Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has extensive and diverse activities and programs in materials science and engineering. The Center for Materials Science (CMS) was established to promote scientific collaboration and scientific excellence in materials research and engineering throughout the Laboratory and with individuals and institutions outside the Laboratory. The Center's objective is to enhance the Laboratory's materials science and technology contributions to the nation's defense, energy, and scientific missions.

Consistent with its main objective, Laboratory resources supply the principal funding for CMS programs. Additional funding for individual scientific research programs conducted by CMS members comes directly from outside sources.

To carry out its responsibilities, CMS has accepted four demanding missions:

1. Build a core group of qualified and established materials scientists and solid state physicists.

2. Promote and support top-quality, interdisciplinary materials research programs at Los Alamos.

3. Strengthen the interactions of materials scientists at Los Alamos with the external materials science community.

4. Establish and maintain modern materials research facilities in a readily accessible, central location.

The core group of CMS members has a broad charter to advance materials science and technology in directions expected to have long-term impact on LANL's mission. The acting director is Don M. Parkin. In addition to the director, six members presently constitute the CMS. James L. Smith heads an experimental effort in superconductivity.