Abstract: Gradient theory has been succesful in interpreting a variety of physical processes ranging from diffusion and chemical reactions to deformation and fracture phenomena. The theories of spinodal decomposition, dislocation patterning, gradient elasticity and gradient plasticity are special examples. After reviewing these advances, the extensions of gradient theory to model other phenomena across the scale spectrum are discussed. These include examples ranging from nanoscales and below to astroscales and beyond.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
E.C. Aifantis is a Professor of Mechanics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hellas, and a Distinguished Research Professor of Engineering at Michigan Technological University, USA. For the last 10 years he has been coordinating a European Research/Training Network, sequence on Material Instabilities in Deformation and Fracture involving a number of leading European Laboratories (e.g. Cambridge, Delft and 5 more) with a total of about $5 Million. Most recently a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant recipient (K. Aifantis) funded with 1.13 Million Euros decided to conduct her research in his laboratory (Physics Today - April 2008 issue, p.30-31, BBC; Science Careers. Moreover, two EU International Incoming Fellowships of 200 kEuros each were awarded (A. Romanov/Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Russia, and N. Kioussis/California State University, USA). He is also a co-PI of a NIRT NSF Program on Nanomechanics of Polymeric and Biological Nanofibers with a total budget exceeding $1 Million. He has published over 450 papers with over 5300 citations, edited 12 books, organized numerous international conferences, and has been invited as keynote speaker on various occasions. He is an Editor of the Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Honorary Editor of Computer and Experimental Simulations in Engineering and Science, on the Advisory/Editorial board of Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Open Mechanics Journal, Journal of Nano Research, Reviews on Advanced Materials Science, Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica, Materials Physics and Mechanics, Acta Mechanica (formerly), Mechanics of Cohesive-Frictional Materials (formerly). In June 2005 in the joint ASME/ASCE/SES Mechanics and Materials Conference in Baton Rouge, a Symposium was held honoring his contributions in gradient theory, dislocation patterning and material instabilities.