Writing A Book On The Role Of Materials Science In Manufacturing For Instruction And Research: Lessons Learned

In 2006, the author and two colleagues published a materials science book that tried to integrate basic elements of processing science and manufacturing technology from a materials scientist’s viewpoint. The book project essentially evolved as a scholarly experiment designed to 1) address opportunities and challenges faced over a decade of instructing students from diverse disciplines, and 2) create a cross-over instructional resource that emphasized the solid role of materials science in manufacturing for use chiefly by students of engineering studying manufacturing processes and materials science. The goal was to prepare an educational resource to supplement formal instruction that offered deeper, stand-alone coverage of selected processing topics than elementary textbooks that incorporate broader but shallower surveys arranged in an evolutionary pattern to establish the foundation of a class. The paper describes the author’s own experiences in writing the book and addresses broader lessons learned.