The discovery of new materials and associated desirable properties has been a driving force behind chemical innovation for centuries. In all cases, there was a First-Material, the archetype in which the phenomenon was first observed, the one that stimulated further investigations and that ultimately became the foundation of new technologies. What are the approaches that we believe are most likely to result in the discovery of new compositions with complex structures and potentially new properties, a new First-Material? And once a new structure/composition has been discovered, how do we take advantage of structure property concepts to transition from this starting point to a successful modification of the structure, the composition and the observed physical properties to create tomorrow's material? 

This conference, with a focus on materials discovery, will provide these insights via research talks by researchers from industry, national laboratories and academia and provide a perspective on the growing field of solid state chemistry, on novel synthetic approaches, on novel materials, and on emerging applications. The presentation of unpublished research will stimulate discussion and the exchange of ideas concerning the synthesis and application of new materials at the frontier of solid state materials chemistry. Emphasis will be on synthesis, structure property relationships and their role in promoting material enhancements and material applications. 

Speakers and poster presenters are explicitly encouraged to emphasize advances, unpublished results, and new ideas on materials synthesis, structural analysis, and physical properties characterization. The organizers strongly encourage active contribution to discussions and participation in poster sessions, which offer an excellent opportunity for presenting and learning about new and exciting research.