Dr. Bashir was chair of the American Chemical Society (ACS) South Texas Region (2011–2012); Dr. Liu was secretary/treasurer of the same section (2010–2011). Part of their leadership role was to invite elite speakers from top universities to come to the south Texas region to give technical presentations.
In 2012–2013, both Drs. Bashir and Liu co-organized a symposium on behalf of the National ACS Conference (COLLOIDAL division) in Indianapolis, IN, related to colloidal based bottom-up synthesis in nanofabrication related to environmental and energy aspects. At that conference, Dr. Liu separately co-organized energy talks on behalf of the ACS ENERGY division.
In March 2014, both Drs. Bashir and Liu co-organized an ACS symposium (COLLOIDAL division) in Dallas, TX, related to environmental cleanup using nano-engineered systems.
Both editors are therefore well known and well connected in this field to put forth an excellent book on this topic.