Chances are, you’re reading this blog on a mobile phone or a laptop. Have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly these objects are made of? The answer’s not that simple. Even the most rudimentary of computers is composed of millions of transistors, all working intricately in conjunction to process, render and display the information you’re currently absorbing!. As you might imagine, the transistor has to be extremely tiny for millions of them to fit onto a palm sized microprocessor! The fundamental breakthroughs in computing, and indeed the potential of the field itself, could only be realised if there was some material discovered which possessed the electrical properties necessary function as a switch (Transistors are essentially switches).That’s where the materials engineer comes in; the isolation of Silicon as the prime semiconducting element was, in retrospect, one of the most monumental achievements in human history. The speed of development in the field of computers, especially in regard to memory storage and transistor count. All of this would have been impossible without an active interface between computer scientists, materials scientists, and dozens of other auxiliary fields. With the advent of nanotechnology and quantum computing, the potential seems never-ending. It’s worth taking a look at the history of materials science, to better understand and appreciate the gigantic strides the field has taken.
Eras of history have been, quite literally, defined by the most prevalent material in use during said era!. Think of the stone age or the bronze age. Some eager commentators have already labelled the era we’re living through a “Silicon Era”. Materials Research never expires, it will continue to thrive as long as human beings continue to breathe!
India was once, in stark contrast, at the forefront of scientific expertise. Materials science is no exception. A classic example is that of the Delhi Iron Pillar, built in the 14th century, still standing strong, to this day, without an inch of rust on its surface. Material Scientists might have mastered nanotechnology, but the art of 14th century metallurgy is still elusive. Sadly, it seems we have squandered that renown. A recent survey ranks us 6th in the amount of research papers published. Countries with a modicum of our human resources, and a millionth of our natural resources such as South Korea and Japan rank higher. It’s worth discussing why this is the case. Materials science is still relatively unpopular in India. It’s high time the Indian youth realise the potential that Materials Science holds. There are more than 15 broad domains which come under the ambit of materials science. To name a few, there are nanotechnology, ceramics, quantum chemistry etc.
If this interests you, keep following this blog for the latest news in materials science, along with student oriented resources to make your journey exploring this exciting field a bit less confusing!
Non-Materialist 