Forging the future of steel: 2025 Taylor Lecture highlights innovation, responsibility, and the power of metallurgy 
The 2025 Nelson W. Taylor Lecture in Materials focused on the theme of “Forging the future of steel” and featured four lectures that explored the evolving role of steel in society, manufacturing, and sustainability. Keynote speaker Sir Harry Bhadeshia unraveled the mysteries of steel with wit, wisdom, and groundbreaking science—challenging convention and inspiring innovation.
Bhadeshia, professor of metallurgy at Queen Mary University of London and emeritus Tata Steel Professor at the University of Cambridge, is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in designing stronger, more sustainable steels. His keynote, titled “Diffusion in iron: Sometimes invigorating, at other times lethargic,” challenged conventional thinking about phase transformations and diffusion theory in steel, blending deep scientific insight with practical applications. “Absolutely every example that you see here came from theory,” said Bhadeshia, referencing groundbreaking steels used in railways, aerospace, and armor. He emphasized the importance of combining intuition, experience, and rigorous modeling to create innovative materials. “We don’t just do science, but we also want to use the science to create something for society.”
Bhadeshia’s lecture explored the limitations of traditional diffusion models, such as Fick’s Law, and introduced more nuanced approaches that account for free energy gradients and atomic interactions. He illustrated how these insights have led to the development of steels with unprecedented properties, like untempered high-carbon martensite used in impact-resistant applications and blast-resistant alloys for defense. 
