European training school for young scientists and EAST Forum 2017

The annual EAST surface finishing conference, EAST Forum 2017, was linked to the second e-MINDS training school, at Schwaübisch Gmuünd (Germany) from 2 to 6 April 2017. The training school schedule of e-MINDS follows a comprehensive 4-year-long program with one training school event each year between 2016 and 2019. e-MINDS is a COST action devoted to high-quality research in electrochemical processing technologies and corrosion protection towards the development of miniaturised systems and devices. It provides a unique networking platform that overcomes discipline fragmentation, strengthens European competitiveness and ensures scientific excellence. Beside the annual workshops and the large number of new bilateral co-operations that are also supported by short-term scientific missions, the organisation of training schools for early stage researchers is hoped to become a far-reaching tool of knowledge dissemination with long lasting impact also on the networking opportunities of young scientists. About half of the talks were about electrochemical energy storage or energy conversion, covering specific subjects like synthesis of electrodematerial for supercapacitors, fuel cells, electrolysis and aluminium-air batteries. Another topic covered by several speakers was alternatives to chromium plating from chromate-containing electrolytes, e.g. plating from trivalent solutions or alloy plating.