Material science as a new concept was originated in America in the fifties years. Its development was strongly inspired by the military and space industries. As a direct consequence of the wisdom of John Neumann the first materials science laboratories were established in 1957. In Europe the discipline was extended in the seventies when institutes and departments were established everywhere. In Hungary this process started with a tremendous slip. The first institutes for material science have been founded in the nineties since the first material engineering courses began at 1993 only.

As the material engineering is a new terminology in Hungary, vivid discussion raised around it and its definition was not cleared up until now. Traditional professions of material production (metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, forest engineering, and construction material engineering) accuse the material engineers with theoretical aberrations, since physicists take them primitive masters based on empirical experiences. The start of the material engineering courses in Miskolc was also escorted by misunderstanding from both sides.

The English definition of Material Science means the consideration of the cases and regularities on theoretical base, since Material Engineering the creation of applicable solutions on practical base. Meanwhile the methods of material science and material engineering are different, the fundamental goal is the same: to produce new, artificial materials for special challenges on base of the available or attainable knowledge.

The life cycle of the artificial materials from preparation till degradation can be illustrated in the followings:

Earth ® (1) ® Raw material ® (2) ® Base material ® (3) ® Finished material (semi-product) ® (4) ® Final product® (5) ® Waste ® (6) ® Earth ® (1) ® ........

where each number relates to one special field in science and technology.

SCIENCE ENGINEERING

1 earth science, mining, forestry-agriculture excavation

2 chemistry, metallurgy base material production

4 mechanics, technical science architecture, production engineering

5 economy commerce, utilisation

The place of the material science in that scheme is clearly defined: while the base materials are made by separation of atomic mixtures the material engineer produces finished materials with optimized composition, structure and properties by mixing various atoms taken from the base materials. The creation procedure of new advanced materials with optimal composition and structure has always scientific and empirical backgrounds but the most important human tool is the invention. The design, manufacturing, applying, running of any products from finished and optimised materials and monitoring of its deterioration is not material science.

Artificial materials are classified to structural and functional groups. Structural material is the material if its mechanical properties are decisive since functional material has at least one (or more) another specific (not mechanical) property. After the character of atomic binding there are metals, ceramics, polymers and materials composed from them (composites). Material science is mainly based on the synthesised knowledge of comparable rules of structure description and the property origin of each material.

The distance from pure material science to pure material technology is very far. The fundaments of the material science MSc courses in Miskolc are the balanced education on both sides while the material of interess is the structural material.

Regarding the most probable employment fields the material design, qualification and production seem to be the most important activities for the future material engineers. Besides that many fashionable fields was required by the society. This is why the education has three main chapters:

1. Core material (theoretical basis, furthermore the base of material science and technology)
2. Branches (informatics, quality assurance, waste management, environment protection, energy management, marketing, automation)
3. Specializations. Until now the material design and material qualification directions are working. Recently there are discussions about further future specializations : the main problem is to keep the universal authenticity (material design, material qualification, material technology).

The BSc level education show modest deviation from the traditional metallurgical (steel dominated) profile, due to its regional partnership (DUNAFERR) and the shorter educational periode.

To extend the educational profile is not even easy at the Veszprem University. Besides their high level silicate courses to establish and complete the metall and polymer education lines needs further time, patience and money.

The new course means various problems in Miskolc also. Besides the traditional good base sciences and chemical and physical metallurgy departments the progress of the polymer and ceramic lines seem a visible but step by step evolution. Inviting lecturers and well equipped laboratories of the neighbouring companies (BorsodChem and TVK) help to overcome the difficulties. The co-operation between Veszprem University and Miskolc University by exchange of student groups (silicate practicum in Veszprem, metal practicum in Miskolc) proved to be very effective.

There are practice oriented domestic physicist courses also. The first course was a joint venture of ELTE and Miskolc University in 1990, later the functional material oriented course of TUB.

The professional high level of the new courses can be characterised by the facts that students of the Miskolc courses have gained first awards on three section of the Countrywide Scientifical Student Conference 1999. (material science, material testing and material technology). The topics of the winner papers were : polymer foams, ceramics, and modelling of multicomponent systems.