Fibers are one of the most fundamental material forms, made by nature or by humans. In particular, optical fibers now are widely used in multitude of applications, ranging from telecommunications to monitoring structural integrity of bridges. Interestingly, despite numerous complex technological applications of optical fibers, the fibers themselves are remarkably simple from the perspective of materials composition. While optical fibers have also been made from other glasses or polymers, silica glass remains the dominant material in producing optical fibers. Textile fibers have similar characteristics, where a fiber made of a single material, with a relatively simple structure is used to deliver mechanical strength or other useful function.

Integration of materials with disparate electrical, optical, thermal, or mechanical properties into a single fiber with complex architecture and diverse functionalities presents new opportunities for extending fiber applications in numerous fields. Advanced multifunctional fibers and textiles leverage the capabilities of traditional fiber fabrication, but aims at developing new fiber structures, functionalities, and applications that stem from altering the material composition of the fiber. In recent years, major breakthroughs were made which demonstrated fibers with novel optical, electronic, acoustic and cell interfacing properties, which enable new functionalities not usually associated with conventional fibers. Multimaterial fibers are also a new playground for the controllable study of fluid dynamics in confined space and over a wide range of length scales.

This symposium will focus on recent advances in this rapidly developing field. Oral presentations and posters presenting original work in, but not limited to, the following technical areas are invited.