Despite considerable progress in the scientific understanding of deformation processes, the mechanical properties of engineered materials remain limited to fractions of their theoretical values. One of the persistent barriers impeding new breakthroughs in mechanical property offerings is the problem of scaling. That is, while materials often exhibit near-theoretical properties at the nanoscale, the preservation of these exceptional characteristics in the bulk is a pervasive challenge. In response to this issue, my group focuses on examining deformation processes at the mesoscale.

We all want the future to be better than the present, and many of us would like to be a part of making that happen. Engineering students, researchers, and practitioners are no exception, and are increasingly turning their energies towards "doing good." However, engineering approaches to problem solving generally treat historical, social, and political systems as unrelated to good engineering work.

Professor Xiaochun Li is the Raytheon Endowed Chair in Manufacturing Engineering in the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering & Materials Science and Engineering at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is the pioneer and global leader in fundamental study, scalable manufacturing, successful commercialization and practical applications of nanotechnology enabled solidification processing.