National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenge Scholars

With support from the National Science Foundation, we are holding a workshop on establishing Grand Challenge Scholar Programs at U.S. Engineering Schools on Thursday April 22, 2010 at The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA. This workshop will immediately follow the Boston Grand Challenge Summit on the Educational Imperatives of the Grand Challenges co-organized by Olin College of Engineering, Wellesley College, and Babson College.

The objective of this workshop is to develop a critical mass of no fewer than ten engineering schools with active GCSPs that will be educating undergraduate students by Fall 2010. Participants will be apprised of the objectives and expectations of developing an institutional GCSP for engineering undergraduates, hear from academic and business leaders about the merits, challenges and expectations of developing a GCSP, develop fund raising strategies, and work to create a programmatic outline that will be carried back to the home institution for vetting, revision, submission to the national GCSP steering committee, and ultimately approval and implementation. It is anticipated that the workshop will serve to nucleate the development of several more GCSPs within the more than 300 U.S. colleges and universities that offer degrees in engineering.

If you plan to attend the Boston GC Summit on Wednesday April 21 AND the GCSP Workshop on Thursday April 22, you can register for both events at once at http://grandchallengesummit.olin.edu (and/or http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=33f57648-f841-4a84-8b4f-f39c7aec0874 )

If you plan to attend ONLY the GCSP Workshop, you should register at https://www.olin.edu/events/grandchallenges/gc_scholars_registration.aspx

The morning will consist of presentations and interactive discussions; the afternoon will include a facilitated working session so that attendees can leave with plans of action to pursue the next steps towards GCSP establishment. We will conclude by 4pm to accommodate evening travel.

Morning:

• Welcome
• The GCSP Vision
• Existing GCSP models
• Stakeholders (industry, graduate school, etc.)
• Funding/support opportunities

Afternoon:

• Pragmatics: The five pillars
• Pragmatics: GCSP approval process
• Facilitated collaborative working session designing programmatic outlines.
• Next steps: Sharing and planning for the future.

Note that there is no registration fee, but participation is limited to members of the GCSP update list and invited guests. If you are not currently on this list but would like to attend, please contact a member of the GCSP steering committee.

For more information about the workshop, contact workshop PI Lynn Andrea Stein <las@olin.edu> or any of the other members of the Grand Challenge Scholars Program Steering Committee.

Sincerely;

The Grand Challenge Scholars Program Steering Committee
Martha Absher
William Reichert
Lynn Andrea Stein
Louise Yates