Smart and Multi-functional Materials to Boost Technological Development

Smart materials, also known as active or multi-functional materials, are structures that are capable of changing their properties by exposure to physical or chemical stimuli such as pressure, temperature or environmental humidity.

Because of their features, these materials have a high potential for application in sectors such as transport, energy and biomedicine. Combined with advanced manufacturing techniques like additive manufacturing or new printing technologies, these materials are especially useful in areas like Industry 4.0 or the so-called Internet of Things, and they can have important social, economic and work implications, amongst others.

Physicist Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez, currently the Scientific Director of BCMaterials (Basque Center for Materials, Applications & Nanostructures), will analyse the relevance of these materials in a talk called “The Importance of Smart and Multi-functional Materials in Current Technological Development”, which will be held on 27 February, at 7pm at the Bidebarrieta Library in Bilbao (Calle Bidebarrieta, 4).

The Ikerbasque researcher will explain the most important aspects of the research carried out in the field of smart materials, as well as their applications and economic and social implications.

Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez graduated in Physics from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and gained a PhD from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Germany). His research focuses on the development of new smart and multi-functional materials to be applied to sensors, actuators, energy and biomedicine.

This talk is part of the “Scientific Bidebarrieta” series, an initiative organised every month by the Chair of Scientific Culture of the UPV/EHU and Bidebarrieta Library to discuss current scientific issues.

All of the talks are free of charge and open to all, subject to seating capacity. However, in order to enter, invitations must be obtained from the library, which will be available from 22 February. Invitations can be collected from 10am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

For those who are not able to attend, the talks are streamed live here.