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The Engineer of 2020 Visions of Engineering in
the New Century (a summary of NAE Report) 1
October, 2004
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• Background of Study
• Took broad perspective of engineering
• Focus on undergraduate education
• Part 1 Engineering and future role of engineers
• Part 2 Engineering education

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• Goal of Study
• Position engineering education for future by
  asking questions
• What should/will engineering by like in 2020 - a
  reflection of todays engineering or dramatically
  different?
• Can engineering profession play a role in shaping
  its own future?

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• Can a future be created where engineering has a
  broadly recognized image that celebrates our role
  in addressing societal and technical challenges ?
• How can engineers best be educated to be leaders?
• Will engineering be viewed as a foundation for a
  broad range of careers?
• Will engineering reflect diversity of society?

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• Four Scenarios
• The Next Scientific Revolution
• The Biotechnology Revolution in a Societal
  Context
• The Natural World Interrupts the Technology Cycle
• Global Conflict or Globalization?

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• Scenario 1
• The Next Scientific Revolution
• Optimistic future
• Change is principally driven by technology
• Predictable path for technology
• Todays evolving technologies are matured over
  time
• Optimized for benefit of society

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• Scenario 1 - continued
• The Next Scientific Revolution
• Engineers will use new science to create new
  technologies
• Engineers will create new technologies that
  demand new science to explain
• Importance of technology continues to grow

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• Scenario 2
• Biotechnology Revolution
• Engineering/Science hold great potential
• Political and societal implications could
  intervene and be major driver for change
• Example transgenetic foods
• Example power industry

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• Scenario 3
• The Natural World Interrupts Technology Cycle
• Recognizes events beyond our control
• Natural disasters
• Role of engineer
• Speeding recovery
• Predicting risk
• Adapting systems to minimize impact

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• Scenario 4
• Global Conflict or Globalization
• Recognizes influence of global issues
• Conflict or globalization
• Engineering is particularly sensitive to such
  issues
• Product development
• Outsourcing

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• Guiding Principles Shaping Technology
• Pace of technological change will be rapid
• Global interconnection of world
• Population involved with or affected by
  technology will be increasingly diverse and
  multidisciplinary
• Social, cultural, political and economic forces
  will continue to affect the success of
  technological innovations
• Presence of technology in our everyday lives will
  be seamless, transparent and more significant
  than ever

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• Aspirations for the Engineer of 2020
• Public understands and appreciates
• Impact of engineering on societal systems
• Spectrum of career opportunities accessible
  through engineering education
• Value of an engineering education to engineers
  working successfully in nonengineering jobs
• Breadth of knowledge that makes us competent to
  address worlds complex and changing challenges

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• Aspirations for the Engineer of 2020
• Engineering education
• Remains well grounded in basics of math and
  science
• Expands vision of design through solid grounding
  in humanities, social science and economics
• Emphasis on creative process allows more
  effective leadership in development and
  application of next-generation technologies to
  problems of future

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• Aspirations for the Engineer of 2020
• Engineering profession will
• Create and accommodate new fields
• Open to interdisciplinary fields that include
  nonengineering component
• Science
• Business
• Social Science
• Effectively recruit, nurture and welcome
  underrepresented groups

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• Aspirations for the Engineer of 2020
• Engineers who will
• Assume leadership positions where they can serve
  as positive influence in
• Making of Public Policy
• Industry
• Administration of Government

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• Aspirations for the Engineer of 2020
• Engineers who will
• Be leaders in movement towards use of wise,
  informed and economical sustainable development
• This should begin in educational institutions
• Founded in basic tenets of engineering profession
  and its actions
• Be prepared to adapt to changes in global forces
  and trends

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• Aspirations for the Engineer of 2020
• Engineering education that
• Prepares todays students for rapid pace of
  change
• Responsive to disparate learning styles of
  different student populations
• Attractive for all those seeking a full and
  well-rounded education
• Prepares tomorrows leaders

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• Attributes of the Engineer of 2020
• Strong analytical skills
• Practical ingenuity
• Creativity
• Good communication skills
• Business and management skills
• Leadership
• High ethical standards
• Dynamism, agility, resilience and flexibility to
  deal with changing world
• Lifelong learners

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Eleanor Roosevelt Conscience
Albert Einstein Scientific Insight
Gordon Moore Problem-Solving Capabilities
Attributes of the Engineer of 2020
Lillian Gilbreth Ingenuity
Pablo Picasso Creativity
Our Grandchildren Curiosity and Wonder
Martin Luther King Vision
Wright Brothers Determination
Bill Gates Leadership Abilities