SPM – Portuguese Materials Society, will celebrate World Materials Day on 4 November 2026 at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal, in partnership with the Ordem dos Engenheiros.

Coordinated locally by Professor Rúben Santos, the event will bring together students, researchers and professionals to exchange knowledge and recognise achievements in materials science and engineering.

The celebrations begin on 3 November with the National Meeting of Materials Engineering Students (ENEM), organised by NucMMat, FEUP’s Metallurgical and Materials Engineering students’ association.

The programme includes workshops on metal additive manufacturing and bio-nanoparticles, alongside talks and round-table discussions covering industrial processes, energy and mobility, sustainability, the circular economy and biomaterials.

On 4 November, the World Materials Day programme will explore artificial intelligence in education and industry, alongside poster presentations and oral presentations by the finalists of the master’s thesis competitions.

This year, 16 theses have been submitted for consideration: ten for the SPM Award and six for the Ordem dos Engenheiros Award. Their topics range from tissue regeneration and batteries to polymer recycling and materials for extreme environments, highlighting the breadth of materials research in Portugal.

The day will conclude with the presentation of the SPM and Ordem dos Engenheiros awards and honourable mentions, together with the Maria Manuela Oliveira Award.

Participation in the activities on 4 November is free of charge, subject to registration.

Participants may register for one or both days.

View the programme, registration details and further information on the SPM website.