MRS Symposium on Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Phase Transformations in Inorganic Materials, Boston, MA, November 27 - November 30, 2006

技术：相变及其产生的微结构演变对工程材料的机械和功能特性起着至关重要的作用。材料科学的核心在于理解和预测加工或使用条件如何影响材料结构和微观结构，进而改变使用性能。虽然工程材料过去在很大程度上是通过经验设计的，但最近在建模技术、计算能力和纳米级实验技术方面的发展有助于我们对这些现象的理解以及我们的预测能力的显著提高。迫切需要扩展和应用这一知识，因为材料在我们的技术社会面临的许多挑战中发挥着关键作用。尤其是在发电、输送和使用、地面和空中运输、信息技术和生物医学应用方面。材料研究会在组织材料研讨会方面发挥着主导作用，这些研讨会根据材料的功能侧重于特定的材料。然而，大多数概念、建模工具和技术都跨越了特定应用程序的具体要求。因此，有必要维持一个论坛，交流关于无机材料的相变和微结构演变的基本知识。自2000年以来，没有组织过关于这一专题或相关专题的监测和评估专题讨论会。我们，即将举行的研讨会的组织者，相信现在是时候把在这个领域工作的活跃的研究人员社区聚集在一起了。2006年HH研讨会：无机材料相变的热力学和动力学将讨论相变的热力学和动力学的最新进展。它将包括八个具有根本重要性的相互关联的主题，以及它们与实际应用的联系。中心主题是无机材料，主题范围从成核和生长，到原子和连续介质模拟，薄膜转变，到异相界面及其在相变中的作用。非技术性：会议将有来自世界各地的专家邀请的至少21场演讲。这次会议将使顶尖科学家和从事相变热力学和动力学尖端研究的新教师/学生/研究生之间进行近四分之一的讨论，并适当考虑扩大妇女和少数族裔的参与。少数群体和代表不足的群体将通过会议组织者发送的有针对性的电子邮件吸引，并将被告知NSF支持参加这次会议。

TECHNICAL: Phase transformations, and the microstructural evolutions they produce, play a critical role in the mechanical and functional properties of engineering materials. The core of materials science lies in understanding and predicting how processing or service conditions influence materials structures and microstructures, which in turn modify the properties of use. While engineering materials have largely been designed empirically in the past, recent development in modeling techniques, computing power, and nanoscale experimental techniques have contributed to a dramatic increase in our understanding of these phenomena, as well as in our predicting power. There is an urgent need to expand and to apply this knowledge since materials play a key role in many challenges faced our by technological societies. This is, in particular, the case for power generation, delivery and use, for ground and air transportation, for information technology, and for biomedical applications. The Materials Research Society plays a leading role in the organization of materials symposia that focus on specific materials according to their functions. Most concepts, modeling tools, and techniques, however, cut across the specifics of particular applications. There is thus a need to maintain a forum for the exchange of fundamental knowledge on phase transformations and microstructural evolutions in inorganic materials. No MRS symposium has been organized on this topic or a related topic since 2000. We, the organizers of this coming symposium, believe that it is time to bring together the active community of researchers working in this field. The 2006 Symposium-HH: Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Phase Transformations in Inorganic Materials will cover recent advances in the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformations. It will include eight [8] interrelated topics of fundamental importance, and their links to practical applications. The central theme rests on inorganic materials, and topics range from nucleation & growth, to atomistic and continuum modeling, thin film transformations, to heterophase interfaces and their role in phase transformations. NON-TECHNICAL: The conference will feature at least 21 invited talks by experts from around the world. The conference will enable a close-quarter discussion between leading scientists and new faculty/students/postgraduates who are engaged in cutting edge research on thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformation, with due consideration to broadening participation by women and minorities. Minority and underrepresented groups will be attracted through targeted e-mails sent by the conference organizers, and will be made aware of NSF support to attend this conference.