The Case for the Science Popularizer PostedJune 24, 2024 Science popularization is essential to tackling engineering’s greatest challenges.
Suicide and Mental Health Challenges in the Construction Industry PostedMay 30, 2024 Suicide and mental health challenges are urgent problems in the construction industry.
Space Environmentalism: Toward a Circular Economy Approach for Orbital Space PostedApril 25, 2024 Space environmentalism is vital for preserving orbital space as a valuable resource for humanity.
The Rise of Cyber-Physical Systems PostedNovember 29, 2023 We have entered the cyber-physical age, but we are unprepared for it due to systemic under-allocation in the physical sciences and the lack of a truly multidisciplinary engineering curriculum.
Fusion Energy: Seizing Our Opportunity for a Clean Energy Future PostedNovember 20, 2023 Our nation is at a pivotal moment in the development of fusion energy as a clean, reliable source of power that could effectively address the climate crisis.
Immersive Audio: The Past Repackaged or a New Frontier? PostedSeptember 26, 2023 Immersive music production and consumption are finally here to stay. And, while there are hurdles to overcome, the future looks bright for those creating content and those consuming it.
Materials Matter: Building the Embassy of the Future PostedAugust 31, 2023 US embassies are impressive feats of architecture and engineering. They are more than ordinary buildings; they are multifunctional campuses serving as centralized headquarters for American diplomats and foreign-service officials.
Engineering Ethics and Narratives for Technological Imagination PostedAugust 1, 2023 To create more ethical and engaged engineering practices, new and authentic narratives surrounding disability are needed.
Psychological Safety in Engineering Starts with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PostedJune 13, 2023 Everyone in the workplace has to feel safe to speak up, and that depends on inclusion and psychological safety.
Technological Obsolescence PostedMay 24, 2023 Keeping and maintaining an obsolete but functioning technology may make more sense than acquiring a newer technology, especially if competition and customers are not demanding change.
The Untapped Potential of Computing and Cognition in Tackling Climate Change PostedApril 25, 2023 Helping people change their behaviors may be where technology can have its greatest impact on climate change.
Moving to Evidence-Based Elections PostedMarch 10, 2023 Systematic manual examination of ballots, rigorous ballot accounting procedures, and public compliance audits would increase election transparency and are urgently needed.
Hidden Curriculum: An Image Holder of Engineering PostedFebruary 14, 2023 Formative experiences inform individuals’ perceptions of themselves and others in the classroom, community, and workplace. In engineering, the image of a typical engineer – perpetuated in a “hidden curriculum” – often distorts perceptions of the work and abilities of those who differ from that ...
Engineering and the Diversity Imperative: The 15th Grand Challenge PostedOctober 17, 2022 Engineering impacts everyone. Diversifying the field is imperative if we want to build on engineering’s legacy of extraordinary impact. Why? Because diversity leads to better outcomes, explains Gary S. May in the latest NAE Perspectives.
Eliminating Poverty for a Cooler Planet PostedSeptember 30, 2022 Robin Podmore (NAE) is president, Incremental Systems Corp. (IncSys). Anjan Bose (NAE) is Regents Professor, School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Washington State University.
The Growing Role of Clinical Engineering: Merging Technology at the Point of Care PostedMay 31, 2022 Fiza Shaukat is a native of Pakistan living in the United States. As a biomedical engineer, she was eager to improve her country’s medical devices and digital health strategies. She approached us in 2018 seeking expertise in clinical engineering, which focuses on the point-of-care intersection ...
Ensuring Human Control over AI-Infused Systems PostedApril 7, 2022 Human control over technology was a concern thousands of years ago when early humans sought to ensure safe use of fire. Later, control over horse-drawn wagons and eventually steam engines led to debates about how to make the most of their benefits while limiting dangers. Now questions of control ...
Augmenting Our Thinking through the Nexus of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Art PostedFebruary 18, 2022 Today, more urgently than ever, we need to augment our thinking. The world faces enormous challenges of unprecedented complexity—problems that intertwine in a dizzyingly interconnected, interdependent, and changing landscape. Few of them—especially those dealing with energy, environment, and social ...
Technoscientific Research: A Missing Term in R&D Discourse PostedJanuary 19, 2022 Over the past decade there have been consistent alarm signals about US leadership in science and technology. Arguments often boil down to the need for additional funding for R&D. In this perspective, I reflect not on the well-justified need for such additional funding, but for more effective ...