Scientific research takes place in silos - Society & Materials – Selection of papers from the SAM-8 conference

Scientific research takes place in silos, especially as far as hard and soft sciences are concerned. Some of these silos are large and confortable places where to conduct research. They cater to communities that present their work in specialized journals and congresses that tend to be closed on their own particular worldview. Bridges between worlds have been launched by application disciplines, like for example LCA, because of their more pragmatic bent. The present issue proposes a series of articles from the Society & Materials (SAM-8) conferences aiming to bring together the whole spectrum of scientists and thinkers interested in materials.