Extraordinary
Engineering Impacts
on Society
Steve Olson and David A. Butler,
Rapporteurs
Program Office
National Academy of Engineering
Proceedings of a Symposium
NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
This activity was supported by contracts between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation (EFMA-2101725). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-69796-5
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-69796-4
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26847
Cover image: The Utah Bionic Leg; made possible in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Mark Helzen Draper/University of Utah College of Engineering. Used with permission.
This publication is available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; www.nap.edu.
Copyright 2023 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and National Academies Press and the graphical logos for each are all trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society: Proceedings of a Symposium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26847.
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.
The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.
Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.
Consensus Study Reports published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the evidence-based consensus on the study’s statement of task by an authoring committee of experts. Reports typically include findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information gathered by the committee and the committee’s deliberations. Each report has been subjected to a rigorous and independent peer-review process and it represents the position of the National Academies on the statement of task.
Proceedings published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine chronicle the presentations and discussions at a workshop, symposium, or other event convened by the National Academies. The statements and opinions contained in proceedings are those of the participants and are not endorsed by other participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies.
Rapid Expert Consultations published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are authored by subject-matter experts on narrowly focused topics that can be supported by a body of evidence. The discussions contained in rapid expert consultations are considered those of the authors and do not contain policy recommendations. Rapid expert consultations are reviewed by the institution before release.
For information about other products and activities of the National Academies, please visit www.nationalacademies.org/about/whatwedo.
COMMITTEE ON EXTRAORDINARY ENGINEERING IMPACTS ON SOCIETY
DAN E. ARVIZU (NAE; Chair), Chancellor, New Mexico State University System; Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
LYNN A. CONWAY (NAE), Professor Emerita, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan
EDWARD H. FRANK (NAE), Cofounder and CEO, Brilliant Lime, Inc. and Cloud Parity
SELDA GUNSEL (NAE), President, Shell Global Solutions (US); Vice President of Global Lubricants and Fuels Technology, Shell
WILLIAM S. HAMMACK (NAE), William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
EBONEY HEARN, Executive Director, Office of Engineering Outreach Programs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
LAURA A. LINDENFELD, Dean, School of Communication and Journalism, Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, Stony Brook University
THERESA A. MALDONADO, Vice President for Research & Innovation, University of California Office of the President
LOUIS A. MARTIN-VEGA (NAE), Dean and Professor of Engineering, North Carolina State University
YU TAO, Associate Professor of Sociology, Stevens Institute of Technology
JIMMY WILLIAMS JR., Distinguished Service Professor of Engineering and Public Policy; Director, Engineering & Technology Innovation Management Program, Carnegie Mellon University
JEFFREY R. YOST, Director, Charles Babbage Institute for Computing, Information, and Culture; Research Professor, History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
National Academy of Engineering staff
DAVID A. BUTLER, J. Herbert Hollomon Scholar, Study Director
CAMERON H. FLETCHER, Editor
COURTNEY HILL, Program Officer
MAIYA SPELL, Senior Program Assistant
GURU MADHAVAN, Norman R. Augustine Senior Scholar, Senior Director of Programs
Contract Writer
STEVE OLSON, Freelance Writer
Contents
1 Symposium Introduction and Keynote Presentations
Creating the Potential for Impact
Empowering Engineering Superheroes
2 NSF and Its Role in Fostering Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
The Applied Innovation Challenges Facing NSF
The Broader Impacts of Engineering Research
Fostering Multidisciplinary Work
Observations on Engineering’s Impacts
Additional Dimensions of Diversity
3 People Who Brought About Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
The Infrastructure Behind Science and Engineering Advances
Societal Impacts of Tissue Engineering
Commercializing Carbon Nanotubes
NSF’s Investments in the Early Internet
Targeting Cancer Cells with Nanoparticles
Communicating the Accomplishments of Engineering to the Public
Commercializing Technological Innovations
4 NSF Centers That Catalyzed Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
Engineering Nano-Reinforced Polymer Composites in South Texas
From Structures to Cities in Earthquake Engineering
Imaging and the Three-Level Approach
Managing Chronic Diseases with Wearable Devices
Securing Information Technologies
The Importance of Sustained Funding
Fostering Multidisciplinary Work
5 NSF Processes That Fostered Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
Multiple Pathways to Disabilities Research
Supporting Partnerships with Industry
Increasing Indigenous Representation in Engineering
Growing the Inspiration to Become an Inventor
Transitioning to Other Sources of Funding
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
A Agenda – Symposium on Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society
B Biographic Sketches of Symposium Speakers
C Biographic Sketches of Committee Members and Project Staff
