Why should I care about materials?
Materials have always been integral to human history, from the Stone Age to the Silicon Age. The ongoing need for new materials offering specific properties and cost efficiency remains crucial in addressing contemporary global challenges. Which is why materials science is such an important field.
Materials are pivotal in our daily lives, influencing transport, housing, clothing, communication, food production, and more. They drive technological advances in medicine, information, security, transportation, and other fields.
Understanding the interdisciplinary nature of materials science and its impact on other disciplines is essential. As materials science makes a growing contribution to various domains, inputs from diverse disciplines require fundamental knowledge. Materials science plays a key role in overcoming current ecological and economic challenges. Climate change and technological shifts mean future materials need to be examined from different perspectives to understand their impact on society and the future. We are here to create spaces for dialog with society, a place to share ideas about future materials.
What is Future of Materials?
Future of Materials is a curated online platform that provides unique insights into materials science research that is accessible to a broad audience. Future of Materials is transdisciplinary bridge between the scientific community, creative professionals, and society. Its mission is to initiate a dialog about the materials shaping our future.
Understanding the complex functionalities of tomorrow's materials and keeping up-to-date with the latest developments is crucial to the creative thinking and processes of designers and artists. But access to current research can be difficult. Dialog between scientists and creatives on the potential and limits of new materials is often hindered by cultural differences and the challenges of speaking different languages. While it can take decades for new materials to reach the production stage and find their way into the real world, Future of Materials empowers creativity and innovation from the outset. Fostering interaction and collaboration within and beyond cutting-edge laboratories, it encourages people from all disciplines and walks of life to share their ideas and visions with scientists and actively contribute to shaping what future materials can and should be.
How is Future of Materials different from a materials library?
What we offer differs from conventional materials libraries, which have commercial-ready, catalogued materials.
Future of Materials is a unique glimpse into the research that is happening in the labs right now. We don’t know yet whether these materials will be shaping our everyday lives or will stay in the labs; will they be breakthroughs or simply interesting suggestions regarding an existing technology? And you can help influence this outcome.
What are active materials?
Active materials can respond to external stimuli, such as heat, light, or electrical signals, by exhibiting dynamic changes in their properties or behavior (changing a color or shape, starting to move etc.). This makes them highly adaptable and functional across various applications.
The exciting part is that they can return to their original state once the stimulus is removed. Meaning that active materials differ from inactive materials, such as concrete and wood, which maintain consistent properties and do not exhibit such adaptive or responsive characteristics.
Active materials are used in various fields, like electronics, energy storage, sensors, and medical applications. Active materials help create devices that adapt and respond to different situations, making technology more flexible and valuable in our daily lives.
Do you have physical samples? Where can I see them?
The materials presented here are not (yet) commercially available. We don’t send out samples, but we plan to organize pop-up events where you can see physical samples. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated about upcoming events near you!
I have an idea. How can I contribute?
If you have an idea, question or request, drop us a line at mail@futureofmaterials.com.
Make sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss an open call for submissions.
I am a scientist. How can I submit material?
We’d love to hear about your research! Please read the selection criteria below and drop us a line at mail@futureofmaterials.com.
What are your selection criteria for materials?
We use a set of criteria to select materials that align with our vision. We select the materials that exhibit active behavior, leveraging environmental inputs to push boundaries, self-regulate, and optimize functionality. Our emphasis is on transformative impact and innovation across industry, society, and culture. We encourage transdisciplinary dialog and look for creative real-world application possibilities for early-stage research.
Our selection criteria are dynamic, evolving to keep pace with scientific advancements and societal needs, focusing always on ways to envision a future that challenges existing paradigms and norms.
The overarching goal of Future of Materials is to showcase materials at the forefront of scientific progress and help build a better future for us all!
