材料研究不斷發展，工藝、結構、性能和性能之間的相互關系是特定于應用的，需要在宏觀、微觀和納米尺度上獲得專家理解。在大學、國家實驗室和工業界，智能地操縱材料特性并使其適合所需應用的能力一直受到關注和挑戰。

Materials Research is constantly evolving and correlations between process, structure, properties and performance which are application specific require expert understanding at the macro-, micro- and nano-scale. The ability to intelligently manipulate material properties and tailor them for desired applications is of constant interest and challenge within universities, national labs and industry.