The Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials was established in 1990 (Official Name: Laboratory of Engineering Mechanics), and moved in 2013 from the General Department to the Department of Civil Engineering of AUTh. Under the direction of Professor Elias C. Aifantis, the Lab was internationally distinguished for its groundbreaking research on Multiscale / Multiphysics Aspects Across the Scale Spectrum / Disciplines, and in particular in the Gradient Theory of Elasticity / Plasticity / Damage (earlier used for solving material morphogenesis / material instabilities / size effects and crack singularities).