Professor Xiaonian Li has made major contributions to Chemical Catalysis. His original work has helped transform the catalysts synthesized in laboratory to industrial settings, and his catalysts have been widely applied in global industries. Li has also made outstanding contributions to the engineering profession through his leadership as a university president and his dedication to training the next generation of great young engineers with international visions. His innovation is evidenced by 500 publications and 60 patents. He has led major international academic exchange programs that directly benefited hundreds of students from both Canada and China.