Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Materials Research Society adjusts plans regarding the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting. MRS Bulletin interviews IBM T.J. Watson Research Center researcher Matt Copel, president of the Materials Research Society, about this situation.

MRS BULLETIN: How did the novel coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic affect plans for the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting?

MATT COPEL: After thoughtful deliberations, the Materials Research Society leadership made the difficult decision to cancel the Meeting scheduled for April 13 to 17, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. We based our decision out of concern for our members, speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and vendors.

This was back in mid-March, before stay-at-home recommendations were as widespread as they are now. At that time, we were aware of more and more travel restrictions placed by governments and employers, and the MRS leadership was diligently monitoring recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. With the health and safety of all concerned being our top priority, it was—of course—inadvisable for our community to gather for our traditional MRS Spring Meeting. 

MRS BULLETIN: Inadvisable, yes; but it still must be very disappointing for volunteers and presenters who had done so much preparation for the Meeting.

MATT COPEL: Yes, this is a profound disappointment for the many MRS volunteers and staff who have devoted several years of planning to make the Meeting a memorable, impactful event. Make no mistake about it, the final stages of planning an MRS Meeting is an all-hands-on-deck event. Turning around and rescheduling so close to the Meeting is an additional load, both for the MRS Staff and the volunteers. Imagine being posed to print the conference program, only to go back and start rearranging!

And when we think about the presenters, MRS understands that disseminating scientific research is critically important. It is our intent, where practical, to provide the scheduled speakers with this opportunity. This includes the presenters who cancelled early due to travel restrictions from their institution.

MRS BULLETIN: Does this mean MRS has contingency plans?

MATT COPEL: The Society has been exploring contingency plans for a number of months and will share more information soon. We’ve been working with the Meeting Chairs, organizers, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors to re-schedule, as practical, programming to an upcoming event. 

MRS BULLETIN: Upcoming event?

MATT COPEL: Yet to be determined! We ask for patience from the materials community. The big problem is that we have to work through the many details involved in cancelling a meeting of this size. But we are definitely looking at alternative opportunities to serve the community. For example, I can tell you that MRS is working with the 2020 Spring Meeting Chairs and Symposium Organizers to identify opportunities for presentation of their content at future MRS Meetings.

MRS BULLETIN: Does this mean future MRS Meetings are still on course as planned?

MATT COPEL: Future MRS Meetings are going forth as planned. The 2020 MRS Fall Meeting is scheduled for November 29 to December 4, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Call for Papers opens on May 11, 2020. The 2021 MRS Spring Meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, on April 18 to 23, 2021.

And, of course, the most up-to-date information about MRS, including the effects of covid-19 on our forthcoming meetings and events, can always be found on our websit, mrs.org.

MRS Bulletin thanks Matt Copel, the president of MRS, for this interview. Note that MRS has posted a FAQs page regarding the 2020 MRS Spring Meeting.