Whereas tribology is a branch of science and engineering encompassing scientific disciplines related to the controlling of friction, reduction of wear loss, and development and application of novel lubrication strategies; Whereas almost every aspect of our lives is impacted by technologies that benefit from the ability to control friction and wear loss; Whereas approximately a third of the world’s primary energy consumption is attributed to friction, and about 70 percent of equipment failures is blamed on lubrication breakdown and wear loss; Whereas loss of energy to friction and material losses due to wear in mechanical systems such as internal combustion and gas turbine engines account for huge economic and environmental burdens; Whereas finding ways to minimize friction and wear through new technologies in tribology can have an enormous impact on the economy; Whereas improving durability of goods and equipment has a dramatic impact on reducing our demand for finite resources such as raw materials; Whereas proper application of tribology principles reduces energy usage, lowers the cost of maintenance and replacement, and increases reliability; Whereas new solid lubricants and biodegradable and synthetic lubricants developed from fundamental research are critical to a greener and more sustainable future; Whereas improvements in manufacturing productivity and efficiency enabled by reduction of friction and wear loss are crucial to our economic competitiveness; Whereas energy conservation and successful generation of clean energy, such as with wind turbines, rely on principles of tribology; Whereas reduction of friction is at the very core of improving fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Whereas safety, reliability, and durability of mechanical products and systems have critical implications on our global reputation with respect to trade and exported goods