The science associated with the study and development of technological materials and processes is a highly varied and often interdisciplinary activity. Investigators spread throughout a very wide range of UCL departments and units are engaged in various aspects of materials research. The CMR exists to provide a contact point describing the main themes and facilities for materials research at UCL and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and approaches between researchers in different fields. Key activities and areas of interest range from discovery of new materials and processes to strategies to improve or adapt existing technologies, with applications to energy, healthcare, communications and information storage, transport, crime prevention and national security. UCL also benefits from other interdisciplinary centres that focus on areas related to materials research. These include the London Centre for Nanotechnology dedicated to exploring and developing the science and technology of nanoscale materials, and the Thomas Young Centre, that links theoretical and computational approaches to materials research throughout several London institutions.