News from the department of Materials Science & Engineering

The 2026 MetSoc Distinguished Materials Scientist Award recognizes Phillion for his contributions to alloy solidification, microscopy, steelmaking and service to the materials community.

Several Faculty of Engineering faculty members are among the newly appointed or renewed CRCs, while others are recipients of the New Frontiers in Research Fund.

Nabil Bassim is collaborating with TechInsights and Fibics Incorporated to advance research and development for next-generation semiconductors.

Marking the culmination of a full year of applied learning, research and industry‑inspired problem solving, the annual Expo, held on the last day of classes, highlights how classroom theory translates into real‑world engineering solutions.

Using a hammer and anvil, the team forged a space-ready knife akin to the one included in a survival kit aboard the Apollo 11, the 1969 mission that first landed humans on the moon.

Materials Science and Engineering researchers Nabil Bassim, Maureen Lagos and Oleg Rubel received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) G7 Countries Alliance International Catalyst Quantum grants program.

Six McMaster Engineering students and one graduate share what the Iron Ring means to them and why they selected their family member as a presenter. 

The annual Co-op Student of the Year Awards recognized and celebrated 13 outstanding co-op students whose workplace contributions and leadership highlight the impact of the experiential learning.

The MacSmiths forged the Astroknife, a blade inspired by those carried aboard NASA’s Apollo missions, and received second place at an international bladesmithing competition in San Diego.

Three McMaster research projects, including one led by Materials Engineering professor Nabil Bassim, have been awarded a combined $35.6M in federal funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Innovation Fund, supporting cutting-edge nuclear, materials and archaeological science research.

“Carving a path for change” wasn’t just the theme of the 2026 Conference on Advocacy and Leadership in Engineering (CALE)  presented by Aecon — it became the experience of the McMaster Engineering students who organized it.

Drawing on both his research background and on‑ice experience, Professor Joseph McDermid offered an expert look at the engineering and materials that make curling stones both durable and uniquely capable of their signature glide and curl.