Abstract Nanotechnology is the creation of new materials, devices and systems at the molecular level - phenomena associated with atomic and molecular interactions strongly influence macroscopic material properties [according to I. Aksay of Princeton]; with significantly improved mechanical, optical, chemical, electrical... properties.   In the 21^st century, the transcendent technologies include nanotechnology, microelectronics, information technology and biotechnology as well as the enabling and supporting mechanical and civil infrastructure systems and materials. These technologies are the primary drivers of the twenty first century and the new economy. Mechanics and materials are essential elements in all of the transcendent technologies. Research opportunities, education and challenges in mechanics and materials, including multi-scale modeling, nanomechanics, wave-particle duality, carbon nano-tubes, bio-inspired materials, coatings, fire-resistant materials as well as improved engineering and design of materials are to be presented and discussed.
 

 

References
 Boresi, A. P. and Chong, K. P. (2000). Elasticity in Engineering Mechanics, John Wiley, New York.
 Boresi, A. P., Chong, K. P. and Saigal, S. (2002). Approximate Solution Methods in Engineering Mechanics, John Wiley, New York.
 Chong, K. P. (1998, 1999). Smart Structures Research in the U.S. Keynote paper, Proc. NATO Adv. Res. Workshop on Smart Structures, held in Pultusk, Poland, 6/98, Smart Structures, Kluwer Academic Publ. 37-44 (1999).
 Chong, K. P., “Research and Challenges in Nanomechanics” 90-minute Nanotechnology Webcast, ASME, Oct. 2002;  archived in  www.asme.org/nanowebcast
 Eisberg, R. and Resnick, R. (1985). Quantum Physics, John Wiley, New York.

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Acknowledgments [The information below is modified after Dr. Chong's CV available at the NSF Summer Institute of Nano Mechanics and Materials at Northwestern]
KEN P. CHONG , Hon. M. ASCE, F. AAM [Am. Acad. of Mechanics], M. ASME, M.IEEE, PE, graduated from Hong Kong Queen Elizabeth School with Distinctions in 1960, received his BSCE from Taiwan National Cheng Kung University; MS in Structures from University of Massachusetts; MA, MSE and PhD in engineering mechanics from Princeton University in 1969. His major advisor was Prof. Peter C. Y. Lee; thus he is a grand student of Prof. Mindlin. His professional experience includes: Senior Project Engineer of R&D, National Steel Corporation, in charge of long-range structural research projects related to building systems, steel structures and sandwich panels, 1969-1974; professor and chairman of Structures/ Solid Mechanics Group, University of Wyoming. He has been a visiting professor at MIT, Houston, Washington and Hong Kong universities [honorary professor of HKU, HK PolyU], an Embassy Fellow in Switzerland and a Guest Researcher at NIST. Since 1989 he has been the Director of Structural Systems and Construction Processes, and since 1999 Director of Mechanics and Materials program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). He is a member of the NSF Engineering Management Group [EMG] and Conflicts Official of the Civil and Mechanical Systems Division. He was instrumental in establishing the NSF Summer Institute on Nano Mechanics and Materials at Northwestern University training 140 faculty members, post doctors, etc per year.

He specializes in s olid mechanics, nano-mechanics, numerical analysis, structural mechanics, structural dynamics, intelligent structures and smart materials as well as strategic planning, education, research management and technology transfer.

He has published 200 referred technical publications and authored 4 books including textbooks on Elasticity in Engineering Mechanics, and Approximate Solution Methods in Mechanics, and edited other books on Engineering Mechanics in Civil Engineering, Intelligent Structures, Materials for the New Millennium, Long-term Durability of Structural Materials. He was a founding associate editor of the ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems and continues to serve on its Editorial Board. He edits the Elsevier journal of Thin-Walled Structures, a Spon book series as well as serving on several other editorial and technical boards, including Journal of Nanoengineering & Nanosystems.

He has given 30 plus keynote lectures in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Americas. He received numerous awards, including the Dow Outstanding Young Faculty Award, an Eminent Engineer of Tau Beta Pi, Halliburton outstanding research & graduate teaching award, NSF Special Achievement Award, Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award, Hon. Member of ASCE, Honorary Doctorate of Shanghai University and NSF Distinguished Service Award [highest award at NSF].

At NSF he has been successful in linking up academic researchers with industry and other federal agencies, transferring knowledge and leveraging NSF resources. He served on the NSF Engineering Strategic Planning Committee and as the chair of the Civil Infrastructure Systems [CIS] Task Group, he led and built consensus for a major NSF-wide CIS initiative. Recently he initiated a multi-agency NSF-led major initiative for durability modeling and accelerated tests of materials & structures. In addition to managing an active portfolio of some 130 university research projects in mechanics/ materials, he has been involved in the development of model-based simulation, life-cycle engineering, scalable enterprise systems and nano-technology initiatives. He presented an ASME webcast on nano-mechanics research and challenges in 10/02. Currently he is serving as the Interim Division Director of the Civil and Mechanical Systems Division

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Past Speaker
2004: Prof. John W. Hutchinson, Harvard University Micron Scale Plasticity