The Summit Series on the NAE Grand Challenges

NAE Grand ChallengesUniversities across the U.S. are answering the call to action raised by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in partnership with the National Science Foundation. That call has focused public attention on the NAE Grand Challenges, a critical grouping of problems that must be addressed and solved in order to maintain our national security, quality of life and sustainable future. Addressing issues this complex requires innovation and cooperation from engineers of all kinds, as well as policy makers, economists, geologists, biologists and sociologists.

The Grand Challenge Summit Series represents a commitment to sustain critical dialogue and engagement with grand challenge problems and to change the way we educate our students in order to better prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Upcoming Summits

Grand Challenge Summit Series - Raleigh, N.C. - March 3-5, 2010
  Challenge Topics: Engineering Better Medicines, Prevent Nuclear Terror, and Provide Energy from Fusion
  Organizers: North Carolina State University, Duke University

Grand Challenge Summit Series - Phoenix, Ariz. - April 8-9, 2010
  Challenge Topics: Engineer Better Medicines, Manage the Nitrogen Cycle, Make Solar Energy Economical, Advance Personalized Learning
  Organizer: Arizona State University

Grand Challenge Summit Series - Chicago, Ill. - April 21-22, 2010

  Challenge Topics: Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods, Provide Access to Clean Water, Restore and Renew Urban Infrastructure, Engineer Better Medicines
  Organizer: Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago

Grand Challenge Summit Series - Boston, Mass.- April 21, 2010
  Challenge Topics: Educational Imperatives of the Grand Challenges
  Organizers: Olin College of Engineering, Wellesley College, Babson College

Grand Challenge Summit Series - Seattle, Wash. - May 2-3, 2010

  Challenge Topics: Engineer Better Medicines, Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery
  Organizer: University of Washington 
National Grand Challenge Summit Meeting - Los Angeles, Calif. - October 6-8, 2010
   Organizer: University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering

Goals of the Summit Series:

  1. Enhance student interest in engineering and science.
  2. Increase the visibility and importance of engineering and science to society.
  3. Underscore the importance of recognizing that engineering education must be coupled to policy/business/law and must be student-focused.
  4. Enhance student interest in engineering, science, and technology entrepreneurship.
  5. Foment future collaborations of interested scientists, engineers, policy makers and researchers in business, law, social sciences and humanities needed to successfully address these complex societal issues.