2008

Engineering Grand Challenges

In 2008, the National Academy of Engineering publicized the Engineering Grand Challenges. It is a list of important problems society is currently facing from an engineering perspective. By focusing attention on these fourteen big problems, the NAE felt that engineers could make the world a better place.

The list is fascinating because it highlights the challenges we face today as well as big untapped ideas and areas of investigation that need creative engineering solutions. Here are some (see the website mentioned in “Further Reading” for a full list):

Economical solar energy—If its costs can be driven well below the cost of fossil fuels, solar energy use would explode.

Energy from fusion—Humankind has been dreaming about cheap fusion power for decades. ITER and NIF (National Ignition Facility) are two big efforts to make the dream a reality.

Urban infrastructure restoration—Roads, water systems, sewers, and bridges are aging. Providing funds to keep them modern is important.

Carbon sequestration—Cheap and easy sequestration would help lessen the impact of CO2 in the environment.

Clean water—Universal clean water supplies would radically improve the lives of billions of people.

Cyberspace security—How do we keep cyberterrorists from crashing the Internet or infecting places like banks and power grids?

Health informatics—Can engineers create a system making everyone’s medical information digitally and universally available to doctors and hospitals?

Nitrogen cycle—Humans fix a lot of nitrogen. Like CO2, nitrogen has a negative impact on the environment.

Nuclear terror prevention—Nuclear materials and bombs in the hands of terrorists could create catastrophic events. Preventing that possibility is a major goal.

Tools of scientific discovery—Engineers build the tools for big science. The more tools we have, the more discoveries scientists can make.

Virtual reality—Virtual reality equipment is too expensive and there are major holes in the technology.

SEE ALSO Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (2014).

Many of the answers to engineering’s greatest challenges have yet to be found.