Contextual perspectives on education in materials science and engineering

From an inside point of view, the concept of a “unified science of materials” might appear to be quite natural in its own right, as it were. However, considering the fact that science in general is practiced by humans in a social environment, it should be warranted to examine materials science also from the humanistic and sociological perspectives, as well as against the background of current thinking on the development of sciences. By this means it would be possible to establish rational principles for education in materials science and engineering not only for specialists but also for designers and manufacturing engineers. The present review deals with issues of integration of sciences versus specialization, ideas about a comprehensive theory of materials, internal and external driving forces for scientific studies, engineering practice, professional competence, and educational consequences with an emphasis on understanding.