Workshop: Grand Challenges in Mechanics: Shaping the Future of Science and Society; Houston, Texas; December 2026

This grant provides support for 40–60 researchers to participate in the workshop Grand Challenges in Mechanics, which will be held in Houston, Texas. Mechanics serves as a foundational discipline for modern science and engineering, enabling advances in infrastructure, energy systems, biomedical technologies, and emerging fields such as stretchable electronics and advanced materials. As the scientific landscape evolves, the field is uniquely positioned to address national and global priorities, including the National Academies’ Grand Challenges. The workshop will convene a balanced cohort of senior scholars, mid-career researchers, and early-career innovators from academia, industry, and national laboratories. The meeting will emphasize facilitated dialogue and forward-looking discussion, fostering deep intellectual exchange and cross-sector collaboration.

The primary goal of this grant is to produce a community-driven roadmap that connects mechanics to emerging frontiers, including quantum technologies, nuclear fusion, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and brain–machine interfaces. Participants will articulate key research questions and identify high-impact directions that will shape the discipline over the next decade and beyond. In addition to the roadmap, the project will generate a strategic report, commissioned perspective articles, and educational tutorials aimed at lowering barriers to entry for researchers seeking to engage in these transformative areas. Through these coordinated efforts, the workshop will strengthen the intellectual leadership of mechanics, catalyze new interdisciplinary collaborations, and help recruit and prepare the next generation of innovators to address complex societal challenges.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Award Number: 2603752
Principal Investigator: Pradeep Sharma
Funds Obligated: $99,550
State: TX