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. Their consumption and
economic scale are far more predominant than those of other materials, and therefore, the social ripple effect can be significant. In addition,
major disaster caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on the March 11th, 2011, Tohoku and Kanto regions have suffered an
unprecedented damage. Because of this disaster, subjects such as “verification and ensuring of structure reliability”, “securing of the safety
of facility relevant to nuclear power” and “construction of a secure and safe society” became more serious concerns than they ever had been
before. 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 2012” to be held from June 4 to 6, and young
scientists for structural materials play 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 reconstruction from the disaster of the earthquake,
verification of structure reliability, 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 made distinguished achievements in
research and development in the field of structural materials, award-winning lectures, and plenary lectures by leading international scientists
from all over the world, followed by 5 technical sessions.

　We look forward to your participation.