Story Summary: The committee assessed new materials research, identified future opportunities and recommended strategies to help the United States regain its place at the forefront in development of new materials. However, the past 20 years have seen a substantial deterioration in the United States capability to pursue those opportunities at a time when several European and Asian countries have significantly increased investments in developing their own capacities in these areas. A section of the report titled Impact of the Decline of Education and Training Opportunities in the Field draws a direct link between the decline in basic research at industrial laboratories and the subsequent loss of training opportunities for young researchers. According to Ames Laboratorys Director for Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering Tom Lograsso, Ames Laboratory typically has at least 10 graduate students and six post-doctoral research associates working in the crystal growth field at any one time. The institutional history retained by the scientific and technical staff of the MPC is invaluable in guiding our the next generation in the developing new processing approaches by drawing off the lessons learned with the rare earth metals, said Lograsso. Among those testifying before the committee was Ames Laboratory senior physicist Paul Canfield. While the national laboratories can serve and are serving as hubs for crystalline materials research and work closely with a number of research universities, the scientists surveyed called for greater support for research and the need for even wider collaboration between the national labs and additional research universities. Being located directly in a large research university we engage and teach researchers of all ages, Canfield continued. Given that over the past decade we have trained scientists who have now established their own research efforts at Stanford, Rice, Louisiana State University, Brookhaven National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, as well as Grenoble, France, there is a clear proof that Labs such as Ames Lab can and will have a vital role in addressing this vital, national need. These include development of a multiagency initiative to strengthen research efforts, establishment of centers of expertise, opening of more educational opportunities, and promotion of interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts in academic programs and the field in general….Read the Full Story

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