Prof. BAI Yilong from the CAS Institute of Mechanics has received the 2007 John Rinehart Award for his seminal contributions to the theories of shear-band formation and damage in materials and for his leadership in dynamic behavior of materials in China. He is the first Chinese winner of the prestigious award since its establishment.

The 2007 award was announced at the annual meeting of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) held from 25 February to 1 March earlier that year in Orlando, Florida. on behalf of TMS on 18 September 2007 in Beijing, the award was conferred to Prof. Bai by Prof. Marc A. Meyers, who himself has received the same award in 2009.

Named after John S. Rinehart, a pioneer to the field of dynamic deformation of materials, this award was established in 1990 to recognize outstanding effort and creative work in the science and technology of dynamic processes in materials.