Aim and scope:

Structural materials (e.g. metals, ceramics and polymers), which support the basis of our society such as infrastructure or transportation facilities, is essential for our secure, safe and affluent living. Also the structural materials should take full responsibility for the future and contribute to overcome the issues of the environment, energy and resources now emerging on a global scale. In addition, their consumption and economic scale are far more predominant than those of other materials, and therefore, the social ripple effect can be significant. For example, as for an urgent issue of rare metals, their consumption may possibly be largely reduced through the innovation of structural materials. The structural materials should be evolved further more to fulfill these responsibilities.
On the other hand, the research and development of structural materials have a long history and the accumulated enormous knowledge is a heritage for mankind. However, it is also true that the performance of structural materials has reached a plateau due to their long history. In order to break through this situation, we should free ourselves from the traditional and conventional concept, and revolutionary guiding principle should be needed by getting back to basics. Research of the structural materials is now facing at a huge turning point and we, the next generation, have to find out what should be accumulated on the achievements of predecessors.

National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) is pleased to announce “NIMS Conference 2011” to be held from July 19 to 21, and International Cluster for Structural Materials (iSM) consisting of young scientists for structural materials plays a key role as a host. Under the theme of “Structural Materials Science and Strategy for Sustainability - Back to the basics -“, we expect to have an extensive discussion on the issues of rare metals, energy-saving materials and fundamental problems accompanying the development of materials for high safety.
During NIMS Conference, there will be a NIMS Award ceremony to praise the researchers who had distinguished achievements in research and development in the field of structural materials, memorial lectures by the awardees, and plenary lectures by leading international scientists from all over the world, followed by 4 technical sessions.

We look forward to your participation.