MSE Chair Update, Autumn 2010
Greetings MSE friends.
The past year was characterized by two very significant events that reshaped the identity of MSE and will continue to do so for years to come. They were the integration of Welding Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering and the submission of new curricula proposals for our undergraduate and graduate programs. Each of these undertakings unfolded in an orderly and effective manner due to considerable efforts on the part of our faculty and staff, and a strong commitment to bring them to successful outcomes.
The integration of WE and MSE combined with the Selective Investment hiring over the past 10 years has enabled us to grow in a way that preserves our traditional research strengths in structural materials and processing while expanding into newer areas of the discipline, including computational materials science, biomaterials, electronic materials, materials for energy applications and, yes, even nanomaterials. We have allowed ourselves to be typecast as one of the few remaining bastions for structural materials research, but our research portfolio and newly revised educational programs show that while we have retained those core strengths, we have extended beyond those boundaries significantly.
Our faculty was as busy as ever this past year publishing more than 270 articles and books, along with involvement in numerous patents. Over 180 of those articles have appeared or will appear in peer-reviewed publications. Our faculty members remain highly sought after as speakers in colloquia and meetings of all types, and they have rightfully earned high honors, awards and promotions for their sustained research and teaching impact.
We had a number of significant new research programs begin this year, not the least of which was the Center for Integrative Materials Joining Science for Energy Applications, which is an NSF I/UCRC led by the Welding side of the house. This is already a very substantial center with four university collaborators and many industrial partners. Cumulative research expenditures were $13.6 million in 2009 from both WE and MSE combined—a productive year indeed.
The integration of WE and MSE combined with enrollment growth in engineering has brought up our student numbers significantly. We now count 260 undergrads and 160 grads in our combined programs. Both numbers are expected to grow in the next few years. Growth in our undergraduate program could push us to over 300 students in total, with MSE core class sizes approaching 60. We are making investments in computer lab and core lab facilities, but we will need to continue to closely monitor the conduct of our educational programs to ensure quality of instruction through this period of growth.
There was much turmoil in university communities across the country this past year and so far we have been spared the pain that was experienced elsewhere. Nonetheless, we will have a larger than normal portion of uncertainty to cope with this year. The economy remains fragile and budget contractions for higher education are expected in Ohio’s next biennial budget, which will begin in July 2011. Nonetheless, the College’s budget is as robust as it has been since the implementation of RCM budgeting at Ohio State. The Department’s budget and reserves also are strong. This should allow us to act rationally and with self-determination if circumstances turn unfavorable.
To learn more about these and many other activities going on in MSE, I invite you to continue to explore our website.
-Rudy Buchheit