Materials on the Edge seminar to honour Prof José Manuel Torralba
The seminar Materials on the Edge: Frontier Research and Industrial Challenges will take place on May 19, 2026, at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Leganés, Spain. The event is conceived as a tribute to Professor José Manuel Torralba, an internationally recognised leader in Materials Science and Engineering whose career has had a decisive impact on advanced metallurgy, Powder Metallurgy, and the education of generations of researchers and engineers.
The seminar will bring together internationally renowned speakers from across structural and functional materials research to address current scientific and technological challenges through an integrated perspective combining physical fundamentals, microstructural design, advanced processing, and industrial application.
In addition to plenary lectures, the programme will include a round-table discussion focused on translating metallurgical innovation into industrial reality, as well as opportunities for informal interaction among established researchers, early-career scientists, PhD candidates, and industry professionals.
Scope of the seminar
The event will explore:
- Microstructural design and control of advanced materials
- Processing–microstructure–property relationships
- Modelling, advanced characterisation techniques, and sustainable metallurgy
- Knowledge transfer from fundamental research to high value-added industrial applications
The seminar also recognises Professor Torralba’s scientific, academic and personal contributions, highlighting his role as a driving force behind integrative approaches bridging basic science, process engineering, and industrial practice.
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Scientific Programme
09:00 Opening ceremony – Prof César Huete and Prof Mónica Campos
09:30 4D printed smart nitinol-based medical devices – Prof Jon Molina
10:15 Physical Metallurgy in Additive Manufacturing: The case of maraging steel – Prof Alberto Molinari
11:00 Coffee break
11:30 From Sintering to HIP: Advanced Pathways to Full Density PM – Prof Lars Nyborg
12:15 Round table: From Metallurgical Innovation to Industrial Reality: Challenges and Opportunities in Powder-Based Materials
Moderated by César Molins (CEO, AMES) and Manel Pérez-Latre (Secretary, CEP–EPMA)
13:00 Lunch
14:30 Ni Superalloys in Jet Engines: A Journey Through Remarkable Microstructures – Prof Iñigo Iturriza
15:15 When Oxygen Matters: Surface Chemistry and Early-Stage Sintering – Prof Herbert Danninger
16:00 Closing remarks – Prof Mónica Campos
16:45 End of workshop
Registration details and venue information are available via the official event website:
sites.google.com/view/materials-on-the-edge-workshop/venue
