Challenges to Help Engineer a Better World - Engineering's Grand Challenges

It seems that the unifying characteristic that defines engineers across the board is: problem solving. No matter what particular field of focus or technical expertise, whether it is design, drawings, manufacturing, production or maintenance, an engineer will typically be the go-to problem solver.

So, when a panel of experts compiles a list of Engineering's Grand Challenges, it is a way for society as a whole to call on engineers to solve the greatest problems of our time. Although, in this sense, these engineers, or technological architects, will include inventors, researchers, high school students, hackers and just about anybody that is willing to learn, think up novel solutions and work ideas into real, usable products.

One of the popular categories of the Grand Challenges is solar energy. Recent discovery in this field addresses the issue of cleaning solar panels in hot, dusty climates where such technology is likely to be deployed in earnest. Originally developed for use on mars, self-cleaning solar panels uses an alternating electric current on the surface of panels to sweep charged dust particles across the surface. [TR] Ultimately, this sort of rethinking is directly in tune with the goals of the Grand Challenge: innovative solutions.


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The categories for the Grand Challenges are:

• Make solar energy economical
• Manage the nitrogen cycle
• Advance health informatics
• Prevent nuclear terror
• Advance personalized learning
• Provide energy from fusion
• Provide access to clean water
• Engineer better medicines
• Secure cyberspace
• Engineer the tools of scientific discovery
• Develop carbon sequestration methods
• Restore and improve urban infrastructure
• Reverse-engineer the brain
• Enhance virtual reality

Each of these is discussed in greater detail on the Grand Challenges website. They feature interesting comments, media and links to additional resources. Although the site does not satisfy as a one-stop shop for finding out where the cutting edge research is happening for these fields or how to get involved, it is a great source of inspiration! Find out more at: http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/challenges.aspx.

There are many other avenues beyond the three covered in this series through which you can help engineer a better world. The worst thing to do is nothing. Do some research. Join or organize a team. Register for a project. Or, just spread the word. Thanks for reading!

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Challenges to Help Engineer a Better World - X Prizes

I recently wrote about the excitement revolving around solar-powered vehicles and autonomous vehicles. Another recent mention of the future of vehicles in the news has been the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE race whose winners were announced on September 16, 2010. The essence of the X PRIZE is unrivaled innovation spurred by competition within small teams. This was indeed the case with the recent winner Very Light Car, a four-passenger vehicle by Edison2 which recorded an impressive 102.5 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon Gasoline equivalent)
X Prize

The X PRIZE Foundation is a non-profit organization rooted in the belief that dedicated teams in pursuit of a prize can revolutionize the world and benefit humanity. The idea is that "an X PRIZE incites innovation by tapping into our competitive and entrepreneurial spirits." - http://www.xprize.org/x-prizes/overview . The original X PRIZE, renamed the Ansari X PRIZE, was awarded to Mojave Aerospace Ventures' SpaceShipOne on October 4, 2004 in the amount of US $10 million.

Winning this prize was no easy fit. As described on the website, the winner must launch a spacecraft capable of carrying three (3) passengers to 100km above the Earth's surface and repeat this, within two weeks. SpaceShipOne did just that! Also, by successfully completing this momentous spaceflight without significant government assistance, a new industry of private spaceflight was ignited, flames of which are just now being seen [LAT].

Now, don't be gloom if you missed your shot at the Ansari X PRIZE, there are two other active prizes. Here are all of them so far:

• Ansari X PRIZE - $10,000,000 (Won by SpaceShipOne) - Carry 3 people to 100km above the Earth's surface twice within 2 weeks.
• Progressive Automotive X PRIZE - $10,000,000 ($5m Won by Very Light Car) - 100MPGe production-capable car that is also safe, affordable and desirable for consumers.
• Archon Genomics X PRIZE - $10,000,000 - Sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days for less than $10k per genome.
• Google Lunar X PRIZE -  $30,000,000 - Safely land a robot on the moon which subsequently travels 500m on the lunar surface while sending images and data back to Earth. Hurry, deadline for registration is December 31, 2010!

There are also several other X Prizes coming down the pipeline, so keep a look out and start getting your team ready today. Learn more about future X Prizes here: http://www.xprize.org/future-x-prizes.


If the humanitarian aspect is more in tune with your aspirations, then the United Nations' Millenium Development Goals might be your niche. Otherwise, if you're looking to innovate on the very leading edge of engineering and technology in almost all aspects of society, take a look at the Grand Challenges for Engineering as compiled by the National Academy of Engineering. These Grand Challenges comprise the greatest impedances to social advancement at the time when the panel of experts was convened to compile the resource. They serve as a benchmark for the leading edge in technology and the trailing edge in social development producing an inspirational perspective of how far we've come, yet how much more we are facing right now. It is a call to action for engineers and all other members of society, sitting idly by while the world spins is no longer acceptable. It is vital that we contribute our time, talent, education and innovation in whatever ways we can - the Grand Challenges are a good way to start exploring. Click here to continue reading >>

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