The Role of Morphology and Hierarchy in Multifunctional Materials Design

Naturally occurring materials and structures present multifunctional behaviors resulting from phenomena working across different length scales. This multiscale behavior can appear from structural hierarchy, different morphologies, or a combination of both. These natural structures have inspired the development of synthetic materials with superior mechanical, optical, electrical, and acoustic properties with added functionalities like self-healing and self-reporting capabilities. In our first GRS, we will focus on the understanding and application of multiscale organizations and their effect on the macroscopic properties of natural and synthetic structures. Our aim is to provide a framework for bringing together early-career researchers across various disciplines that characterize biological materials, investigate mechanisms by which such materials are produced, design innovative functional biomimetic and bioinspired materials, and expand this framework for novel multifunctional structure design and manufacturing.The 2024 Multifunctional Materials and Structures GRS will feature peer-led oral presentations and poster sessions that will further provide networking opportunities, generate new ideas for research, and build a community of next-generation researchers who can lead the field for the coming years.