The first issue of Merlin Magazine was published 12 years ago. After five printed issues, it transitioned to an online format. Here is a brief look back at its origins and development.

In 2017, the first issue was launched. Following a board decision, a transdisciplinary magazine was created to showcase the smart³ Network's interdisciplinary approach and research and development goals. The self-imposed framework was to publish the research network with a wider reach, at approximately 34 A4-format pages, using accessible language and meaningful illustrations. The goal was to provide a classic medium for the projects, working methods, events, and presentations of the member institutions. The board provided a budget to cover the organization of content, photography, layout, and printing. Members and people close to the network provided texts on a voluntary basis. Twelve years later, we have published five printed themed issues and transitioned to an online format. How has the "merlin" brand developed as the association magazine of the Smart³ Network?

SMART ART - Art as an approach to new materials

Issue 1 focused on the theme of “smart art” and explored how design and applied art can be used to raise awareness and promote understanding of smart materials. Key topics included scientific and cultural foundations, on-site visits, project presentations, essays, and reports on outstanding specialist events.

GENERATION SMART - New ways of presenting materials

Issue 2 was titled “generation smart” and highlighted new ways of communicating materials. The program was made possible primarily through the extremely fruitful cooperation with the Technical Collections in Dresden, which had a lasting impact over a longer period of time. This issue featured a welcome message for the first time, which became a regular feature in subsequent issues.

THINKING NETWORKED - The potential of interdisciplinary collaboration

Issue 3 reported on the network's first major exhibition, which was held at Klaffenbach Water Castle. New partners were also brought on board for this exhibition, and one focus was on applications in the field of textile design, which has a long tradition in this region around the city of Chemnitz.

ACTING SUSTAINABLY - Into the future with smart materials

Issue 4 focused on sustainable action and scored points with the presentation of the so-called NEUESwagen as a mobile exhibition format. Other topics in this issue dealt with applications of smart materials in construction, rehabilitation, and medical technology.

SHAPING TRANSFORMATION - Seizing opportunities through change

Issue 5, entitled “Shaping Transformation,” was the first issue after the expiration of smart³'s funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. This led to contributions on maintaining the network by transforming it into an association. At the same time, the range of materials was expanded to include the class of so-called programmable materials.

CREATING ENTHUSIASM – Departure into new dimensions

merlin 6 – the first online issue – served the then newly acquired focus on “New Space” and provoked with an essay on colonizing Earth's Moon. New formats made possible by the digital medium were successfully tested. For the first time, a highly acclaimed video replaced the traditional welcome message.

With this issue, which bears the number seven, the editorial team presents – purely from a numerical point of view – a magical number. What makes the number seven so special is its long-standing significance in the cultural development of humanity and in the use of spiritual representations of quantity. In science, literature, and art, seven plays a special role among all numbers. In particular, when explaining cosmic connections, no one can ignore the number seven. Our current calendar is based on the observation of the moon and is based on four lunar phases, each lasting seven days. These form the calendar week and divide the year into 12 months. The Pleiades belong to our firmament, while the Seven Stars belong to the plant world and the dormouse to the animal world. In literature in particular, there is a strikingly high frequency of the number seven – in many fairy tales, it even appears in the title.

At this point, it is worth wishing future issues of merlin magazine every success. Since people who work in science tend to be rather sober types, it is not necessarily appropriate to talk about cloud nine or seventh heaven at this point.