What better place to study about metals than the land which has given so much to the world and has a strong history in steel metallurgy? To improve my prospects of getting a job, I decided to study the MMet Advanced Metallurgy course at The University of Sheffield, which has been producing thousands of graduates since the early 1950s.
I had completed my undergraduate degree in metallurgy and material science at Indus University, India, which is among the only three universities in Gujarat to offer a course in metallurgy. From the beginning, I nurtured a keen interest in it.
Designing and manufacturing a car engine or a power plant is crucial, but not many have shed extra light on which is the best material that can be used to manufacture a car engine. Imagine if your car doors are made of plastic or glass; will you ever trust the safety of that car? Designing a component is important, but it is more important that a set of perfectly analysed materials are used so that one can be assured that nothing would happen to the car for years, or under what conditions your car performs the best. From the tearing of a plastic bag to a failure of a jet engine, it is all about material science and metallurgical participations.
Hands-on work
The University of Sheffield has broadened my knowledge in metallurgy, and the materials science department has taught me something new. Studying a master’s course here is not just about getting a degree; it is about understanding real-life problems and learning ways to tackle them. My project here is additive layer manufacturing which is a technology that is still new and unheard of in many countries.
Mercury Lab, one of the labs in my department, is equipped with the latest machines where students get hands-on training. Starting from sample preparation to micro-analysis, the department has more than 15 well-equipped research labs. Great ideas such as replacing steel bearing with titanium in Airbus A 350/380 have come from this department.
Sitting in lectures with students from across the globe, attending weekly seminars by professors from all over the U.K., interacting with professors who are responsible for great advancements in science, are great experiences. Meeting such lovely people and teachers here has made it easier to live in Sheffield.
Smit Taralkumar Shah is doing his postgraduation in MMet Advanced Metallurgy at the University of Sheffield, the U.K.