Materials Science: You Mean Like Clothes?
- PDF / 43,381 Bytes
- 2 Pages / 612 x 792 pts (letter) Page_size
- 42 Downloads / 168 Views
Letter from the President
Materials Science: You Mean Like Clothes?
MRS BULLETIN/JANUARY 2001
“. . . materials are the ‘stuff’ that humankind finds useful for the betterment of civilization.”
neering to identify with our field. It is not that our field is hard to relate to; as I’ve mentioned, a few simple statements will turn on the light bulbs in the lay person’s head. We have not tried very hard to
educate the public in the past. It is very important that we not continue to make that mistake. Figure 1 shows federal research spending trends for the last 30 years. Notice that the life sciences (e.g., biology and medicine) have succeeded in lassoing an everincreasing amount of federal research dollars, whereas the physical sciences and engineering have been virtually flat for decades. Life sciences have been very successful, not only because of their high visibility to the lay person and legislator alike, but also because they have been very well organized in their lobbying, fund raising, and public outreach efforts. I want you to know that your Materials Research Society (MRS) has not been idle in this regard. I’d like to tell you of a major effort called Materials MicroWorld, that highlights our leadership in bringing materials science to the public. Materials MicroWorld is a unique science education outreach effort initiated by leading materials scientists and engineers in partnership with MRS, the National Science Foundation, and local science museums. Many prominent members of MRS are actively involved. The Materials MicroWorld initiative will “Bring Materials Science to Life” for millions of students and adults. The program will create unique and exciting interactive exhibits
20
Billions of Constant FY 2000 Dollars
“You mean, like clothes?” I imagine that at least some of you have received this response to your admission that you were a materials scientist. I prefer it to being mistaken for a materialist, which has also happened to me once. My latest encounter took place on a transatlantic flight, where I engaged in conversation with a very pleasant man who was, perhaps, 10 years my senior. After the obligatory exchange of pleasantries and itineraries, he told me he was a medical doctor, an academic at that. (How did he wind up in coach with me? Can’t he afford First? Would I send my mother to him?). I cringed when my turn came, because I knew he would be puzzled by the name of my profession. He was, and I had to cut him off, so as not to laugh and embarrass him, at “You mean, like...” It’s unfair, I thought. He can talk to anybody about his profession, and bond instantly. I have to prove to people that I’m neither greedy nor in the rag trade before I can tell them how wondrous my chosen profession really is. Many don’t make it through the explanation. Once I had his attention, I recited the litany. I told him that materials are the “stuff” that humankind finds useful for the betterment of civilization. I pointed out the many encounters he has with advanced materials on a daily basis. He was impressed
Data Loading...
