials and health care, carbon-based materials, energy and the environment, electronic materials, magnetic and spintronic materials, and optical materials. The young researchers heard plenary speakers on each of the subjects as well.

Participants of the International School “Materials for Renewable Energy” held in Erice, Italy.

The local organizing committee included, from the National University of Singapore, B.V.R. Chowdari as chair and Yuan Ping Feng as technical chair, and from A*STAR, Evan L. Williams as executive chair and Mark Hyunpong Jhon as executive vice-chair. IUMRS-ICYRAM is planned to be a biennial meeting, with the next edition to be hosted by the Materials Research Society of China in 2014.