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With the advice of T. E. Madey, a very well known
USA surface scientist, Juan Luis Peña who is
a former director of the CINVESTAV in Merida
Yucatán made the first contact with IUVSTA while
being the second president of the MVS, at that
time the society had about 70 members.
The main objectives of the MVS are to promote
the development of surface science, vacuum
science and technology and their applications,
catalysis, metallurgy and related topics through
the organisation of scientificmeetings, workshops
and short courses, in collaboration with public or
private institutions, and the publishing of scientific
journals, books and technical brochures.
The MVS board of directors is comprised of the
president, secretary, past-president, treasurer,
publishing coordinator, meetings coordinator
and representatives from the north, south, west
and east México regions . The administrative
personnel is composed of just one secretary. For
the meetings several students are invited by the
society to support the organisation committee.
The president’s term is 2 years, with the
possibility to be reelected. The president is
elected in a general assembly and he has a vote
of confidence to choose the other members of
the directive board.
The number of registered members during 2000
was around 200, although currently there is a
large effort to increase this number by offering
extra activities in addition to the national meeting.
The areas of interest of MVS are thin films, science
and engineering of surfaces, vacuum technology,
semiconductors, nanostructures, science and
technology of plasmas, biomaterials, dielectric
materials, electronics and instrumentation,
magnetism, materials characterization, super
conductors, polymers, coatings, and industry-
university interaction.
During past 37 years, most MVS activities were
focused on the organisation of national meetings,
including the hosting of twelve international
conferences. Among these the 8
th
Latin
American Congress on Surface Science and its
Applications (1994), and the 11
th
International
Conference on Thin Films of the IUVSTA (1999)
having as Chairman Ciro Falcony Guajardo, a
president of our society (1993-1994). In 2001
MVS began teaching of short courses by local
members as part of its strategy to become a
more dynamic society. As part of its publishing
activities MVS edits “Superficies y Vacío”
(Surfaces and Vacuum), which is a local journal
dedicated to the areas of interest of the members
of MVS. This journal can be viewed on the web,
via a link from the MVS web site.
In 2004 under the presidence of Alberto Herrera
the society changed its name to Sociedad
Mexicana de Ciencia y Tecnología de Superficies
y Materiales A.C.: Mexican Society of Science an
Technology of Surfaces and Materials.
MVS grants annually three “Francisco Mejia Lira”
awards, and the Francisco Espinoza award for
outstanding scientific work related to the areas
of MVS interest and/or outstanding contributions
to the development of the Mexican surface
science community. There are also two annual
INTERCOVAMEX prizes for students’ work
associated with surfaces, vacuum and related
themes: 1) the best master of science thesis
award, and 2) the best doctorate thesis award.
INTERCOVAMEX is an international Mexican
company that constructs and mantains vacuum
equipment among other products. More recently
MEISA (“Montajes Electromecánicos e Ingeniería
Sociedad Anónima”) has joined us in our efforts
to recognize valuable work from our scientific
community.
Since 2012, an average of 400 hundred
attendants are present at our annual meeting
that takes place in a different place in the country
each year. We have about 15 private companies
supporting us and 15 official institutions mainly
universities and government. Usually we have
a considerable participation of scientists from
abroad. Future goals are: to increase MVS
membership; try to involve more members from
industry and from Latin America; get strong
participation in formation of new scientists willing
to contribute to the development of our country
and, last but not least, expand collaboration with
other vacuum societies.
SUMMARY