International Battery Materials Association Annual Meeting

In 2024, Halifax hosted the International Battery Materials Association (IBA) Annual Meeting at the Westin Nova Scotian, welcoming 300 leading researchers, industry experts, and innovators in the rapidly advancing field of battery science, to Halifax.

For many delegates, it was their first time experiencing the city. While here, they were treated to discussions and presentations on cutting-edge research in electric vehicles, energy storage, and material sciences, and enjoyed program highlights like a keynote from Nobel Laureate Akira Yoshino and tours of Dalhousie University’s Dahn-Metzger-Yang lab, famous in-part for its partnership Tesla.

Beyond the technical sessions, Halifax’s unique character captivated attendees. They strolled the waterfront, took in parks and hiking trails, enjoyed locally sourced menus, ventured to Peggy’s Cove, and celebrated at Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 with a lobster parade, followed by music from local cover band, Signal Hill, that had everyone dancing into the night.

Role of the Host Committee

The Host Committee played a vital role in securing and shaping the success of the conference. Dalhousie researchers Michael Metzger and Chongyin Yang, worked tirelessly on logistics, speaker coordination, and program design, overcoming last-minute challenges to deliver a seamless experience. With support from Discover Halifax and their hospitality partners they led a successful bid for Halifax that showcased the city’s strengths.

The Host Committee ensured IBA Halifax exceeded expectations. Their efforts highlighted Dalhousie’s global leadership in battery research and now when Michael or Chongyin introduce themselves to their international peers, they no longer have to explain where Halifax is, or what kind of work they’re doing here.

Beyond the notoriety, and the economic impact, the legacy of the event continues. A surplus of funds generated by the event will be used to support new battery science research at Dalhousie, and student travel to future conferences.