The class of hexagonal close packed (HCP) metals, such as Mg and Ti, has great potential for commercialization in applications needing combinations of high strength or stiffness, low density (low weight), and resistance to extreme conditions.  Such industrial applications include biomedical, aerospace, ground transportation, military, nuclear energy, and space.  In this research area, we aim to launch innovative methods for designing and synthesizing ultra-strong, lightweight hcp materials that meet modern manufacturing and materials challenges. Research activities in this area include atomic-scale modeling, dislocation theory, micromechanics, crystal plasticity, polycrystal plasticity, and probability theory, combined with experiment testing and characterization.  The goal is to uncover the physical microscopic mechanisms that drive microstructural evolution and material behavior under thermomechanical conditions.