UA joins in pledge to train engineers for big challenges

FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville is among 122 universities committed to training engineers as leaders in solving "grand challenges," the university announced Wednesday.

A letter presented Monday to President Barack Obama included signatures from university engineering leaders, such as UA's engineering dean John English.

Listed in the letter are aspirations for such things as "reverse-engineering the brain" and "making solar energy cost-competitive with coal." The letter describes societal "grand challenges" as being identified through initiatives, including the White House Strategy for American Innovation and the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

The letter commits to special university programs offering students hands-on research related to such challenges, as well as experiential learning with "clients and mentors." Service learning, along with global and cross-cultural perspectives, are also to be part of these special programs, as are innovation and entrepreneurial experience.

"Over the course of the next decade, we commit to graduating from each of our institutions a minimum of 20 students per year who are prepared with this unique combination of skills, motivation, and leadership to address the Grand Challenges for Engineering of the 21st century," the letter states.

Norm Dennis, interim associate dean for UA's engineering college, represented UA in the presentation of the letter at the White House Science Fair.

Metro on 03/27/2015

Upcoming Events