Materials Matter
Materials engineers create new materials and improve existing materials. Everything is limited by the materials that are used to produce it. Materials engineers understand the relationship between the properties of a material and its internal structure — from the macro level down to the atomic level. The better the materials, the better the end result — it’s as simple as that.
Featured Stories

Vitalij Pecharsky, Ames Lab Scientist and Distinguished Professor at Iowa State University, dies
Vitalij Pecharsky, Ames National Laboratory Scientist and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Iowa State University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, died on Tuesday, Dec. 20, aged 68.
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REFORM plays to the tune of sustainability
In the Recyclables Evolved from Offscouring Remade to Music (REFORM) project, students are working together to reduce plastic waste at Iowa State by gathering plastic materials and transforming them into durable plastic musical instruments.
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Innovators of Iowa State: Batteries of Tomorrow
In the first installment of the new “Innovators of Iowa State” video series, President Wendy Wintersteen visits with Steve Martin, Distinguished Professor of materials science and engineering, who shares insights on his research to make batteries safer and longer-lasting.
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NASA selects MSE professor to test materials for future missions
NASA has selected five different ground-based proposals to investigate important problems using existing data from the Physical Sciences Informatics System and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) assistant professor Sid Pathak’s proposal was one of those chosen.
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Engineered defects in crystalline material boosts electrical performance
Xiaoli Tan and a team of campus collaborators used a transmission electron microscope at the Ames National Laboratory’s Sensitive Instrument Facility to study the effects of engineering defects into certain materials.
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Our Areas of Expertise

Ceramics

Metals

Polymers

What is Materials Science
and Engineering?