In this blog post, our third year undergraduate student Hiran shares his experience of studying Materials Science and Engineering in the Department of Materials, Imperial College London.
Nearly three years of studying Materials Science at Imperial have truly flown by. I’ve made lifelong friends and experienced many memorable moments. Perhaps most intriguingly, my course has fabricated a new lens for my stainless steel framed glasses that has transformed how I see the world around me. Things that I would see in my everyday life around London and disregard are now fascinating and I can’t help but point out to whoever is with me! Be it the jaded green rooftops that were once reddish copper, the carbon fiber frames of a fancy cyclists bike, or the incredibly pristine glass on the Shard covered by a film of Titanium oxide that makes it self-cleaning.
Thankfully, I’ve not only accumulated small nuggets of interesting information during my degree, but I have come to further appreciate Materials Science’s significance for our planet’s future. The synergy between materials science and semiconductor technology, exemplified by Nvidia’s cycle of groundbreaking chip innovations, is fueling the exponential growth of AI and machine learning which shapes our future day by day. Exploration in bioplastics derived from plants and microorganisms with the goal of allowing them to break down naturally could eradicate the ever-pressing issue of plastic pollution, potentially saving the future of many ecosystems. Research surrounding CO2 capture and conversion into fuels is a topic I’ve been reading for my Literature Review. Fine-tuning the microstructure of electrocatalysts in CO2 reduction is a challenge I have no doubt that Materials Scientists will one day solve, saving our future from the global warming crisis. The future of sports is also heavily dictated by material developments. Almost everyone I know at Imperial has caught the F1 craze and with our materials background, the technology on display is even more appreciable. Materials Scientist’s constant improvements in biocompatible implants that integrate seamlessly with tissue will help athletes and patients return from injuries quicker and with ease. I’m known for my notoriously fragile knees so it’s looking likely that materials science will be shaping the future of my patellas too.
Studying Materials Science at Imperial has helped me build technical and teamwork skills that will influence how I approach my future work life. I’ve enjoyed group projects where I’ve had to 3D print, design household appliances, and even create porcelain from raw materials. I also never thought the countless Gantt Charts and Interim reports would turn out to be a transferable skill. Although I remain undecided on a career, I’m looking forward to seeing how the Materials Science community is developing and new technologies on the near horizon. Many of my peers at Imperial stun me everyday with their remarkable aptitude and curiosity, and some will certainly go on to shape our collective futures.
Like I said, studying Materials Science has given me a new lens on the world, but that’s not just from a scientific point of view. I’ve found that every lecturer has echoed what makes us special as Materials Scientists is our ability to understand matter on a microscopic scale. Whilst it is indeed a skill to pride ourselves on, I’ve also come to appreciate it as a broader ability to appreciate the little things. In the overwhelming periods of studying at Imperial and living in this chaotic city, appreciating the microscopic details that we take for granted has helped me navigate the stressful times and enjoy life just that little bit more.