Download PDF Summer Bridge on Advanced Biomanufacturing for Medicines June 16, 2025 Volume 55 Issue 2 This issue of The Bridge features cutting-edge perspectives on the rapid progress and innovation in advanced biomanufacturing for medicines. President's Perspective: The Importance of Engineering and the NAE Monday, June 16, 2025 Author: John L. Anderson Election to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is a great honor for any engineer. Yet, the purpose of our organization is not primarily honorific. The NAE exists to serve: to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and to promote a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering. Advancing this mission depends on active engagement by our members, and they have answered the call. As shown in figure 1, NAE members can take pride in their consistent and impactful service to the nation. One of the NAE’s unique strengths is its election of members from all three sectors of the technical workforce: industry, academia, and government (see figure 2). This broad base makes the NAE truly representative of the engineering enterprise and enables it to convene practitioners, educators, and researchers who bring diverse knowledge and perspectives to bear in the activities of the National Academies. The achievements of the NAE’s members also highlight the importance of our profession and the technical excellence of the United States. As I conclude my term as president, I reflect on what I’ve learned in this role. First, engineering is a creative endeavor. My favorite quote comes from Theodore von Kármán, a giant in aeronautics and recipient of the first US National Medal of Science in 1962 (National Science & Technology Medals Foundation). He said, “A scientist studies what is, whereas an engineer creates what never was.” The public didn’t demand smart phones, remote-controlled appliances, or wearable health monitors. Visionary engineers, however, saw these possibilities and created innovations that have since become essential to our lives. Creativity in engineering isn’t only about solving problems—it’s also about imagining and building things we didn’t know we needed but have made our lives better. Second, engineering is not a subset of science, as is often assumed. During my 48 years as a teacher, researcher, and academic leader, I did not fully appreciate the methodological differences between science and engineering. As president of the NAE, I have come to better understand and respect both endeavors. Importantly, one need not hold a formal engineering degree to be an engineer. In fact, more than 10% of NAE members do not have such a degree. A recent National Academies report, Impacts of National Science Foundation Engineering Support on Society, defines engineering as: “The act of creating artifacts, processes, or systems that advance technology and address human needs using principles of the sciences, mathematics, computing, and operations. Engineering encompasses not only the design of systems, structures, and devices but also their construction, implementation, deployment, and function” (NASEM 2024, p. 18). Engineering is a distinct, action-driven way of thinking that bridges science and technology. It shapes daily life. Unlike applied science, engineering progress can outpace scientific understanding. Both science and engineering are vital to economic prosperity, public health, and national security, but they are separate and equally important fields (Anderson 2019; Hammack and Anderson 2022). As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, we should recognize the extraordinary contributions of science, engineering, and medicine to our national development. Consider our transportation systems, physical infrastructure, economic growth, healthcare and medicine, and defense technologies—not to mention our understanding and management of the natural and social worlds. The technologies on which we rely are products of these three technical pillars. To continue improving our quality of life, the nation must sustain its investment in research, invention, and technology development. As I pass the torch to the NAE’s next president, engineering dean Tsu-Jae King Liu at UC Berkeley, I offer my deepest thanks to the NAE’s members and staff for their dedication and support. They are among the most thoughtful and generous individuals I have known. I have learned much from them. I now look forward to returning to the role of volunteer and continuing to work alongside them to strengthen our profession and our country. References: Anderson JL. 2019. What is engineering? The Bridge 49(4):6–7. Hammack WS, Anderson JL. 2022. Working in the penumbra of understanding. Issues in Science and Technology, Feb 16. NASEM [National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine]. 2024. Impacts of National Science Foundation Engineering Research Support on Society. The National Academies Press. National Science & Technology Medals Foundation. Theodore von Kármán. Nationalmedals.org. About the Author:John L. Anderson is president of the National Academy of Engineering.