The ICMM celebrates the second edition of its ICMM Days

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The Materials Science Institute of Madrid (ICMM-CSIC) celebrated this week the second edition of its ICMM Days, a meeting featuring scientific, technical, and social content that aims to promote internal knowledge and collaboration. This year, coinciding with the achievement of the Severo Ochoa Seal of Excellence, this meeting was used to explain in depth the lines of action for the next four years. As a result, the ICMM staff shared this experience with some members of the International Scientific Advisory Board of the ICMM.

The event, held in Spanish and English, took place in Guadarrama, surrounded by the privileged environment of the Sierra de Madrid. 

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Starting on October 14, José Ángel Martín Gago, director of the ICMM, took this opportunity to welcome all the audience and explain the next steps for the ICMM, including future and almost-present works in the building. Then, the manager, Patricia Capitán, presented herself and all the work done by the Administration of the centre. In this first part of the meeting, Raquel de Marcos, Head of Security at the Deputy Secretary General of Information Technology, CSIC, joined the meeting to explain the implementation path for the National Computer Security Plan. Finnally, psychologist Elena Vicente, from La Enredadera, gave a talk on workplace harassment and sexual harassment, offering tips for avoiding it.

The meeting placed special emphasis on the different forms of participation in the center's life, with talks by the Outreach, Equity, Ecological Transition, and Occupational Risk Prevention Committees. At this point, the director of the ICMM also explained the Severo Ochoa plan for all the public, including the non-scientific. 

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The afternoon was devoted to introducing all the staff and the Internacional Scientific Advisory Board to the Severo Ochoa milestones, including the strategic objectives of the Severo Ochoa project and the pillars: materials and devices for energy-efficient information handling, design of materials for quantum technologies, development of atomically/molecularly engineered materials of increasing complexity, safe-by-design materials for circular economy, design of advanced materials, and instruments and devices for personalized medicine.

This first day, a collaborative and competitive game took place around the streets of Guadarrama. The staff was divided into random groups and had to find 'nine new materials that will save the world'. A very funny way to strengthen relationships between the center's staff while getting to know the main places of interest in the town. The team winner was entitled 'Green Team', led by Nuria Jiménez, and the second one was 'Honestidad y Decencia', led by Íñigo Bretos.

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For the second day, the first session was devoted to the scientific commissions and their contribution to the Severo Ochoa plan, with talks by the Seminars and Training Commission, the Internationalization one, Tech Transfer, IT, and Visibility Commissions. After that, the different ICMM technical offices and facilities could explain how they are supporting scientific excellence. This way, the talks were given by the Communication, International Projects and Knowledge Transfer offices, as well as the Integrated Scientific-Technical Unit, the new Virtual Labs, and the two Singular Facilities: Stardust and Spline.

At this point, and just before lunch, a minute of silence was held in protest of the genocide in Gaza and in solidarity with the national strike that took place that day, and which was called after everything related to ICMM Days was booked and organized.

The ICMM Days ended with some of the actions implemented so far: the new cross-platforms related to the Artificial Intelligence, the Prototypes Design, and the Nanofabrication Laboratories. Finally, the director came back and explained the budget and specific actions to promote competitiveness.