| The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) was founded in 2001 as the largest institute for materials research in Japan with its origin in two national research institutes, for metals and for inorganic materials, both with histories of about 40-50 years. Currently, the research fields of NIMS cover almost all types of materials, i.e., metals, ceramics, semiconductors, superconductors, magnetic materials, fullerenes, nanotubes and many other nanomaterials, organic materials and biomaterials; the development of characterization methods and theoretical modeling is also covered by NIMS. At present, about 1,500 research staff, postdoctoral and visiting researchers, students and administrative staff are working at the three sites of NIMS in Tsukuba. After the five years of its first midterm program, NIMS has embarked on its second midterm program in 2006. NIMS is taking this opportunity to regularly hold the NIMS Conference on Recent Breakthroughs in Materials Science and Technology with the aim of promoting materials science and technology throughout the world. The first of these conferences is to be held in Tsukuba on 11-13 July, 2007. Nowadays, in a wide variety of technologies, innovations are required to respond to the strong public demands for improvements related to information, energy, environment and medical care. All technology is realized by the use of appropriate materials; thus, technological innovations cannot be attained without breakthroughs in materials. The aim of the NIMS Conference is to highlight recent remarkable breakthroughs that are of importance in materials science and technology and discuss how we can promote research and development in relevant fields. |
In view of the aim of the NIMS Conference mentioned above, NIMS will present the NIMS Award for Recent Breakthroughs in Materials Science and Technology with a medal and a reward to a person or a group who has made a remarkable breakthrough in materials science and technology or related fields in recent years. The winner of the NIMS Award will be selected by the Award Committee of the NIMS Conference on the basis of the recommendations of candidates by a panel of leading international scientists in materials science and technology (undisclosed) appointed by the Award Committee. (1) Recent Progress in Spintronics and Magnetic Materials:  |