Grand Challenge Scholars Program

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges for Engineering present an aspirational vision of what engineering needs to deliver to all people on the planet in the 21st century:

“Continuation of life on the planet, making our world more sustainable, secure, healthy, and joyful.”

The vision is based on 14 Grand Challenges that the NAE recognized as necessary to deliver this vision in the 21st century.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn is one of 92 engineering colleges and schools world-wide selected by the NAE to implement a program to inspire practical projects for their students through an educational supplement called the Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP). This program provides students educational experiences, inside and outside the classroom,  necessary to develop the five competencies needed to address these global challenges.

The program is open to all CECS undergraduate students in good academic standing. As a Grand Challenge Scholar, you will have the opportunity to focus your undergraduate education on a topic aligned with your passion, within the structure of your degree program (no additional credits). This experience will provide you a deeper understanding and appreciation for the breadth of perspectives needed to address the selected challenge.