Since the first symposium held in July 1987 in Boston, MA, USA, featuring eight papers focused exclusively on electrorheology, the biennial ERMR conferences have steadily grown and expanded across several countries. Over nearly four decades, the conference series on electrorheological and magnetorheological materials has evolved significantly, reflecting advances in both fundamental research and the wide range of technological and engineering applications of these smart materials.

As we celebrate 40 years since the inaugural meeting, the ERMR conference has already taken place in cities such as Raleigh (NC), Carbondale (IL), Feldkirch, Sheffield (UK), Yonezawa, Honolulu, Nice, Beijing, Lake Tahoe, Dresden, Philadelphia, Ankara, Granada, Incheon, Maryland, Wollongong, Chongqing, and Montreal. For the first time, the conference will now be hosted in a South American country.

Brazil warmly welcomes international visitors and is an accessible destination for academic events. For many nationalities, short stays, such as those required for a week-long international conference, do not require a visa, making participation convenient for delegates from around the world.

In a world marked by uncertainty and rapid technological progress, it is increasingly important to combine expertise and collaborate across disciplines. Advances in electrorheological (ER) and magnetorheological (MR) materials depend on the integration of knowledge from fundamental sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, and Materials Science, together with developments in Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, mechatronics, robotics, and related engineering fields. Only through such interdisciplinary efforts can we address the many challenges that remain in ER and MR applications.

The town of Itajubá, with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, offers a peaceful and welcoming environment. Thanks to the support of the Federal University of Itajubá, which has generously made its auditoriums and facilities available for the event, we will have the honor of hosting students, researchers, and delegates at ERMR 2027.

We hope this conference will provide an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from one another, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and envision the future of ERMR research and applications in the decades to come.

In addition to the publication of all accepted extended abstracts in the conference proceedings for registered participants, authors presenting their work at ERMR 2027 are strongly encouraged to submit their research papers for consideration in dedicated special issues of the journals Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures (SAGE), Smart Materials and Structures (IOP), or Rheologica Acta (Springer). These submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure they meet the high standards of academic excellence maintained by these publications.

We look forward with great pleasure to your visit to Brazil with your contribution, honoring the 20th ERMR with your presence.

Cordially,

Antonio J. F. Bombard, General Chair

Eduardo O. Resek, Co-Chair

Adhimar F. Oliveira, Secretary