Symposium on Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society

Please join us for an informative symposium on “Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society” taking place virtually  August 18-19, 2022.

The symposium focuses on assisting the National Science Foundation in its efforts to bring greater understanding of and attention to engineering’s role in fulfilling the NSF’s mission “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; [and] to secure the national defense...”. 

Register Now to join in this illuminating symposium.  You may register for one day, or both days. Registration is free and open to the public. 

Symposium Highlights

Thursday August 18

Welcome remarks
John L. Anderson, President, NAE
Dan Arvizu, Chancellor; and Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New Mexico State University System; Chair, Committee on Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society

Session I – NSF and its Role in Fostering Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
The symposium’s first session will lay the groundwork for the event by providing background and insight on NSF’s history of funding engineering research, the establishment of the Directorate for Engineering as the home of this support, and how NSF engineering research and education funding affect not just technological innovation but our society and culture.

Session II – People Who Bring About Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
Experts who have applied engineering principles to some of society’s most challenging problems and have brought about far-reaching changes to technology, the economy, and society will be hare their experiences.
 

Friday, August 19

Keynote – Engineering’s Role in Creating Extraordinary Impacts on Society
Engineers and the work they perform have had profound effects that range far beyond technological advancement. This opening keynote will highlight how these contributions affect such diverse issues as individual quality of life, national security, population health, manufacturing services, infrastructure resilience, public policy, and society at-large.

Keynote – Engineering Education – The Key to Creating the Next Generation of Extraordinary Impacts
The role of engineering education—a pillar of the Directorate for Engineering’s efforts—in building and sustaining the pipeline of researchers and practitioners who bring about innovations that change society, will be discussed.

Session III – NSF Centers that Catalyze Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
NSF Centers—in particular, their Engineering Research Centers—have played a central role in producing breakthroughs that address national challenges and open new opportunities. This session will bring these contributions to center stage through presentations by engineers who have been an integral part of these Centers’ many achievements.

Session IV – NSF Processes that Foster Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
Closing out the symposium will be talks by engineers whose extraordinary impacts were made possible by the various NSF funding processes that have supported engineering research and education over the years. These include the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC), Innovation Corps (I-Corps), Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER), Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions (ADVANCE), Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), and Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP) support mechanisms.