2022 Multifunctional Materials & Structure Gordon Research Conference
Abstract
Funding is requested to support the 2022 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Multifunctional Materials and Structures. This conference will address fundamental scientific issues underpinning the advancement of hierarchical multifunctional material systems from the molecular scale to the macroscopic structural scale. The GRC will incite interaction and collaboration in this novel and developing interdisciplinary field and inspire new kinds of connections among researchers from a wide range of engineering disciplines. The 2022 GRC on Multifunctional Materials and Structures will bring together a diverse group of scientists and engineers from the fields of materials, structures, materials science, engineering science, physics, chemistry, computer science, and biology in a forum designed to encourage collaboration. The conference participants will discuss critical issues in understanding so that the the science and engineering needed for envisioning, designing, and creating synthetic multifunctional materials and structures can be advanced. The rapid progress in this interdisciplinary field has highlighted significant gaps in our understanding of how to integrate the novel functionalities into engineering structures and how to optimize the disparate roles of interfaces and design/fabrication approaches. This conference will address fundamental scientific issues associated with analyzing, designing, fabricating, and integrating function into materials and structures across a wide range of scales, motivated strongly by biological functions. The potential societal benefits and impact of multifunctionality range from materials sustainability and energy resource management through increased material sustainability, recycling, and upcycling; safer systems through adaptive and self-awareness capabilities; and improved energy efficiency through mass and/or volume reductions, energy recapture, and ambient harvesting. The conference seeks a significant balance in the speakers, discussion leaders, and attendees so that it will include young and established scientists and engineers; U.S. and international representation from academic, industry, and government institutions/groups; and gender and racial diversity. Expected outcomes include novel concepts and mechanisms for achieving truly dramatic improvements in system-level performance and material and energy efficiencies, and new collaborations and ways of collaborating across disciplines. Conference speakers will inspire and encourage the next generation of materials scientists, mentors will connect with mentees, and junior scientists entering the field will have a unique opportunity to have open-ended discussions with current leaders of the science. This conferenceÕs potential for new collaborations and new research paths is immense, and will provide material for a generation of new discoveries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 24, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210007
Entities
People
- Martin Dunn
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Gordon Research Conferences
- United States Army