The Materials Science Center (MSC) at Cornell University has received funding for another five years, topping the list of institutions that were funded by the National Science Foundation as centers of materials research.

The MSC, an interdisciplinary research center established in 1959, will receive $17.75 million over 54 months for research that ranges from fundamental condensed matter science to thin films on glass needed, for example, for flat panel displays in laptop computers.

"We are extremely delighted to have renewed funding," said John Silcox, the David E. Burr Professor of Engineering and professor of applied and engineering physics who is director of the center. "It is an extremely competitive environment, but the strength of our programs is evident."

Cornell's award was one of 13, and the highest dollar award made, by the NSF for Materials Science and Engineering Centers. It brings to 24 the number of centers nationwide that support materials research and education. Total NSF support nationwide amounts to $105 million over the next five years. The centers eventually will become a national network of university-based centers, said Tom Weber, director of NSF's Division of Materials Research.

Awards were based on "intellectual breadth of research and the ability to stimulate interdisciplinary education. They are also fully integrated with the academic programs of participating institutions," the NSF said.

The MSC at Cornell will get $2.15 million the first year; $4.2 million the second year; and $3.8 million each year for three years after that. With that, the MSC will support four broad research programs:

• molecular inorganic-organic composites, such as nano-scale wires in a polymer matrix;
• thin films on glass, an area that lies at the heart of large area electronics used in the communications industry;
• energetic beam deposition, in which thin film growth is characterized and previously unattainable structures can be grown; and
• metallic nanostructures exploiting the ability to invent very small instruments to probe new materials.

The MSC also has an educational and outreach mission. It sponsors 35 undergraduate students each summer in a research program, and it is helping a local hands-on science museum, The ScienCenter in Ithaca, develop exhibits that revolve around microscopes as a discovery tool.

The MSC supports about 32 faculty members, 24 graduate students, six postdoctoral associates and 35 undergraduate students (during summer). It also has industry collaboration, with such companies as Corning Inc. and Kodak, and supports the Polymer Outreach Program at Cornell.