Engineering for a Changing World: Future of Engineering Practice, Research, & Education

An array of powerful forces, including demographics, globalization, and rapidly evolving technologies, is driving profound changes in the role of engineering in society. The changing technology needs of a global knowledge economy are challenging the nature of engineering practice, demanding far broader skills than simply the mastery of scientific and technological disciplines. The growing awareness of the importance of technological innovation to economic competitiveness and national security is demanding a new priority for basic engineering research. The nonlinear nature of the flow of knowledge between fundamental research and engineering application, the highly interdisciplinary nature of new technologies, and the impact of cyber infrastructure demand new paradigms in engineering research and development.