Every made object you use in life consists of one or many materials, with luck chosen or designed to fulfil the function of the object, or perhaps to maximize the profit of the manufacturer. What determines the performance of these materials, and why do we choose them? What kinds of materials do we need for our rather challenging future? In this course we will look at the principles behind the behaviour of materials, the techniques used to characterize them, the various classes of materials such as metals, ceramics and plastics, and the rationale behind choosing them for particular functions. It will be slightly technical, but there'll be no maths.