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An Approach to the Teaching of Functional Materials for Materials Science and Engineering Undergraduate Courses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Trevor R. Finlayson  and
Barry C. Muddle
Trevor R. Finlayson
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 3800
Barry C. Muddle
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 3800
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Abstract

Traditional materials science and engineering texts have, for the most part, focussed on instructing the undergraduate student on the physical properties of materials and providing a significant knowledge base from which, subsequently, to consider materials applications. With the increasing demand for professional materials scientists and engineers to embrace all classes of materials in their everyday applications, it is increasingly important for undergraduate teaching to increase the awareness of students to applications through a focus on functionality rather than just providing a thorough knowledge and understanding of material properties. This has become even more important in the area of “nanostructured” materials where functional devices are designed at the material fabrication stage. In this paper, recent experiences in the teaching of functional materials for electronic, thermal and optical applications, to a second level undergraduate student group, comprising both “science” and “engineering” students, are outlined and some initial outcomes from the assessment of the group discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 827: Symposium BB – Educating Tomorrow's materials Scientists & Engineers , 2004 , BB4.6
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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