Melissa Pappas
John Bassani, Professor Emeritus in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM), has been awarded the 2025 Society of Engineering Science (SES) William Prager Medal for outstanding research contributions in theoretical solid mechanics.
The award goes to Bassani for his contributions to the mechanics of materials in the areas of dislocation mechanics, grain boundaries, crystal plasticity, texture evolution and fracture, using methods that link atomistic modeling, continuum mechanics and computation. With decades of teaching experience and research in both MEAM and Materials Science Engineering (MSE) at Penn, Bassani has spent years studying plastic deformation and fracture from atomic-level properties to macroscopic continuum mechanics in a wide range of materials. His research spans the relationship between mechanics and microstructures in metals, ceramics and polymers, bringing him to recent work on hydrogels related to medical sciences, specifically thrombotic embolization, i.e. the rupture of vascular blood clots.
“Being recognized by my community is validation that my nearly 50-year approach to research has been fruitful and, importantly for me, worth continuing,” says Bassani. “I hope that my work inspires my colleagues, especially collaborators in our current research on embolization, which builds on my work on fracture that began in the aerospace industry just after I completed my bachelor’s degree. It’s rewarding to see that my career trajectory has led to this medal in recognition of that.”
The award is named after one of the original pioneers in the field of theoretical mechanics who Bassani has looked up to in his own career. “I am fortunate to be the fourth generation in a very supportive academic family tree that began with William Prager, who was a giant in my field,” says Bassani.
The formal presentation of the award will take place during a ceremony at the Society of Engineering Science 2025 Annual Meeting, to be held in Atlanta from October 12 to 15, 2025. Bassani will be giving a plenary lecture during the meeting to accompany his recognition.
Learn more about the William Prager Medal here.