Dear readers,

ever since mankind began to examine the objects of its environment according to their qualities and to shape them according to their needs, materials science and engineering have been historically, socially and culturally present. In the Stone, Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages, this conceptual pair literally denoted entire epochs. The valuable copper celt of the Stone Age hunter Ötzi bears witness to this significance, as does the Nebra sky disk, punched and hewn out of gold plating, which familiarized its users with the stars some 3,500 years ago.

It is impossible to imagine any sphere of life without materials science and engineering. Whether energy, mobility, health, security or communication, the discipline is present in all areas that are relevant to the present and future of humankind. The enormous diversity of material applications and technologies requires an institution that offers a special level of communication, networking and organization.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde e.V. (DGM) has been fulfilling this demanding task for over 90 years with competence, professionalism and passion. As the largest technical society of its kind, it provides opportunities for interdisciplinary encounters as well as a network that explicitly includes young researchers. One of the central meeting points created by the DGM is the international conference “Materials Science and Engineering” (MSE). This congress is the largest event in the field in Germany and serves as an interface where young researchers meet established professionals from universities, research institutions and industry. Its relevance and impact have steadily grown since 2008.

Over three days, the MSE offers more than 1,000 presentations from 46 different nations in ten parallel sessions. In addition to Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rödel of TU Darmstadt, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kleiner, President of the German Research Foundation (DFG), will deliver one of the opening speeches. One highlight in 2012 will certainly be the honorary symposium dedicated to the most significant research areas shaped by the former DGM President Prof. Dr. Günter Gottstein (RWTH Aachen). This year’s host country, Australia, will also be honored with its own symposium. In this context, Dr. Klaus-Dieter Liss and Prof. Dr. Yuri Estrin will present outstanding results from successful research collaborations between Australia and Europe. In doing so, the DGM and its Australian counterpart, Materials Australia, will further manifest their cooperation.

The concurrently held career workshop will comprehensively inform and advise young researchers on career opportunities. Whether the professional path leads abroad or into industry or academia, experienced and renowned personalities will share their knowledge with younger colleagues in lectures and plenary discussions.

The DGM-Tag takes place biennially in advance of the MSE. It is an event oriented toward the future while consciously reflecting on the past. What has the DGM achieved in 2012? Which challenges will the society and the discipline as a whole face in the coming years? This year, Prof. Dr. Ernst Pernicka will open the general assembly and guide participants back to the roots of the discipline with a guest lecture on the Nebra sky disk. At the same time, the MSE side events will focus on future challenges for both the field and the DGM, with particular emphasis on the materials-related support of the energy transition. Ultimately, materials and technologies will determine how efficient and sustainable tomorrow’s energy supply will be.

In this way, materials science and engineering, and not least the DGM, contribute to ensuring that Germany can address the energy transition with confidence and maintain its leading position in international competition.

In this sense, we invite you to enjoy reading the current issue of Advanced Engineering Materials.

Dr.-Ing. Frank O. R. Fischer
General Manager and Member of the Board