Check out the comments from some organizers about their symposia and mini-courses, as well as the chairs’ comments about the event.
About the XXIII B-MRS Meeting
Luiza Mercante (UFBA), chair: It was a very rewarding experience to coordinate the activities of the XXIII B-MRS Meeting. The event brought together researchers and professionals from different states and countries in high-level plenary sessions, symposia, roundtables, and short courses on strategic and current topics in the field of materials, promoting an environment of scientific excellence and exchange of experiences, marked by the joy and welcoming atmosphere characteristic of Bahia.
Daniel Souza Correa (Embrapa Instrumentation), chair: Participating in the organization of the XXIII B-MRS Meeting in Salvador was very enriching. Seeing the enthusiasm of the participants, especially the students, the quality of the discussions and lectures, and the integration between researchers of different generations and areas only reinforces the importance of this traditional scientific meeting, which certainly contributes, as a relevant forum, to the advancement of materials science and engineering in Brazil and the world.
About the symposia
Symposium B – Sensing materials combined to artificial intelligence for advanced analytical and forensic tools
Carlos Cava (UTFPR), organizer: Organizing symposium B — focused on sensing materials combined with artificial intelligence for advanced analytical and forensic tools — for the first time at this event was highly rewarding.
Merging this symposium with the one on materials for forensic analysis proved to be an excellent decision, fostering fresh and innovative ideas in the field. The presentations covered a wide range of applications, including sensors for detecting diseases in humans, animals, and plants, as well as for identifying illicit drugs, explosives, and system classifications. A unifying theme was the strong integration between novel materials and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the originality and relevance of this research area.
The symposium counts on four invited speakers, among them two international guests. The oral sessions count on the engagement of many participants, with the room fully occupied. The invited lectures were particularly successful, attracting significant interest from researchers, forensic community and stimulating valuable discussions. Although the poster session was relatively short for the number of submissions, it offered an excellent opportunity for focused, in-depth exchanges on each presented work.
In conclusion, the quality of the contributions exceeded our expectations. Both the overall congress and our symposium were exceptionally well organized, supported by a dedicated and efficient team. We look forward to offering this symposium again in future editions to the materials science community.
Symposium H – Molecular and Polymer-based Materials and Devices for Next-generation Organic Electronics and Bioelectronics
Rafael Furlan de Oliveira (CNPEM), organizer: Symposium H on molecular and polymer-based materials and devices for next-generation organic electronics and bioelectronics was a remarkable success, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in this important field. This year, we broadened the scope to incorporate emerging and increasingly relevant topics, such as covalent organic frameworks, bioelectronics, and neuromorphic devices, reflecting the expanding frontiers of our community. The symposium brought together leading international experts and a strong representation from Brazilian institutions, fostering stimulating discussions and collaborations across different topics. The quality and diversity of the contributions, encompassing fundamental studies and device innovations, were outstanding! We are grateful to all participants for their enthusiasm and scientific excellence and look forward to another inspiring edition next year in Curitiba.
Symposium K – Bioinspired and biomimetic materials and their applications
Marcos Malta dos Santos (UFBA), organizer: The symposium K, themed “Bioinspired and Biomimetic Materials and Their Applications”, was an inspiring session coordinated by Prof. Marcos Malta and Prof. Regina Geris from the Institute of Chemistry at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), together with Prof. Souad Ammar-Merah from Université Paris Cité (ITODYS, France). The event brought together around 50 researchers from different regions of Brazil to discuss innovative studies on bioinspired and biomimetic materials, including functional biomaterials, nanocomposites, hydrogels, and controlled-release systems for biomedical, environmental, and agricultural applications.
Among the highlights were keynote lectures by Prof. Susana Inés Córdoba de Torresi (University of São Paulo), who discussed the toxicological implications of plasmonic nanoparticles in aquatic biological models; Prof. Thibaud Coradin (Sorbonne Université, LCMCP), who presented advances in type I collagen-based hydrogels applied from tissue models to drug delivery systems; Prof. Nguyet-Thanh HA-DUONG (Université Paris Cité, ITODYS), who showcased plant virus-based nanomaterials for in-solution SERS sensing applications; and Prof. Renato Grilo (UNESP, Ilha Solteira), who introduced biohybrid materials designed for the controlled release of agrochemicals.
Together, these contributions illustrated how the synergy between biotechnology and materials science is driving the development of innovative, sustainable solutions inspired by nature.
Symposium N – Nanotechnology in Medicine and Agriculture: Multifunctional Applications and Toxicological Impact
Juliana Cancino – Bernardi (USP – campus Ribeirão Preto) and Valtencir Zucolotto (IFSC-USP), organizers: This year, the N symposium – Nanotechnology in Medicine and Agriculture: Multifunctional Applications and Toxicological Impact celebrated its 10th anniversary within B-MRS. The milestone was marked by an impressive number of high-quality presentations, featuring invited speakers as well as junior and senior researchers. This anniversary reinforces the importance of B-MRS in advancing nanotechnology applied to health and highlights the valuable connections fostered through this conference, which plays such a key role in the field. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
Symposium Q – Ferroics-based materials: fundamentals, properties and applications for energy converters
José Antonio Eiras (UFSCar) and Ivair Aparecido dos Santos (UEM), organizers: As organizers of the symposium on Ferroics-based materials: fundamentals, properties and applications for energy converters, held biennially at the B-MRS Meetings, we sincerely thank you for your participation.
This year, the symposium was part of the activities of the 7th Meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Materials Science and Nanotechnology, which took place during the XXIII B-MRS Meeting.
As in previous editions, we consider symposium Q a great success. It featured more than 50 presentations, encompassing oral and poster formats. Notably, several contributions were made by representatives of the BRICS member countries participating in the Working Group, enriching the international scope and collaborative spirit of the event.
Prototypes of energy converters based on ferroic materials, highlighting the progress of some Brazilian research groups in this strategic field, were exhibited at the GRANIOTER booth.
The symposium provided a dynamic platform for the exchange of recent scientific advances in the field of ferroic materials, in basic and applied research, focusing on the processing, characterization, and development of energy converter prototypes.
We look forward to your participation in future editions of this symposium.
About the short courses
Introduction to Principal Component Analysis: Applications in the Classification of New Materials
Marcio Luis Ferreira Nascimento (UFBA), organizer: This short course is part of the undergraduate Statistics Applied to Chemical Engineering curriculum at the Federal University of Bahia. It begins with an introduction to principal component analysis, which is considered by some to be the first tool in artificial intelligence, and provides a brief history of the technique. We introduce the biographies of several mathematicians, such as Pearson, Hotelling, and Cauchy, presenting a brief intuitive overview of the technique. This is followed by a brief formal introduction, including applications/uses in materials. This is followed by a step-by-step example using matrix algebra, and concludes with a classic example.
In order to apply PCA to the classification of new materials, it is important to understand its fundamentals.
Young Researchers´School: Tutorial on Scientific Writing and the Editorial Process
Valtencir Zucolotto (IFSC – USP), organizer: The traditional Young Researchers’ School, held during the XXIII B-MRS Meeting with the continued support of Elsevier, once again attracted strong participation and enthusiasm. The short course offered comprehensive sessions on advanced scientific writing and preparation for public selection processes for faculty positions, complemented by targeted lectures on scientific manuscript formatting, publication strategies, and research visibility. With an audience of + 80 participants and an engaging atmosphere, the event reaffirmed its role as a valuable and inspiring training platform for emerging researchers, continuing a successful tradition as a pre-event course.