Expert Committee

DGM Newcomer and Young Talent Committee

Connecting young people with materials science and engineering and the DGM.

Entry points, exchange and participation for young people in materials science and engineering.

Members28

Founded2024

UnitDGM e.V.

Chair

Dr.-Ing. Sarah Fischer
Fraunhofer Institute for Nondestructive Testing IZFP
CV

Vice Chair

Nadira Grübel (M.Sc.)
University of Freiburg
CV

Apply for committee membership Open committee platform

The DGM Newcomer and Young Talent Committee connects young people who want to discover or deepen their engagement with materials science and engineering, or shape their professional path in the field. It creates entry points to the DGM community and provides space for participants’ own topics and ideas.

The committee addresses pupils, students, doctoral researchers, early career professionals and postdoctoral researchers. Mentoring, the Young Scientists Forum, regular meetups, and working and focus groups combine technical exchange with opportunities to get involved.

01 · Target groups

Three paths into the community

Discovering early

DGM Youngsters

A playful introduction to materials science and engineering.

Preschool children and pupils are introduced to materials science and engineering in a playful way.

Orientation and exchange

DGM Students

Making first connections within the DGM community.

Trainees, students and doctoral researchers can find orientation, exchange and their first points of contact with the DGM community.

Professional development

DGM Young Professionals

Expanding networks and reflecting on career paths.

Early career professionals and postdoctoral researchers can expand their networks, reflect on career paths, and develop professionally and personally.

02 · Activities

Formats for exploring and contributing

Guidance

Mentoring programme

Support during transitions in study and professional life.

Experienced members support participants as they move between phases of study or into professional life.

Event

Young Scientists Forum

Networking, workshops and insights into research and industry.

The Young Scientists Forum is aimed at students and young professionals. It combines networking and workshops with insights into research institutions and companies.

Playful approach

MatWerk Game

Approaching materials topics creatively and playfully.

Formats such as the Materials Quartet offer a playful and creative approach to materials science and engineering topics.

Study orientation

Study Guide

Orientation before and during a degree in materials science and engineering.

The Study Guide provides orientation for anyone planning a degree in materials science and engineering or who has already started one.

03 · Regular exchange

Onboarding, Stammtisch and Meetup

Onboarding sessions take place once per quarter, on the second Tuesday of April, July, October and December from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. They introduce the committee, its current activities and opportunities to get involved; new ideas and initiatives are welcome.

The Young DGM Stammtisch is an open online meeting aimed in particular at DGM Students and takes place on the second Wednesday of each month. No registration is required; dates and access details are available on the website.

The DGM Young Professionals Meetup gives postdoctoral researchers and young professionals an opportunity to exchange informally online, usually every two months and without a fixed topic. Dates are announced on the website, and login details are provided after invitation.

04 · Working together

Committee, working groups and focus groups

Coordination

Full committee

Coordinating activities and discussing new ideas.

The Newcomer and Young Talent Committee holds full committee meetings at least twice a year, ideally once in person. Additional online meetings take place as needed. Ongoing activities are coordinated, new ideas are discussed, and links within the DGM are maintained.

Long-term participation

Working groups

Addressing recurring topics with clear coordination.

Working groups address recurring topics over a longer period. Their coordinators schedule meetings, facilitate discussions and document the work; messenger tools and shared online workspaces often support collaboration.

The current working groups are WG Mentoring, WG Young Scientists Forum, WG MatWerk Game and WG Young DGM.

Project-based participation

Focus groups

Short-term and open to interested people within and beyond the committee.

Focus groups come together for individual topics or projects, usually for only a limited number of meetings. There are no fixed roles, and interested people within and beyond the committee may take part. Dates are listed in the DGM calendar or provided by email on request.

Current topics include the committee at the MSE, exchange with other associations, the survey on needs and added value, and cooperation with KaWuM.

The committee offers different ways to get started. Those who would first like to gain an overview can join an onboarding session. The Young DGM Stammtisch and the Young Professionals Meetup provide regular opportunities to meet others. Participants can bring their own topics or projects to working groups or focus groups after a brief initial contact.

Engagement in the committee, its working groups and focus groups is voluntary. Participants decide individually on the scope and nature of their contribution, from occasional support to taking on a coordinating role. This can provide experience in project management, committee work and teamwork.

Anyone interested can contact nachwuchs@dgm.de informally by email. A short note on field of study or professional activity, status and interests helps identify suitable contacts and formats. Non-members are also welcome.