The field of Materials Science and Engineering is very broad, and there are many niches in which the Philippines can excel considering the vast raw material resources it is endowed with. Our country’s efforts to achieve industrialization, technological development, and economic competitiveness are highly dependent on the effective development, processing, and utilization not only of natural materials but also synthetic advanced materials.

Advanced countries have seen the importance of having a comprehensive Materials R and D Program. In the advanced countries, technological advances are no longer limited by the available materials. Materials are now being designed by specific needs.

Thus, a key component in the industrialization effort of the country and its quest for technology mastery can be identified in a Material Science and Engineering Program. The technological advances that are transforming our society depends on breakthroughs in materials. Without this program, all efforts in other technology sectors such as energy, information, equipment and medical technologies will not go far. Each of these technologies requires the development of appropriate materials with specific properties to suit particular applications.

The development of R and D and technological capabilities in advanced materials such as polymers, semiconductors, ceramics, composites, liquid crystal, and alloys should be top priority and should be identified as a critical and strategic program by every university and national science agency.

As a participant to this very important national strategy for industrialization, UP Diliman has been offering MS and PhD courses under the Program in Materials Science and Engineering, a joint program of the College of Science and College of Engineering since June 1992 (First Sem Academic Year 1992 – 1993).