The discovery of the spherical fullerene, or buckyball, in 1985 earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Rick Smalley, Bob Curl and Harold Kroto in 1996 and has spawned materials research in carbon nanotubes across the Schools of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Rice. As a result, the Max Planck Society of Germany named Rice University number one in materials science and chemistry in 2014.
Mission and Strategic Goals
The mission of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering is to prepare the next generation of socially responsible materials scientists and engineers who will employ their fundamental knowledge of structure-property relations including nanoscale phenomena to create solutions and technologies for a sustainable modern world.
Designing and utilizing materials is essential to modern society.
The Department of MSNE seeks to fulfill this mission with a focus on 4 strategic goals:
- Provide a curriculum that reflects the social responsibilities and technological advances in all engineering fields that interface materials science and nanoengineering.
- Create an environment that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, and promotes lifelong education and learning.
- Offer all undergraduates opportunities in research endeavors.
- Equip students with effective communication and data management skills for outstanding careers in academia, entrepreneurship, government, and industry through exceptional teaching, research, and strategic partnerships.
