UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Registration is open for Penn State’s marquee annual materials event, Materials Day, an opportunity for the University research community to celebrate past achievements, make connections and peer into the future of materials. The event‘s theme is “Convergence of Materials, Data, Manufacturing, and the Human Dimension” and it will be held Oct. 29 through Oct. 30 at the HUB-Robeson Center and the Millennium Science Complex at Penn State University Park. 

Highlights of the event include: 

• Government Keynote Speaker: Christopher J. Saldaña, director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, presenting "Manufacturing innovation for America’s clean energy future" 

• Industry Keynote Speaker: Federico Sciammarella, chief technology officer, Manufacturing times Digital, presenting "Achieving manufacturing resilience" 

• Penn State Keynote Speakers: Jessica Menold, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, and Scarlett Miller, professor in engineering design and manufacturing, presenting "(Re)Focusing on the human dimension: How immersive technologies and human-centered design can advance materials research" 

• Coffee and networking time each morning 

• Two poster sessions featuring graduate student research and industry tabletops from a variety of relevant companies 

• Lunch provided each day 

• State of Materials Research Institute Address: Clive Randall, director, Materials Research Institute and Evan Pugh University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Director 

• Evening reception: Featuring hors d’oeuvres, beverages, industry tabletops, posters from Penn State organizations and presentation of Rustum and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Awards 

• Four breakout sessions: Critical Minerals: Exploring artificial intelligence applications, health implications, sustainability and socio-political considerations; Recycling and reusing of composites; Additive and digital manufacturing of multimaterial systems; and 3D printed biofunctional implants and materials at the human health interface 

• Working Lunch and Team Forming Networking Session: A request for proposals for seed projects in the areas covered by the breakout sessions will be announced in November 2024 and Penn State faculty teams will be invited to propose seed projects. During this time, attendees will meet others in their field and form teams to propose projects. 

More information, including how to register, can be found at https://www.mri.psu.edu/mri/events/2024-materials-day. Materials Day is organized and produced by the Penn State Materials Research Institute.