Although the field of materials science and engineering is inherently multidisciplinary, new approaches to sustainable development will require more extensive collaborations with researchers even further outside the boundaries of the current field.

The goal of this forum (held at the 2012 MRS Spring Meeting) was to encourage a holistic approach toward the science and engineering of sustainable development. Through keynote presentations and case-study panel discussions, the forum covered broad aspects of the field of sustainable development from viewpoints outside of materials science, including industrial ecologists, resource experts, social scientists, economists, and venture capitalists. The Forum was accompanied by the release of the MRS Bulletin Special Issue, "Materials for Sustainable Development," which is freely available at bit.ly/Ib8b1W

Talk titles and presenter names are available by clicking into each of the videos below.

The Many Facets of Sustainable Development (Part 1 of 5)

In this first of five videos from The Many Facets of Sustainable Development Forum at the 2012 MRS Spring Meeting, Chairs Ashley White (AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, National Science Foundation) and Marty Green (National Institute of Standards and Technology) introduce the forum.

Following the introduction, the first two keynote talks are presented:

- Social Barriers to Renewable Energy (Martin Pasqualetti, Professor of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University

- Sustainable Development—An Industrial Ecologist’s Perspective (Roland Clift, Professor of Environmental Technology, University of Surrey)

( Part 2 is available at vimeo.com/41352820)