Programs

ACME is committed to creating future centers in materials science and engineering through the rapid exchange, testing, and advocacy of new ideas.

Current Programs

Open-topic Science Discussions (Summer/Fall 2023)

When: Fridays, 12 PM (Weekly)
Where: Student Center Cafeteria
ACME’s summer program returns in 2023, now with weekly lunch discussions. The informal brown-bag meetings are a chance to clear your mind from the academic year by bringing up those “back-burner” questions and puzzles that have built up. Topic submissions are invited from all participants, with the emphasis on understanding other participants perspectives rather than research directions. For this reason, topics phrased as questions that are naïve or even glib are encouraged.Chosen topics will be sent out the evening prior to each meeting. To keep things open and inclusive, there is no expectation to keep discussion on topic and prior reading is discouraged.

To be added to the mailing list or submit a topic, please use the Contact Us form. You may also e-mail a member of the science committee.

Previous Programs

Open Discussions (Summer 2022)

Faculty, staff, and students are all invited to our first summer program. If you need an excuse to get out of your lab or office and face the scorching Alabama sun, then join our open discussions being held daily over lunch at the student center cafeteria.

Research Accelerator meetings (Fall 2021: Fri 3-4pm, Zoom)

An important feature of ACME is our weekly Research Accelerator meetings.  Each week a new topic is presented that is currently not in ACME’s research portfolio, wherein the diverse faculty and student cohort study and discuss potential new avenues to create unique research.  We also identify potential Seminar speakers to invite to better understand the topic of interest.

Research Reviews meetings (Fall 2021: TBD)

ACME Research Reviews evaluate the progress of Accelerator-born projects at the point where initial results or findings merit discussion and critical evaluation.  The setting is informal and designed to evaluate next steps and new collaborators, if needed, to successfully transfer initial results to high-impact papers and successful funding proposals.  Research Reviews may also be used to review research proposal drafts or manuscripts for pre-submission feedback, and to discuss possible follow-up for spin-off work.

ACME Seminar Series (Link to Seminar Schedule)

ACME Seminars are online seminars by invited external speakers designed to simulate and improve understanding of topics identified in Research Accelerator meetings.  The general goal is to bring in speakers with expertise or collaborative abilities that complement ACME faculty, in the hopes of finding new directions and collaborative friends. A schedule of talks can be found here.