Dr Lech Walis graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology of the Warsaw University of Technology in 1959. For several years he worked in industry. In 1956 he joined the Institute of Nuclear Research at Swierk near Warsaw, where he received his Ph.D. degree in Technical Sciences in 1972 and became Associate Professor in 1976. Since 1983 he has been working at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology as Head of the Department of Nuclear Methods of Material Engineering and since 1990 as Director General of the Institute. He is the author and co-author of over 85 publications and 12 patents. He has been awarded several national awards. Dr Walis is Vice-President of the Polish Nuclear Society and a member of the Polish Atomic Energy Council. His research interests comprise: material science and engineering - surface engineering and nuclear techniques in material engineering.