Innovation in Materials Science - 2 reinforces the adage of John Dismukes that, "Scientific Technology" has progressively displaced "Empirical Technology", as the primary driver and basis for increasing economic development over the last four centuries. Technical inventions, and innovations based upon technical ideas, remain the basic drivers for wealth-creation. However, the areas of current materials research have changed considerably between 2008, when the first volume was published, and now (2012). The collection of articles in Volume 2 reflects this change. An index of the articles published in the earlier collection, Innovation in Materials Science (2008 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.380) is also provided in order to comprehend the considerable changes which have occurred in the landscape of materials research over the past four years.Review from Book News Inc.: The 18 invited and peer-reviewed papers reflect changes in materials science and engineering since 2008, when the first volume was produced. Most of the new materials described are sustainable, biological and nanometer-scale materials, and glass materials. There is also considerable emphasis on processes that impact the commercial development of new materials. Among the topics are nonstationary theory of the thermal explosion for monomolecular exothermic reactions, the material science chemistry of electrochemical microsensors and applications for biofilm research, a green process to prepare hydrophobic and transparent carbon nanotube-based surfaces, innovations in wood science, waste as a resource for high value materials, and applying electron backscatter diffraction to shape memory alloys.