Materials Science workshops

Metal halide perovskites combine versatile film processing with charge transport, strong luminescence and carrier confinement. Their tunable composition and structure support research in photovoltaics, light emitters, transistors, detectors and quantum devices. This workshop examines advances and remaining problems in performance, stability, reliability and sustainability, with particular attention to scalable solar-cell manufacturing and industrial deployment. Online sessions run on 20 October, 10:00–13:00, and 21 October, 19:00–22:00, US Eastern Daylight Time. Registration requires an MRS account. Rates: US$100 regular, US$75 MRS member, US$25 student or qualifying developing-country professional, and US$0 for qualifying developing-country students. Developing-country discounts require proof under the organizer’s World Bank income-category rules. Sessions are recorded for registrants.

Autonomous laboratories must connect software to physical instruments while retaining meaningful scientific input from researchers. This interdisciplinary workshop examines how humans and automated systems can share experimental tasks, with particular attention to fragmented instrument interfaces, sample handling and integration failures. Participants compare robotic orchestration, interoperability, human–robot interaction and reproducibility in physically executed experiments. Examples span microscopy, thin-film polymers, nanoparticle synthesis, antimicrobial discovery, batteries and fuels. The emphasis is on operational workflows and lessons from unsuccessful integrations, rather than autonomous hypothesis generation or data analysis alone. Invited talks, laboratory tours and discussion sessions run from 11 to 13 November 2026. The published outline opens check-in at 09:00 and talks at 11:00 on 11 November; talks resume at 09:00 on both subsequent days. The closing session is scheduled for 14:15–15:00 on 13 November, followed by informal discussion. Times are local CET (Europe/Berlin). Detailed session assignments will follow. Attendance is free with advance registration; the event language is English.

Growing transport demand and decarbonisation targets motivate new approaches to ground improvement and reuse of industrial waste. This workshop examines how recycled rubber, plastics, glass, fly ash and slag can improve infrastructure performance while reducing demand for virgin materials. Research and engineering case studies combine laboratory characterisation, computational modelling, bio-mediated treatment, fatigue and dynamic-load analysis, and lifecycle assessment. AI applications address hazard assessment, predictive monitoring, ground-engineering workflows and material behaviour. Three technical sessions examine sustainable ground improvement, circular use of waste and marginal materials, and the responsible application of AI. The programme on 2 December 2026 includes presentations, facilitated discussion and networking. Registration and refreshments begin at 07:45, opening addresses at 08:30 and research presentations at 08:45; closing remarks are at 17:30, followed by networking cocktails. Times are AEDT (Australia/Sydney). Researchers, engineers, industry and government participants, and postgraduate students are welcome. Early-bird tickets are AUD363 general admission or AUD253 for students, including GST, through 1 November; booking fees may apply. Refund requests are accepted through 15 November.