Educating materials engineers

This contribution reviews the requirements for a successful professional career and the scope of materials engineering as a specific area of professional competence. Basic concepts associated with communication and performance in the engineering workplace are summarised. The selection of core courses for materials engineers is discussed and the role of case histories in developing engineering insight is emphasized The extent to which technological forecasting and risk assessment can be usefully included in the course curricula is also assessed and some of the dilemmas associated with the undergraduate teaching of professional ethics are noted.