It's a multidisciplinary center, created to provide focused research and educational opportunities in advanced oxides. Currently it includes 14 faculty members from physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. Besides sharp minds and long hours of hard work in the lab, materials science takes the most sophisticated of instruments. Interestingly, oxide materials similar to those that superconduct at utterly cold temperatures also have useful properties at temperatures far hotter than the everyday range. For example, these high-temperature oxide materials can be used in fuel cells, reducing energy costs, oil consumption, and pollution all at once.
Fuel cells are very efficient.
They are environmentally benign. They're now at a stage of advanced development. Not commercial, but on the way. The energy industry is a highly interested partner in this research. One plausible method involves high-temperature oxide ceramics.