Summit Series on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges

One challenge that Wadsworth does not see disappearing is that concerned with energy and the environment. For those who did not get a chance to see the graph he showed during his talk about ideal and realistic carbon usage in the world, it was a scary look into what will happen if we keep on the same track. Our carbon usage, which should ideally level off, continues to increase at a very fast rate, about to take off infinitely. Since our demand of energy is not going to change, this problem is real, and cannot wait.

One challenge that Wadsworth does not see disappearing is that concerned with energy and the environment. For those who did not get a chance to see the graph he showed during his talk about ideal and realistic carbon usage in the world, it was a scary look into what will happen if we keep on the same track. Our carbon usage, which should ideally level off, continues to increase at a very fast rate, about to take off infinitely. Since our demand of energy is not going to change, this problem is real, and cannot wait.

During the American Innovation and Competitiveness portion of the Summit, the issue of secondary education was quite the issue, in which most of the speakers took a similar standpoint. Jeff Wadsworth mentioned that America has the best university system but our secondary education system does not begin to compare. Out of 22 ranked countries, the US is number 17 in their high school education success.

Ned Sauthoff, director of U.S. Contributions to ITER Project, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is speaking about Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Project (ITER). http://www.iter.org/default.aspx

According to Sauthoff, our sun uses both gravity and magnetic fields for confinement. ITER uses magnetic fields for confinement.

The first speaker to resume the Raleigh Summit Series on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges after lunch on Thursday March 4, 2020 is Edward Moses, principal associate director NIF & Photon Science.

Moses stated that most of the world is energy impoverished, the world’s need for energy will triple by 2050, and we are a carbon society and will be for a long time.

He asked why should there be fusion in our future. And the answer is fusion may be one component in solving out future energy needs.

Fusion can be accomplished In three ways:
Gravitational confinement

Jeff Immelt of GE spoke about grand challenges of engineering from an industry's point of view, also leading to a discussion about a the future of students in the industry. He suggested that innovation in and of itself, although the most important aspect of engineering, is not enough to affect the world problems we face today. Science and innovation must be combined with political reform, business goals, and understanding of consumer needs in order to be an integral part of solving health policy issues as an engineer. This says something about studying engineering in general.

The Raleigh Summit will resume Thursday March 4 with registration and a continental breakfast between 7:15 and 8:15 am. For a full schedule of events: http://www.grandchallengesummit.org/raleigh-summit

Student Tours of NC State University will commence soon and should wrap-up at approximately 5:30 pm. The tour consists of:

Nuclear Reactor Tour
BTEC (Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center) Tour and refreshments
FREEDM Systems Center Tour (NSFs Engineering Research Center for Future Renewable Energy Electric Energy Delivery and Management Systems)
EBIII Hard Hat Tour (future home of the Dept. of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and joint NCSU/UNC-CH Dept. of Biomedical Engineering)

Other activities for students include:
Building electrosurgical units
Family Feud
1 vs. 100 (game)
Scavenger Hunt

Between now and 3 pm today's attendees are participating in a NC State College of Engineering departmental showcase. NC State College of Engineering Departments include:

Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE): http://www.bae.ncsu.edu
Biomedical Engineering (BME): http://www.bme.ncsu.edu
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE): http://www.che.ncsu.edu
Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE): http://www.ce.ncsu.edu/
Computer Science (CSC): http://www.csc.ncsu.edu/
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE): http://www.ece.ncsu.edu/