Activities, Projects & Initiatives

The Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering symposia bring together emerging engineering leaders from industry, academe, and government labs to discuss pioneering technical work and leading-edge research.

A diverse committee of experts from around the world, some of the most accomplished engineers and scientists of their generation, proposed 14 grand challenges for engineering. The panel, which was convened by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering NAE at the request of the U.S. National Science ...

It is a goal of the National Academy of Engineering to honor those who have contributed to the advancement of engineering and to improve public understanding of the importance of engineering and technology.

NAE’s video series “ Conversations with Engineering Pioneers ” features interviews with engineering leaders whose innovations made extraordinary impacts in engineering. These pioneers—and so many others past and present—show the world the far-reaching impacts ...

Pathways into Engineering is a hub for programs that inform, inspire, and create opportunities for K–12 students and their caregivers to explore and engage with engineering. The initiative places particular emphasis on reaching young people who may have had limited exposure to engineering or access to mentors in the field, helping to ensure that all interested students can discover pathways into the profession.

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the National Academies' Gulf Research Program (GRP) are excited to partner on a colloquium series focused on offshore energy to address issues and identify solutions to challenges in offshore energy production and transportation safety. The goal of ...

The Committee to Advance Participation in Engineering (CAPE) was established in 2025 to proactively support the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) mission by addressing the urgent need to grow the U.S. engineering workforce.

The Cultural, Ethical, Social and Environmental Responsibility in Engineering (CESER) program is an outgrowth of one of the four “I’s” identified in US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) President Anderson’s inaugural address: Instill a culture of ethical and ...

The Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize, established in October 1999, is named after Fritz Russ, an esteemed engineer and founder of Systems Research Laboratories, and his wife Dolores Russ, a long-time supporter and benefactor of the engineering industry.

The Committee on Racial Justice and Equity — was created in 2020 by NAE president John L. Anderson and completed it's work in 2024. The committee aimed to support the NAE mission “to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation” by addressing participation in the NAE, the engineering profession, and the nation. The NAE strives to promote diverse perspectives and research in order to provide better-informed advice to the government and engineering community. To that end, the NAE is working to lead a cultural shift to help meet future workforce needs and design systems that benefit all segments of society. Our work involves collaborating with initiatives to address diversity in the engineering profession. Our goal is to contribute to the growth of equitable practices, improve access to engineering and elevate its value to society.

A lectureship recognizing outstanding young American engineers.

The goal of the project is to promote broad implementation by the engineering community of the findings and recommendations presented in the 2008 NAE report, Changing the Conversation.

The National Science Foundation has requested that the National Academies provide it with help in its efforts to bring greater understanding of and attention to engineering’s role in fulfilling NSF’s mission “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, ...

The forum will explore both perennials and frontiers of complexity in health, security, democracy, urbanization, and infrastructure, research and education, the economy, transportation, the environment, modern work, and civic life. It will publish concise perspectives with ideas, insights, and ...

All students should have the opportunity to study engineering, but despite long-standing calls to increase the numbers of women, African-Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Hispanics of any race, students from low-income families, and other underrepresented groups in undergraduate ...

The National Academies is convening an expert committee to consider the state-of the-science on the health risks of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) indoors and engineering solutions and interventions to reduce risks of exposure to it indoors, including practical mitigation solutions to reduce exposure in residential settings.

The Founders Award was established in 1965 by the Academy to honor an outstanding NAE member or international member who has upheld the ideals and principles of the NAE through professional, educational, and personal achievement and accomplishment.

Established in 1982, the Arthur M. Bueche (Bee' - kuh) Award honors an engineer who has shown dedication in science and technology, as well as active involvement in determining U.S. science and technology policy, promoting technological development, and contributing to the enhancement of the relationship between industries, government, and universities.

Despite calls to increase diversity throughout the engineering education enterprise and years of efforts by universities, K-12 schools, education-related organizations such as professional societies, and collaborations among those organizations, it remains true that Blacks/African-Americans, ...

Innovations in advanced manufacturing play a critical role in supporting the U.S. economy and national security, and it is important to prepare future engineers to contribute towards the next generation of manufacturing technologies. This study and workshop examined advanced manufacturing techniques for the defense industry and explored how undergraduate engineering capstone design courses can better incorporate advanced manufacturing. This project was organized by the National Academy of Engineering in collaboration with the National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB) in the Division of Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS).