Dear members and friends of the German Materials Society,

In this December issue of our newsletter, we are pleased to introduce you to a forward-looking initiative that is at the heart of our commitment to sustainable development (as defined by the Brundtland Commission): the SFS Alliance (International Alliance of Societies for a Sustainable Future).

The SFS Alliance is not just an association of organizations committed to sustainability. It is an ambitious project that aims to mobilize and connect societies from all disciplines for communication and awareness-raising work on sustainability.

The alliance was founded as a joint committee of the German Ceramic Society (DKG), the American Ceramic Society (ACERS), the European Ceramic Society (ECERS) and our own society, the German Materials Society (DGM). This alliance underlines our common endeavor to work across the boundaries of materials science and engineering and to promote interdisciplinary dialogue.

The SFS Alliance represents a new way of working together. By bringing together expertise from different scientific and industrial sectors, we aim to address complex environmental and sustainability issues in a holistic way. The alliance provides a platform to share knowledge, develop innovative ideas and promote sustainable solutions.

As a member of the DGM, you are invited to be part of this exciting development. By participating in the SFS Alliance, we can make a significant contribution to promoting sustainability in all areas of society together. Visit the SFS Alliance website to find out more about its aims and projects. Please feel free to reach out to us if you're interested in getting involved.

I would like to invite you to the first webinar of the SFS Alliance, which will be held by Prof. Dr Jürgen Rödel (TU Darmstadt) on 6 February at 5 p.m. CET, entitled "Sustainability Crisis and the Scientific Societies".

This issue of our newsletter also contains an overview of events in the coming year, as well as some reports and the latest news from the Materials Science and Engineering community.

We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and wish you all a relaxing holiday season and a happy new year.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Stefan Klein, Managing Director of the DGM-Office