Polymers as an integral part of a materials science and engineering curriculum

This paper describes how the field of polymers has been integrated into the materials science and engineering curriculum. Some of the background to these fields is briefly reviewed. The role of advanced materials in future technological needs is indicated. Efforts to design an integrated Undergraduate Curriculum in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois are described. The possible role of research universities to fill the void between very near term focus of industrial research in materials and the very long range research typically pursued at universities is discussed. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.