Features leading edge research, new philosophies and innovative methodologies on materials information and database system utilization.

21 comprehensive, peer-reviewed papers from an international body of materials data professionals are divided into the following key areas:

Materials Science and the Role of Virtual Experiments -- 3 papers discuss alternative ways computers can best be used to support materials research and development.

Progress and Refinement of Data Models -- Using the Internet for comprehensive knowledge sharing; data model flexibility; and a new international standard, STEP, for representing and exchanging product data are among the issues explored in 4 papers.

Expert Systems and Knowledge Organization -- 5 papers examine how modern software technologies can be used to explore such areas as corrosion data, environmentally assisted cracking; and the exploration of unconventional natural gas reserves.

New Aspects of Data Content, Data Evaluation -- Environmental impact evaluation of materials engineering; concrete materials database guidelines; superconductor data evaluation methodology; and long term field corrosion test databases are among the topics presented in 5 papers.

Advancement of Computer Technologies -- 4 papers discuss the significance of materials microstructural information; microstructural classification; database performance and application; and future information systems designed for open world problem solving.