December 10, 2012 — Warrendale, PA — Investment in basic research and development (R&D) is critical to deploying new material technologies. New material technologies are the key to solving many of society's toughest challenges. But what is the best way to conduct R&D in an increasingly globalized environment?

Five thought leaders from the materials science and engineering community will offer international perspectives on the issue, presenting real stories of how R&D successes have been achieved in the past and may be achieved in the future at Global R&D Trends — Implications for Material Sciences, the Acta Materialia Materials and Society Award Special Symposium. This special event will be held at the TMS 2013 Annual Meeting & Exhibition to recognize the achievements of Jeffrey Wadsworth, president and CEO of Battelle Memorial Institute, who has chosen to accept his 2013 Acta Materialia Materials and Society Award at the conference.

"Typically, in a global recession, there is the temptation to reduce R&D. This has not occurred," said Wadsworth, who will serve as keynote speaker at the session. "Countries and companies have recognized the link between R&D and economic prosperity and have decided to increase spending amidst the global economic slowdown. However, in this age of instant gratification, there is an expectation that increased R&D funding will generate greater financial returns in a shorter amount of time. This is unrealistic, as research and basic science can take years to produce tangible results. Unfortunately, many do not understand this relationship, which is leading to some questionable actions and programs."

A video preview of Wadsworth's talk, "The Evolving R&D Model: International Trends and U.S. Competitiveness," is now available through the TMS2013 website.

The symposium will be held Tuesday, March 5, from 2-5 pm at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. It will provide perspectives on how R&D is conducted at the national, industrial, and individual levels in different parts of the world, as delivered by five presenters who are leaders in their respective fields. In addition to Wadsworth, the following speakers are slated:

Craig R. Barrett, Retired Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation
Topic: "Research and Development—The Key to Competitiveness in the 21st Century"

Siegfried S. Hecker, Co-Director, Center for International Security and Cooperation, and Emeritus Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Topic: "Prospects and Challenges for a Global Expansion of Nuclear Energy"

William D. Nix, Professor Emeritus, Lee Otterson Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Topic: "Linking the Challenges of Materials Technology with Opportunities in Materials Research"

Subra Suresh, Director, National Science Foundation
Topic: "Global Science and Engineering"

The symposium is organized by Kevin Hemker, the Alonzo G. Decker Chair of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, who said that a goal of the event is to "provide the materials community with an insightful perspective on the globalization of research and development, as told by some of our most highly respected members."

The TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition, now in its 142nd year, attracts approximately 4,000 materials scientists and engineers working in industry, academia, and government from more than 68 countries. TMS2013 is scheduled for March 3-7, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit www.tms.org/tms2013.