Materials science and engineering has long been a driving force behind technological innovation and now serves as the foundation for many of the world's most important industries, including energy, semiconductors, biotechnology, quantum technologies, and aerospace. Today, our discipline stands at another pivotal moment as generative artificial intelligence and autonomous research systems rapidly transform the way scientific discoveries are made. AI is reshaping materials research by accelerating computational modeling, data analysis, and materials discovery, and its impact will continue to grow in the years ahead.

Amid these remarkable advances, however, the fundamental mission of a university remains unchanged. While AI can efficiently process existing knowledge and uncover patterns from vast amounts of data, the discovery of previously unknown physical phenomena, the creation of entirely new experimental knowledge, and the formulation of transformative scientific questions will continue to depend on human curiosity, creativity, and insight. The future of materials science will therefore be defined not simply by how effectively we use artificial intelligence, but by how successfully we create new science together with it

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Korea University is committed to embracing this future with both ambition and responsibility. We will actively integrate AI into research and education while strengthening the capabilities that remain uniquely human. Through innovative materials synthesis, advanced characterization, large-scale research facilities, and fundamental studies that reveal the underlying physics governing materials behavior, we will continue to build a globally leading research environment where scientific creativity and technological innovation advance together.

Our educational mission reflects the same philosophy. We seek not only to educate students who are proficient in AI-enabled research, but also to cultivate scientists and engineers who ask original questions, generate new knowledge, and lead the next generation of scientific discovery.

As we look toward the future, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Korea University will continue to pursue excellence in education and research while creating new materials, uncovering new scientific principles, and advancing technologies that contribute to society and expand the frontiers of human knowledge.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in our department and invite you to join us in shaping the future of materials science.