LINXS Science Day presents key impacts from the New Materials theme and highlights synergies between MAX IV and ESS

LINXS’ recent Science Day was all about New Materials! More than 60 people registered to listen to key achievements from the theme and its work to push forward research focusing on novel materials for energy and sustainability.

Four people talking. Photo. — ESS Director Helmut Schober, MAX IV Director Olof “Charlie” Karis, New Materials theme leader Elisabeth Blackburn and LINXS Director Trevor Forsyth in conversation on LINXS Science Day.

The programme featured talks connected to the theme’s four working groups: Charge Transfer Materials, Functional Magnetic Materials, Nanostructures and Interfaces, and Catalysis.

A woman. Photo. — Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, New Materials theme leader.

Theme leader Elizabeth Blackburn was very pleased with the event – which represented the last activity of the theme.

A man. Photo. — LINXS Director Professor Trevor Forsyth.

– We had a good attendance with lots of great talks by people from the New Materials theme, and a lot of questions that also identified commonalities between the working groups, says Elizabeth Blackburn, theme leader, and Professor of Physics at Lund University.

– I am very thankful to LINXS for the support of our theme for the last three years.

LINXS Director, Professor Trevor Forsyth was also very happy with the Science Day.

– It was excellent to see such a vibrant atmosphere during the Science Day. It is a great testament to the quality and work of the theme, and to Elizabeth’s efforts in helping to develop the new materials science base despite the challenge of the pandemic for certain activities.

He is also glad that many of the New Materials activities will continue beyond the theme - including for example the popular XAS-school.

Panel with MAX IV, ESS on how to advance the study of new materials

LINXS Science Day ended with a panel featuring ESS director, Helmut Schober, MAX IV director, Olof “Charlie” Karis, and Elizabeth Blackburn. Questions included beamline requirements for the study of new materials, instrumentation and data handling and analysis.

The ensuing discussions were very lively and lasted nearly two hours.

Olof “Charlie” Karis is Director of MAX IV.

– The engagement with the directors of MAX IV and ESS has been invaluable to the scientific community and LINXS is very pleased to play a key role in nurturing this type of interaction. Events such as this create a good opportunity for everyone in the ecosystem around the infrastructures to meet in an informal and interesting setting, says Trevor Forsyth.

Olof “Charlie” Karis, Director at MAX IV, adds:

– It was a privilege to join the LINXS Science Day to discuss the potential MAX IV holds for the materials research community. Our discussions underscored how we can enhance our scientific offerings and highlighted the potential synergy between MAX IV and ESS. Together, we are set to improve the research experience for our users.

Helmut Schober, Director at ESS, agrees:

Helmut Schober is Director General of ESS.

– This was another great occasion for us to link close ties with the user community and to prepare for our future operations as well as strengthening our ties with our neighbors, MAX IV.