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This event offers a dedicated forum for early career researchers (doctoral students, research fellows and academics) working at the intersection of materials science and physics, with a particular focus on the behaviour, properties, and performance of materials under extreme conditions — including high loading, temperatures, pressures, radiation fields, and other extreme environments.

The afternoon will bring together scientists from across experimental, theoretical, and computational disciplines to share insights and build collaborative networks. Emphasis will be placed on the fundamental physical principles governing materials behaviour in extreme regimes, as well as their technological applications in areas such as aerospace, energy, and defence.

Key objectives of the event include:

• Promoting the exchange of ideas across materials science and physics communities.
• Showcasing recent advances in understanding and engineering materials for extreme environments.
• Providing a platform for early career researchers to present their work and receive constructive feedback.
• Encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration and professional development through structured and informal networking opportunities.

The programme will feature keynote presentations from leading researchers, thematic presentation sessions, and a concluding reception to facilitate further discussions.

Organisers: This event is organised by the Shockwaves and Extreme Conditions Group at the Institute of Physics and sponsored by AWE. We are interested in both the fundamental principles underpinning, and application of science, engineering and technology, to all forms of matter. This applies to static high pressures, shock waves, blast and energetic materials; materials characterisation across a range of strain rates (static to dynamic); high-pressure or high-rate materials synthesis; development of equations of state and constitutive models; effects of high-energy and high-rate energy deposition; high-speed transient phenomena; pressure, energy, temperature and extreme rates. We initiate and develop links between physicists and other researchers in the multi-disciplinary area of material behaviour under extreme conditions, from dynamic through to static events.

Who should attend?  Early-career scientists, engineers, and innovators exploring the behaviour of materials under extreme conditions—whether in high temperatures, pressures, radiation environments, or other challenging settings.

Registration will remain open until we reach our maximum capacity. For any registrations made on or after 26 November, we will do our best to accommodate dietary requirements, but this cannot be guaranteed.