FEMS member society SOCIEMAT — the Spanish Society of Materials — will celebrate World Materials Day 2026 with a central event at the University of Barcelona on 9 November, alongside activities across Spain.

The Barcelona event will take place in the Aula Enric Casassas at the Faculty of Chemistry, with the programme beginning at 15:30. It will feature talks on materials research and science communication, highlighting scientific advances, innovative technologies and the contribution of materials science to society.

Recognising the next generation of materials researchers

Young talent will be a central focus of the celebrations. Awards will recognise outstanding undergraduate and master’s work in Materials Science and Engineering, encouraging students to pursue research and innovation and giving greater visibility to their achievements.

The event will also feature presentations by the three finalists for the SOCIEMAT–FEMS Award for Best Master’s Thesis. One candidate will be selected to represent SOCIEMAT in the European final of the FEMS Master Thesis Award 2027.

Activities across Spain

In addition to the central event in Barcelona, World Materials Day activities are planned in Ciudad Real, Toledo, Seville, Madrid and Santiago de Compostela. Together, these initiatives will connect materials research, education and public engagement.

Event details

Date: 9 November 2026
Start time: 15:30
Venue: Aula Enric Casassas, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Spain
Organiser: SOCIEMAT — Spanish Society of Materials

Visit SOCIEMAT’s World Materials Day page:
https://sociemat.es/dia-mundial-de-los-materiales/