The Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC) is a $1.2M program founded in 2007 whose mission is to educate students in materials science, support interdisciplinary research, and enhance regional industry competitiveness and innovation. AMSEC brings together faculty and students from Chemistry, Engineering Technology, Geology, Mathematics and Physics to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and synergistic solutions to complex, multifaceted problems.

AMSEC's materials science minor degree consists of four interdisciplinary materials science courses as well as a capstone internship or research opportunity. Today there are over 50 students studying materials science and enhancing their science education at Western.

Our nationally recognized faculty direct research programs spanning a broad spectrum of areas, including collaboration with industry to help promote innovation and solve practical materials problems. At any one time, more than 30 undergraduate and graduate students participate in the AMSEC research program, supported by over $1M in grants during the last three years. These students receive training in high demand skills needed by regional employers and in preparation for graduate study. AMSEC operates a shared, open access Materials Characterization Laboratory housing state-of-the-art instrumentation.