At the beginning of my term as MRS President, I mentioned in this column that the hallmark of the Materials Research Society is its dedication to inform and engage the materials community. Just 10 months later, I’m even more firm in that conviction. From the June launch of Materials360 Online, our new website dedicated to materials science news and information, to taking our first steps toward a virtual meeting experience, MRS continues to lead the way with innovative and impactful programs that resonate with the materials community. And now I have the pleasure of announcing another transformative accomplishment—the Materials Research Society Foundation.
Just as MRS is unique in its egalitarian methodology, so too is the approach we are taking to launch our Foundation. For example, there is no independent mission for the Materials Research Society Foundation. Instead, the goal is to advance the MRS mission to “promote communication for the advancement of interdisciplinary materials research to improve the quality of life.” The focus is on member engagement and funding to enrich, expand, and ensure MRS core programs in education, outreach, and peer recognition.
Unlike many foundations, there will be no capital campaign or endowment-building to fund a single, long-term society-determined project or program. Instead, this Foundation will benefit a wide range of innovative grassroots, member-driven initiatives—from student chapter proposals, to local or regional education/outreach projects, to those with the potential to impact the materials enterprise worldwide. The Materials Research Society Foundation will leverage corporate partner, institutional, and individual support to invest in projects of importance to the materials community, as defined by the materials community.
More information on the Foundation will be available in the coming months, including the Call for Proposals for grassroots projects, submission guidelines, and deadlines, so watch your email for details. And of course, the most up-to-date information will always be posted on the Foundation website. I encourage you to visit www.mrs.org/foundation to learn how you can make a difference or apply for project funding. The first project grants will be awarded at the 2013 MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco.
The materials landscape is dotted with exciting and innovative grassroots projects, large and small, envisioned by our community and championed by our Society. As we launch the Materials Research Society Foundation, it is clear that we are now well-positioned to enrich that landscape with projects and partnerships that both serve the materials community and advance the global quality of life.
Bruce M. Clemens 2012 MRS President
