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Membership Involvement

Help Shape a Better MRS
The tremendous growth and success of MRS is due to the energy, enthusiasm and vision of many member volunteers. MRS is Member-run and Member-driven, and there is always a need for new volunteers of varying skills and interests. Want to affect Meeting content? Propose symposium topics to future Meeting Chairs. Want to affect the MRS Bulletin content? Submit topics for special issues to the Volume Organizers. Interested in government affairs, public outreach or other MRS activities?  There are numerous ways in which you might participate, some of which are outlined below. Your involvement with MRS will help advance the field of materials science and engineering AND at the same time it will help you build a strong network of professional contacts and friends.  So take a look … and get involved!

Join an MRS Operating Committee
The MRS Committee structure and Task Forces offer members an invaluable opportunity to participate in, and profoundly influence, the operation of the Society.  Operational Committees—the operational heart of the Society—are made up of energized volunteers with particular interests in areas such as membership, public outreach, academic affairs and more. Many of the successes MRS has seen over the years are the direct result of dedicated volunteers and committee members who have taken on projects and driven them to completion. We invite you to learn more about our Operating Committees and their related activities.
Submit a proposal for an MRS Symposium or Workshop
MRS has long been considered a great “Meeting Society” and that is due to our long-standing policy (unique among scientific societies) of selecting outstanding Meeting Chairs and empowering them to run their own best possible Meeting. Meeting Chairs set their own agenda, pick the technical topics and choose or solicit symposia.  The Meeting Chairs return the favor by empowering their Symposium Organizers and these groups each drive the content and feel of their own piece of the Meeting. Because Organizers get such free rein, MRS Meetings attract exceptional and energetic scientific leaders who run their symposia in an equally ardent fashion to the Meeting.  Most importantly, anyone can propose a symposium topic, and historically, over 30% of the symposia come from unsolicited proposals. For many Members, the MRS Meeting and Workshop programs provide a first exposure to scientific leadership. To learn more these exciting opportunities, visit the Meetings section of our Web site.
Publish a paper or article with MRS
Publishing venues for MRS Members include the MRS Bulletin and the Journal of Materials Research (JMR).  To propose a theme topic for the Bulletin, or for information on guest-editor opportunities, contact the Bulletin editor.  For authors wishing to submit to JMR, we are pleased to announce that the Journal’s new expedited review process has decreased time to decision on a newly submitted paper to below two months. View details on submitting a paper to JMR.

 In addition, the MRS Proceedings series offer opportunities to publish papers presented at MRS Meetingsd and other scientific and technical meetings.  From an author’s point of view, the free online exposure of his or her work to more than 13,100 members of MRS is a significant benefit of Proceedings publication, offering wider distribution and citation than the printed Blue Books alone. More information is available on the Proceedings Publishing page of our Web site.

Join a local MRS Section
MRS Sections provide a convenient forum for scientists and engineers in various materials disciplines to network and interact on the local level. Nine MRS Sections located across the United States—from Alabama to Northern New England, from Texas to New York—host workshops and technical meetings focusing on issues of interest to their local community.  Such events are often held in conjunction with other professional societies and/or student Chapters and help to foster intersociety relations and collaborations at the grass-roots level.  For a list of current MRS Sections, or for information and guidelines on how to establish and maintain a Section, visit the MRS Sections page of our website.
Join an MRS University Chapter
University Chapters are a vital part of MRS and provide an opportunity for students and faculty to meet and promote student interest in materials science. With over 40 active Chapters throughout the United States, we also encourage our student members to network among Chapters, to compare notes on recent activities and to brainstorm on new projects and issues of common concern. University Chapters are eligible for special benefits from MRS (e.g. distinguished speaker support and travel grants) and may be formed by petition to the MRS Board of Directors. We invite you to learn more about these exciting Chapter activities and opportunities.
Join the Women in MS&E Discussion Group
Women in Materials Science and Engineering is the subject of a special breakfast held at both the MRS Spring and Fall Meetings, and features a timely discussion of issues facing today’s women in the materials research and engineering professions. If you plan to attend one of our Meetings, we urge you to join us for this interactive and informative breakfast event.  In addition, MRS members are encouraged to join the Women in MS&E Discussion List—a mailing list for continuing discussion and information exchange on issues affecting women in the materials profession. Women and men are both welcome to participate. Sign up today.
Get involved in Strange Matter
As strange as it may seem, the general public does not entirely understand how exciting materials research is and how it plays a role in their day-to-day lives.  For this reason, MRS has created a traveling museum exhibit on materials research called Strange Matter, where visitors enter the fascinating, practical, occasionally bizarre and often beautiful world of materials science through over a dozen hands-on experiences. Many of the museum venues welcome participation of local scientists when Strange Matter comes to their town. Take a minute to check out the schedule of upcoming Strange Matter venues or contact your local museum or MRS Headquarters staff to learn how you might get involved.
Take advantage of student opportunities at MRS Meetings
MRS Meetings offer a variety of opportunities for Student Members with varied interests to get involved.  Work as a symposium assistant or help out at the Career Center. Prepare research reports for the MRS Bulletin. Volunteer to assist with events exclusive to a particular meeting, like the MRS Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge.  Many of these activities enable you to actually earn some money or earn a complimentary membership for the following year.  For more information on becoming a symposium assistant or volunteering for other activities, contact us.
Send a message to Capitol Hill
Tell your legislators why support of the physical sciences and science education is necessary — for national security, quality of life and a strong economy. With Materials Voice, you can create personalized letters addressed to your representatives on Capitol Hill — which you can then customize and send via e-mail, or print and send via mail or fax. It's essential that our voices be heard on science policy issues. We invite you to discover Materials Voice, and ensure that your message is heard — with resonance — on Capitol Hill.