Materials scientists and engineers have migrated from the macro to the micro and on to the current nano arena in order to explore and access the potential for enhanced function and performance. Thin films and coatings are now being developed and used to tailor the properties of the underlying matrix with respect to hydrophobicity, absorption, reflectivity, reactivity in applications that range from consumer products and electronics to energy efficiency and biomedical applications. Materials Day 2007 will explore a number of these themes with presentations by MIT faculty as well as our annual graduate student poster session.