Author: Verónica Savignano

B-MRS End of Year Message.

Posted on Monday 21 de December de 2020 by Verónica Savignano

The year 2020 will undoubtedly be marked with sadness in our lives by the pandemic of Covid-19, which violently altered our daily lives, imposed tragic losses for many of us and gave more space to scientific negacionism, reinforcing the feeling of “nonsense” that we experience in today’s society.

However, at the same time, it was in 2020 that Science was once again a safe haven, pointing out alternatives and strategies to combat this terrible disease, while, in record time, decoding the virus genome and manufacturing vaccines with high efficacy. Brazilian researchers played an active part in building this knowledge chain, while resiliently fighting against threats to the country’s Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) structure. The materials research community could not abstain at such a critical moment and therefore quickly adapted research on biosensors, drug-carrying nanoparticles, materials with virucidal properties, etc. to combat SARS-CoV-2.

In 2020 B-MRS also had to reinvent itself. With the postponement of its annual meeting due to the health crisis, the virtual platform was our form of communication. And the community responded! With a strong presence in webinars, online events, and participating in awareness actions to maintain the country’s ST&I infrastructure as well as our most precious resource for the future, young PhDs and undergraduate and graduate students. The drive and motivation that students at our University Chapters show in their activities, brings us the certainty that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Brazil.

And may 2021 come! We will be ready, equipped with the powerful resources of Science, to build a better year, with more health and decent living conditions for Brazilian citizens.

An excellent end of the year to everyone – as far as possible and observing all necessary care :).

B-MRS Board

EUSMAT opens a new call for Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for the AMASE Master Programme.

Posted on Monday 21 de December de 2020 by Verónica Savignano

Students can apply for joining the AMASE Master Programme, which provides Erasmus Mundus scholarships for carrying out a two-year international Master in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering. The application for the intake 2021 is now open.

The Joint European Master Programme in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering (AMASE) is aimed at students who have already obtained their Bachelor in Materials Science, Materials Engineering or other related Engineering Sciences, as well as Physics, Chemistry or other Natural Sciences. The programme is carried out by:

  • UdS – Universität des Saarlandes / Germany
  • LTU – Luleå tekniska universitet / Sweden
  • UL – Université de Lorraine / France
  • UPC – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelonatech /Spain
  • MUL – Montanuniversität Leoben / Austria
  • UPD – Università degli Studi di Padua / Italy

Within AMASE, students spend the first year at one of the partner universities and the third semester at a Second University. In the fourth (last) semester the student writes the Master’ thesis either at the Second or the Entrance University.

Through this exchange of cultures, the student gains vast advantages on the academic labour market, profits from personal growth and learns at least one new language. A particularity of the AMASE programme is that students have to study in two different languages by selecting the corresponding university (Spanish at UPC, French at UL, German at UdS and English at LTU, MUL and UPD). Language courses, as well as training in intercultural communication and complementary skills, are provided during the course.

Participation costs for the programme are 1.500 € per semester for EU-students and 4.500 € per semester for Non-EU students. Basic health and social insurance is included in the fees. To support students, the European Commission provides Erasmus Mundus Programme scholarships for especially gifted and motivated students. These scholarships consist of 1.000 € monthly allowance, a contribution for travel costs and installation (depending on the country of origin); and covering of participation costs.

Deadline for applying for Erasmus Mundus financial contribution is 15th of February 2021 (15th of January for students starting at LTU).

For more information please check our website www.amase-master.net or contact us at: office@eusmat.net.

If you are interested in our programme, you can apply for the scholarships and the study place through: https://amasemaster.net/application/SubmitAbstract.php

B-MRS former president elected vice president of IUMRS.

Posted on Monday 21 de December de 2020 by Verónica Savignano

chuProf. Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior (IFSC-USP), B-MRS member, was elected First Vice President of the International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS).

The Brazilian scientist was chosen for the position unanimously, in an election held this December, involving materials research societies from around the world that participate in IUMRS.

He will hold the position of First Vice President for two years, from 2021 to 2022. At the end of his term, Oliveira Junior, who was the President of B-MRS from 2016 to 2020, will automatically assume the presidency of IUMRS.

B-MRS member is the new director of CINE.

Posted on Tuesday 15 de December de 2020 by Verónica Savignano

ana flaviaProf. Ana Flávia Nogueira (UNICAMP), B-MRS member, took on the position of general director of the Center for Innovation in New Energies (CINE) this December.

Founded in 2018 by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and the company Shell, CINE brings together research groups from UNICAMP, IPEN and USP and their collaborators to develop research on the frontier of knowledge and transfer technology to the industry in the area of new energies.

B-MRS member is appointed editor of the Journal of Materials Science.

Posted on Thursday 10 de December de 2020 by Verónica Savignano

andrea de camargo

Prof. Andrea S. S. de Camargo (IFSC-USP), B-MRS member and scientific director, was appointed editor of the Journal of Materials Science (Springer), a well-established scientific journal within the international materials science community.

At the moment, the Brazilian scientist is the only representative of an institution from Latin America among the journal’s 25 editors.