The Timoshenko Medal was established in 1957 and is conferred in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of applied mechanics. Instituted by the Applied Mechanics Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (AMME), it honors Stephen P. Timoshenko, world-renowned authority in the field, and it commemorates his contributions as author and teacher.

Professor J.N. Reddy is selected to receive the 2019 S. P. Timoshenko Medal “for life-time contributions to research and education in applied mechanics through the authorship of creative and highly-cited papers on variational principles, refined theories of plates and shells, computational methods, and nonlocal theories, which have impacted generations of engineers.”

As a member of the applied mechanics community for nearly five decades, Professor Reddy’s significant and lasting contributions and the international stature he holds in the applied mechanics community are well known. He has made several significant contributions to research and education in applied mechanics, and computational mechanics in particular, through his works on primal-dual variational principles, shear deformation theories of composite plates and shells, and authorship of many well-received text books. First, he is the most respected and highly-cited researcher in shear deformation theories of composite structures (e.g., beams, plates, and shells). Second, his passion for teaching and guiding young researchers is unparalleled. Third, behind his low key and unassuming personality, he is a deep and serious thinker, mathematically rigorous, caring about others’ understanding and learning difficult concepts. Most people who come in contact with Professor Reddy will agree on all three aspects.

Dr. Reddy has won many significant mechanics medals from various professional organizations. The most recent honors and awards include: The JN Reddy Medal in Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures (the inaugural recipient); 2018 The Theodore von Karman Medal (ASCE); 2017 The John von Neumann Medal (USACM); 2016 ASME Medal (ASME); 2015 William Prager Medal (SES); 2014 O.C. Zienkiewicz Award (IACM); 2014 Raymond D. Mindlin Medal (ASCE). He is a member US National Academy of Engineering and foreign fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and the Brazilian National Academy of Engineering.