History

Yunnan University initiated its material science and engineering bachelor and master's degree program in 1999. To meet increasing demand for engineering studies the division was subsequently elevated into a full-fledged engineering school on Dec 25, 2015.

Goals

The school intends to feature innovation to maintain a top academic level and to contribute to Yunnan's social and economic development.

Majors

The school now has three undergraduate programs -- material physics, materials chemistry and inorganic nonmetallic materials -- one first-level master's degree program for materials science and engineering, and one doctoral program for condensed matter physics.

The school boasts several labs including a key technology lab that focuses on micro-nano materials, a copper-based and special type cutting-edge conducting material engineering lab, a photoelectrical material international collaborative research center jointly built with Cambridge University, a photoelectric material and technology R&D center jointly constructed with the Yunnan Provincial Academy of Science and Technology, the Yunnan colleges and universities' nano material and technology key lab, the Yunnan University material engineering and technology research center, and the Yunnan University advanced material engineering research center.

The school's research in inorganic nonmetallic materials, precious and rare non-ferrous metals, and photoelectric materials and devices has received ISO9001 quality certification and is qualified for weaponry research and production.

Faculty

The School of Materials Science and Engineering has about 60 faculty members.

Research 

Currently the school's research focuses on seven areas: ecological environment materials and technology, sensing materials and devices, new-type energy materials and technology, rare, precious and nonferrous metal electronic functional materials, nano-structure metamaterials and functional polymers, photoelectric materials and devices, and material simulation and design.

The school has led or participated in more than 80 key research projects including  two in the national 863 High-tech Project, one in the 973 Research Project, a key national program on basic scientific research, about 50 projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (including two carried out jointly with other institutions), and 11 projects at provincial and ministerial levels. It has also conducted projects in talent cultivation that have led to several original research achievements.

More than 200 papers by the school's faculty have been included in the Science Citation Index (SCI) and have been published by core journals such as Nature Materials, Nature Chemistry and Advanced Materials. Over 30 invention patents officially belong to the schools' researchers, many of whom have gained national and provincial level science and technology awards.