FEMS, the Federation of European Materials Societies, is a not-for profit association of European materials societies and associations covering science and engineering in various fields including metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, glasses, nano and biomaterials in 22 different countries. The aims of the association are: * promote the wide dissemination of scientific, technical and other knowledge relating to materials. * to facilitate the communication and exchange of information between its members. * to co-ordinate the activities of member societies in order to make optimum use of resources. * to ensure optimum visibility of materials science and engineering in governmental and non–governmental organisations, in the economy and in the academic environment. * contribute to developing links and collaboration between RTOs and industry. The size of the FEMS member societies varies enormously, from fewer than 50 to more than 10,000 members. The total number of materials scientists and engineers represented by the FEMS Member Societies is approximately 25,000. However, most of the societies have fewer than 500 members and inevitably have limited influence. Perhaps the most important aim of FEMS is to overcome the fragmentation of the materials science and engineering discipline in Europe in terms of countries, specialities and disciplines. In contrast with the USA, where there are relatively few professional materials societies, Europe has over thirty (16 in Germany alone). By strengthening the interaction between Materials Scientists and Engineers across Europe, between different European Materials Societies, and between Member Societies and the European Union, FEMS aims to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and provide the critical mass needed to exert influence on a European scale.