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QUICK QUESTION: DID YOU TRY MOVING THE COVER IMAGE? Go on, give it a try. And maybe click on a couple of those stars, while you’re at it. They’ll take you to some of the 25 profiles that are part of the expansive June cover story, Mechanical Engineering’s 2026 Watch List.
If there’s one thing that we’ve learned after compiling the third annual Watch List, it’s that no two engineering careers look alike. Each year, we seek out nominations and scour the digital waves, looking for rising stars who are bringing engineering talent to new and impactful places. We have researchers, founders, influencers, a Jeopardy! champ, and even a pro athlete. Read on to find out about the widely different individuals and the professions they’ve chosen—and sometimes fallen into unexpectedly.
Permit me to also brag about the team that helped make it happen for just a moment. Once again, our Strategic Content Editor Sarah Alburakeh led the charge in interviewing the winners and writing all 25 profiles, in between everything else she does around here. We could not do this project without her. And our Lead Digital Designer Adrian Castillo went far beyond the initial concept that we gave him, creating an entirely new look and feel for the Watch List. We hope you enjoy the incredible flourishes he designed as much as we do.
Photo: Getty Images
While we could have filled multiple magazines with the Watch List alone, we decided that there was room for a few more treats. With ASME’s Turbo Expo 2026 being held in Milan, Italy, in just a few weeks, what better time to explore “The New Dawn of Turbomachinery.” In this special feature, mechanical engineering professors F. Todd Davidson of West Point and Michael E. Webber of the University of Texas at Austin take a look back at turbomachinery’s origins, impact, evolution, and future, amid a new age of electrification and industrialization that’s pushing turbomachinery demand increasingly higher.
If you happened to read last month’s issue, you may recall that we were waiting on the results of the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ national Azbee Awards of Excellence. I’m so pleased to share that Mechanical Engineering was chosen as the 2026 Digital Magazine of the Year. The Azbees is one of the biggest awards programs out there for magazines like ours, so it’s a profound honor. Learn more about the award and our other wins in this month’s ASME News.
There’s a whole lot more ahead, from a dive into the development of a cephalopod-inspired robot to an infographic that takes a look at chatbots past and present. We have a video from Watch List finalist and content creator Kaemen Lafleur, and a column all about the NASA HUNCH program, written by Wyatt Steffanus, chair of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville ASME Student Chapter. And have you ever wondered if the Fundamentals of Engineering exam still matters as much as it once did? Check out this month’s Career Focus for our take.
Experiencing a bit of FOMO after reading through these Watch List profiles? Not to worry—we have the 2027 nomination form ready and waiting for you.
—Louise Poirier, managing editor
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