A famous scientist in material science,National Academy of Science (NAE) Academician Robert Ritchie of UC Berkeley was awarded Honorary Professor of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU). The appointment ceremony was held and June 1st. Sun Jun, Dean of XJTU School of Material Science awarded Robert Ritchie the appointment certificate.

Professor Ritchie is a worldwide top scholar in material science for his research on the mechanical function of materials. He have been working for the Faculty of Material Science and Engineering of UC Berkley since 1982 and is entitled "H. T. &Jessie Chua" Professor. He also serves as Academician of NAE, Royal Academy of Engineering(RAE), Russian Academy of Science (RAS), and Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). Professor Ritchie is a tenured TMS fellow and gets many honors like the Acta Materialia Golden Pirze, a lifetime honor set up by the world famous journal Acta Materialia.

Professor Ritchie addressed the 8th International Seminar on Function of Micro-nano Scale Material by reporting on "Conflicts of Strength and Toughness: Concepts of Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Toughening Applied to Biomaterials and Advanced Multi-element Metallic Alloys". He was said to conduct academic exchange and guidance in the School of Material Science during his one-week stay.