1. NSF-MRSEC Program Booth
XXV International Materials Research Conference
Cancun, Mexico
August 14-19, 2016
Mark C. Hersam, NU-MRSEC Director
MRSEC Directors Meeting
October 18, 2016 1

2. XXV International Materials Research Congress
The Materials Research Society (MRS) and the Sociedad Mexicana de Materiales (SMM) host the International Materials Research Congress (IMRC) annually in Cancun, Mexico.
~1,500 attendees from ~40 countries.

3. Booth Logistics: August 15-17
Staffed by William Kung and Mark Hersam (Northwestern MRSEC) and Michelle McCombs (Ohio State MRSEC)
MRSEC banner stand borrowed from UCSB MRSEC
Brochure created for the overall MRSEC program
Additional brochures solicited from individual MRSECs
MRSEC booth centrally located at booth #11

4. Booth Advertisement @ Plenary Talk
Mark Hersam advertised the booth during his plenary talk on Monday, August 15

5. Additional MRSEC Booth Presence
After appealing to IMRC organizers, additional booth locations were allocated:
MS&E Technology and Innovation Exhibition, Tuesday evening, 8/16
Graduate Programs Exhibition, Wednesday evening, 8/17

6. Impact
117 total registered visitors to the MRSEC booth including undergraduate/graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and industry reps

7. Demographics - Gender

8. Demographics - Ethnicity

9. Demographics – Professional Background

10. Domestic vs. International Institutions

11. Booth Visitor Interests: Students
Undergraduate Students
REU opportunities (U.S. students)
Graduate schools
Graduate Students
Postdoctoral research opportunities
Visa logistics
Use of MRSEC shared facilities

12. Booth Visitor Interests: Postdocs
Postdoctoral Researchers
MRSEC research projects
Postdoc opportunities in U.S.
Visa logistics
Use of MRSEC shared facilities

13. Booth Visitor Interests: Faculty
MRSEC research
Graduate school and postdoc opportunities in U.S.
Outreach collaboration opportunities
Use of MRSEC shared facilities
MRSEC program and funding/proposal logistics
Others
Vendor representatives looking for equipment sales opportunity to MRSECs
MRS Executive Director/IMRC VP of Board of Directors exploring partnerships for 2017 IMRC (e.g., engaging student chapters for career advice/opportunities)
Commercialization opportunities and advice for the U.S. market

14. Follow Up Activities and Future Plans
Created database of booth visitors who expressed interest in receiving future MRSEC program news and updates
Sent follow-up to booth visitors that includes mrsec.org, prem- mrsec.org, and mrfn.org links and other general MRSEC program information
Shared database with MRSEC Education Directors to disseminate REU/RET and other professional development news and opportunities to interested students, postdocs, and faculty
Shared database with MRFN to promote availability and use of MRSEC shared facilities and technical expertise
Will solicit scientific images and other content from individual MRSECs to feature in next year’s booth