College of Engineering Commits to Taking on Grand Challenges

Photo by University Relations

Norm Dennis represented the U of A College of Engineering in Washington, D.C.

On March 23, Norm Dennis, interim associate dean of the College of Engineering, represented the University of Arkansas in the presentation of a letter of commitment to President Barack Obama. In the letter, more than 120 U.S. engineering colleges announced plans to educate a new generation of engineers expressly equipped to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society in the 21st century.

These "Grand Challenges," identified through initiatives such as the White House Strategy for American Innovation, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges for Engineering, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, include complex yet critical goals such as engineering better medicines, making solar energy cost-competitive with coal, securing cyberspace, and advancing personalized learning tools to deliver better education to more individuals.

As part of this group, the College of Engineering has pledged to graduate a minimum of 20 students per year who have been specially prepared to lead the way in solving such large-scale problems, with the goal of training more than 20,000 formally recognized "Grand Challenge Engineers" over the next decade.

Grand Challenge Engineers will be trained through special programs at each institution that integrate five educational elements: a hands-on research or design project connected to the Grand Challenges; real-world, interdisciplinary experiential learning with clients and mentors; entrepreneurship and innovation experience; global and cross-cultural perspectives; and service-learning.

"I'd like to thank Dr. Dennis for representing us on this special occasion," said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. "As a college, we are very excited to be part of this initiative. We've been using the NAE's Grand Challenges to help guide our education program for some time now. Students like the Arkansas Engineers Abroad and the Water Hogs team are already using their time here to take on global engineering problems, and we look forward to seeing even more of our students take part in similar activities."

"The NAE's Grand Challenges for Engineering are already inspiring more and more of our brightest young people to pursue careers that will have direct impacts on improving the quality of life for people across the globe," said NAE President C.D. Mote Jr. "Imagine the impact of tens of thousands of additional creative minds focused on tackling society's most vexing challenges. 'Changing the world' is not hyperbole in this case. With the right encouragement, they will do it and inspire others as well."