Bridging Borders - Origins of MSE in Different Countries
- katerinabiryukova
- Oct 30
- 1 min read
Understanding materials is essential for any innovation. Thomas Edison’s light bulb (1879) was founded on a newly-discovered carbon filament, while Romans had a unique recipe for making concrete that has withstood 2 thousand years!
However, material science hadn’t emerged as a distinct field of study until the 1940s. But how did this happen? Turns out, the answer is DIFFERENT for each COUNTRY.
The USA
Separate disciplines like metallurgy, ceramics, polymer science were taught in different engineering departments
20th century saw rapid advancement of electronics, aerospace, biomedical industries
These merged into a single interdisciplinary field = Material Science & Engineering
In 1980s, most research universities had a formal MSE department
RUSSIA
In 1763, M. V. Lomonosov, the “Father of Russian Science”, attempted to explain metallurgical processes through chemical and physical principles – the first Russian scientist to do so
His work initiated a series of MSE breakthroughs throughout Russia
M. V. Lomonosov - Father of Russian Science. Credit: Wikemedia Commons Though the 1940s saw an increasing recognition of material science as a distinct field, the first MSE university department in Russia was established only in 1991
The location of this department was no other than the Lomonosov State University, named after one of the Russian MSE founders
Resources:
Материаловедение. (n.d.). Большая Российская Энциклопедия. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://bigenc.ru/c/materialovedenie-8590ef
Crease, R., & Shiltsev, V. (2017). Mikhail Lomonosov (1711-1765): Scientist in politically turbulent times. Il Nuovo Saggiatore. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://www.ilnuovosaggiatore.sif.it/article/68#:~:text=Russian%20polymath%20Mikhail%20Vasilievich%20Lomonosov,his%20establishment%20of%20Moscow%20University
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