Administrator

Imagine, November 2025

Long-Qing Chen inducted into the National Academy of Engineering

Long-Qing Chen, Donald W. Hamer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, was among the 128 new U.S. members and 22 international members inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Class of 2025 during the NAE annual meeting in October. Election to the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, or National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest professional honors among scientists, engineers, and health professionals. Each year, new members are elected by current members based on outstanding achievement and commitment to service. There are now 2,487 U.S. members and 336 international members of the NAE.

NAE membership recognizes significant contributions to engineering practice, research, or education, to the pioneering of new and developing technological fields, to major advancement in traditional fields of engineering, to the development and implementation of innovative approaches to engineering education and leadership. Founded in 1964, the NAE provides independent analysis and advice to the nation.

Chen was elected “for making the phase-field method the most powerful tool for predicting the mesoscopic microstructure and properties of engineering materials.”

Chen, who joined the Penn State faculty in 1992, earned his bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University, China; his master's degree from Stony Brook University; and his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all in materials science and engineering. He is a fellow of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), the Materials Research Society (MRS), the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), and ASM International. He was elected as a foreign member of the Academia Europaea. He received MRS Materials Theory Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Humboldt Research Award, TMS John Bardeen Award, TMS Hume-Rothery Award, ACerS Ross Coffin Purdy Award, TMS Cyril Stanley Smith Award, and IEEE-UFFC Distinguished Lecturer Award. Chen is also a professor of engineering science and mechanics and professor of mathematics.

Chen is the third MatSE faculty members to join the NAE—John Mauro, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and department head, and Susan Trolier-McKinstry, Evan Pugh Professor and Steward S. Flashchen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and professor of electrical engineering.

Imagine, November 2025

Dear MatSE friends and alumni,

It’s truly a pleasure to share highlights from one of our department’s most honored traditions, the Nelson W. Taylor Lecture in Materials. Each year, this event brings our community together to celebrate scientific excellence, human stories, and the shared curiosity that drives our field forward. The Taylor Lecture is the most prestigious honor bestowed by our department, and over the decades, it has featured some of the most inspiring voices in materials science, including six Nobel laureates. This year’s theme, “Forging the future of steel,” felt especially meaningful as it connects our Commonwealth’s proud industrial past to the exciting innovations shaping the future.

Steel is more than just a material for Pennsylvania: it’s a core part of our identity. From the mills of Pittsburgh and Bethlehem, which built the bridges, railways, and skylines of America, to the laboratories and classrooms here at Penn State, steel has embodied the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of our Commonwealth. As we look toward a future defined by sustainability, digital manufacturing, and clean energy, the story of steel continues to evolve, and with it, new opportunities to strengthen both our economy and our planet.

This year, we were deeply honored to welcome Sir Harry Bhadeshia as our distinguished Taylor Lecturer. Sir Harry, a professor of metallurgy at Queen Mary University of London and emeritus Tata Steel Professor at the University of Cambridge, is one of the world’s leading experts on iron and its alloys. His lecture, “Diffusion in iron: Sometimes invigorating, at other times lethargic,” offered not only profound scientific insight but also a sense of wonder about how atomic motion can shape the foundation of modern human civilization.

What made Sir Harry’s visit truly special, though, was his personal story. Born in Kenya, he emigrated to the United Kingdom at the age of sixteen, where he built a life of discovery, teaching, and quiet generosity that ultimately earned him knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. Despite his lofty accomplishments, Sir Harry is the most gracious and humble of scholars: deeply curious, kind, and passionate about sharing his knowledge. He is, in every sense, a role model for our students and an inspiration for all of us who continue to drive the field of materials science forward.

We were also proud to feature three of our own Penn State faculty, each of whom is advancing the science and technology of steel in remarkable ways.

• Amrita Basak, associate professor and Shuman Early Career Professor of mechanical engineering, shared her work on “Data science for additive processing of steel alloys,” showing how artificial intelligence and digital twins are revolutionizing the way we design and build metallic materials.
• Todd Palmer, professor of engineering science and mechanics and of materials science and engineering, spoke on “What is old is new again: New research challenges in the development and processing of stainless steels,” reminding us that even the oldest materials still hold new secrets when viewed through the lens of modern science.
• And Tarasankar DebRoy, professor of materials science and engineering, delivered a presentation on “Welding science powers 3D printing, but can metal supply chains peep up?” which connected decades-old welding science to the cutting-edge world of additive manufacturing while raising important questions about sustainability and global supply.

Together, these talks captured exactly what makes the Taylor lectures so meaningful. As I listened to the presentations and felt the enthusiasm of the audience in the room, I couldn’t help but think of how far we’ve come as a department. The story of steel, like the story of our own Penn State MatSE community, is one of perseverance, innovation, and human connection. We are proud to carry forward that tradition, inspired by those who came before us and energized by the generations of students, researchers, and alumni who continue to make a difference.

Thank you for being part of our Penn State MatSE family. Your support of our core missions in research, education, and service keeps our community strong. Together, we are truly forging the future.

We Are!

John C. Mauro
Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department Head of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State

Imagine, November 2025

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.”