(25.10.22) The Materials Science and Engineering Congress (MSE) is Germany’s best-known international conference in its field and is held every two years in September at the Technical University of Darmstadt in southern Hesse. While in 2022 it was only possible to organise the congress online due to the pandemic, the approximately 1,100 participants were able to attend both in person and online from 27 to 29 September this year.

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The BMBF initiative “Research in Germany” ran an information stand in the lecture hall building of the Technical University – a favourably situated contact point where DFG representatives were able to provide information about funding programmes. As is customary in connection with this initiative, however, reference was made across the board to the opportunities offered by other German funding bodies, too, including the German Academic Exchange Service, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

International and German MSE attendees were glad to make use of the information services provided and obtain detailed advice.

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In addition, “Research in Germany” organised an “Early Bird Hybrid Science Breakfast” in cooperation with the German Materials Society (DGM) as part of the congress. Even before the subject sessions began, doctoral students and postdocs in particular were invited to a “research breakfast” along with more experienced materials scientists.

This setting provided an opportunity to find out more about collaboration and funding opportunities as well as longer-term career opportunities at German higher education institutions and non-HEI research institutions. Participants were also able to make the most of the convivial setting to engage in direct dialogue with researchers already working in Germany and gain first-hand feedback on their experience. In spite of the fact that it was scheduled so early, the majority of participants attended the in-person part of the event. A few also joined the Science Breakfast from their home computer with a mug of morning coffee in hand.

All in all, the “Research in Germany” offerings at this year's MSE Congress met with a good response, not least thanks to sound collaboration with the DGM.