MaterialWell – Materials Science for Wellness

Materials Science Research and Innovation is the tool that will allow us to overcome many current roadblocks to societal development goals.
Examples include:

• New medical innovations to improve quality of life:
  Injectable bone strengtheners to avoid invasive operations, dental implants that are affordable and non-toxic, long-life batteries for pacemakers to avoid the need for replacement surgery
• Improvements in our urban environment:
  Affordable long-range electric vehicles, smart distributed sensor arrays detecting pollution across cities, cheap low-maintenance explosives detectors for stations and cultural venues providing enhanced anti-terrorism security and public peace of mind
• Clean renewable energies:
  Improved efficiency photovoltaics, greener materials for energy production, storage and transfer

These are just some of the areas where Materials Science lies at the heart of future societal well-being, and where research teams within EUniWell are actively making advances today.

MaterialWell is leveraging this existing expertise, bringing together partner groups from across all seven EUniWell sites, building and strengthening links to establish a synergistic and collaborative Materials Science ecosystem, fostering excellence in collaboration, research, and in the future, through our teaching and training programmes.

Implementation Method and Timeline

• Launch Date: March 2021

Timeline:

• Virtual MaterialWell Laboratory:
  Establish a mailing list & interactive discussion server, with access for all MaterialWell staff and students (M2).
• Five Virtual 1-day Workshops:
  On the key themes above showcasing relevant research at each partner site, plus teaching/training. The first workshop on teaching/training was completed in 2021 (slides available on project website), others will follow in 2022.
• Exploratory Exchanges:
  Give a research seminar and a Graduate Masterclass; meet local staff (1 week); build MaterialWell links face-to-face. To be carried out in 2022.
• MaterialWell Student PhD and final-year project prize:
  Short-term objective to build collaboration, establish link with the students. To be awarded in final quarter of 2022.

Expected Outcomes

MaterialWell is a one-year project with ten-year ambition, to create a platform across EUniWell for Materials Science for Well-being. We expect future joint research applications (one successful example already underway), new joint teaching initiatives (discussions currently underway for a joint summer school), and further joint actions. It will build and strengthen inter-site links between teaching, research and innovation as well as knowledge transfer for staff and students, leading to joint education and research programmes and projects.   

Further information: materialwell.wordpress.com