Precursors, Definitions and Terminology

This book is primarily directed at professional materials scientists and engineers, and they have no urgent need to see themselves defined. Indeed, it would be perfectly reasonable to say about materials science what Aaron Katchalsky used to say about his new discipline, biophysics Biophysics is like my wife. I know her, but I cannot define her (Markl 1998). Nevertheless, in this preliminary canter through the early history of MSE, it is instructive to examine briefly how various eminent practitioners have perceived their changing domain. 

David Turnbull, in his illuminating Commentary on the Emergence and Evolution of Materials Science (Turnbull 1983), defined materials science broadly as the characterisation, understanding, and control of the structure of matter at the ultramolecular level and the relating of this structure to properties (mechanical, magnetic, electrical, etc.). That is, it is Ultramolecular Science . In professional and educational practice, however, he says that materials science focuses on the more complex features of behaviour, and especially those aspects controlled by crystal 

(1988) Metallurgy and Materials Science and Engineering at MIT I865-I9HH (privately published by the MSE Department). 

(1992) Artifice and Artefacts 100 Essays in Materials Science (Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol and Philadelphia) p. 314. 

Christenson, G.A. (1985) Address at memorial service for Herbet Hollomon, Boston, 18 May. 

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