About MSE

Mission

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering undertakes innovative research dedicated to developing, producing, characterising and manipulating materials, with a focus on metals. Our goal is to enhance fundamental understanding, forming the basis for better performance, a longer life cycle and preserved functionality, while at the same time improving the sustainable use of resources. Critical Materials is an important connecting thread between our research areas.

 

The mission of the department of Materials Science and Engineering is to provide internationally recognised, high quality materials research of benefit to industry and society, addressing material lifecycle, structure, properties and functionality from a physics based perspective, and to furnish graduates and post graduates with a top level education in materials science and engineering, preparing them to meet existing and future technological and societal challenges.

Vision

With a focus on metals and metal related materials, the department of Materials Science and Engineering conducts research dedicated to the sustainable development and characterisation of materials that perform better, last longer, enhance functionality, conserve resources and have a low environmental footprint, bridging the gap between societal needs and available resources.

An holistic approach to the development and use of materials is needed where society as a whole needs to use materials more efficiently and more sparingly than is the case today. To help promote such a mind shift, it is necessary to: 

  • develop new materials, with abundant elements replacing (potentially) critical or expensive elements such as molybdenum, niobium, rare earths (e.g., scandium) etc.;
  • extend the lifetime of existing materials by means of enhanced protection and conservation;
  • improve the production routes and properties of materials to reduce energy and raw material consumption;
  • enhance the lifetime of new constructions by means of improved processing methods;
  • refine predictions to describe material structure, performance and response to production and service conditions.

These developments will not be possible without an improved understanding of processing – structure – property – application relationships, which must also be communicated effectively to materials manufacturers, design engineers and the public at large. The department of Materials Science and Engineering has a broad knowledge in this field and aims to play a leading role in all such developments.

Aims

The department aims to be nationally and internationally leading in key selected aspects of metals development, characterisation, processing, conservation, recycling. In addition, the department aims to provide a high quality, attractive materials-based education for bachelors, masters and PhD students from a range of scientific and engineering backgrounds.

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