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What are the 14 NAE Grand Challenges?

Understanding the Grand Challenges When Applying – USC Viterbi | Undergraduate Admission

In 2008, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) identified 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering for the 21st century as a call to action to address critical issues affecting the quality of life[1]. These interdisciplinary problems require collaborative efforts across technical and non-technical fields[2][3].

The 14 NAE Grand Challenge problems are:

  • Make Solar Energy Economical[4]
  • Provide Energy for Fusion[5]
  • Develop Carbon Sequestration[6]
  • Manage the Nitrogen Cycle[7]
  • Provide Access to Clean Water[8]
  • Restore and Improve Urban Infrastructure[9]
  • Advance Health Informatics[10]
  • Engineer Better Medicines[11]
  • Reverse-Engineer the Brain[12]
  • Prevent Nuclear Terror[13]
  • Secure Cyberspace[14]
  • Enhance Virtual Reality[15]
  • Advance Personalized Learning[16]
  • Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery[17]