NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering

Program Status
Completed
December 23, 2021
July
15
2006
Related News
Grand Challenges Website
Grand Challenges homepage screenshot
The Grand Challenges for Engineering website shares information about the 14 challenges selected by the National Academy of Engineering.
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At-a-Glance
The NAE convened a select, international committee to evaluate ideas on the greatest challenges and opportunities for engineering.
Objectives
  • The NAE convened a select, international committee to evaluate ideas on the greatest challenges and opportunities for engineering. The grand challenges for engineering are presented and described in the project website at http://www.engineeringchallenges.org.

In a fourteen-month project, the NAE convened a select, international committee to evaluate ideas on the greatest challenges and opportunities for engineering. The committee drew upon many sources of engineering expertise (including the NAE membership and foreign members, the NAE's international Frontiers of Engineering program, and engineering societies worldwide) as well as ideas from the broader public.

The NAE Committee on Engineering's Grand Challenges identified 14 grand challenges and opportunities for engineering during the world's next few generations. It pointed to engineering or scientific research and innovation that look promising for addressing each challenge as well as suggested currently unmet research needs.

The Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century are revealed on a special website.

The website was presented at an event in Washington, D.C. involving dignitaries from government, the science/technical community, and media/entertainment. Further distribution of a print publication of the challenges came from collaboration with major media outlets.  The website has been promoted widely, including to schools.

Interest in the Grand Challenges has led to several follow-up NAE activities and independent projects by other organizations.

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Recent Reports
  • Logo Institute
    Copyright2017
    A diverse committee of experts from around the world, some of the most accomplished engineers and scientists of their generation, proposed the 14 challenges outlined in this booklet.
    Authoring institutionNational Academy of Engineering
    Publication DateJanuary 1, 2017
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Recent Projects
  • Completed
    Series of global summits for leading scientists and engineers, educators, policy leaders, students, and the public to address grand challenges.

    Latest UpdateApril 25, 2022

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Resources
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