Engineering advances economic growth, enhances manufacturing capacity, enhances infrastructure resilience, improves healthcare, and strengthens national security. However, the impact of engineering research - and, by extension, engineering education - is often hidden from the public eye. Promoting comprehension of how engineering affects society is thus a crucial aspect of garnering and sustaining public backing of policies aimed at ensuring that technology continues to serve the greater good of humanity. One part of this effort is highlighting the pivotal role of federal support of engineering research. Such support furnishes researchers with the necessary resources to pursue ambitious projects, fostering exploration into fundamental questions, groundbreaking technology and engineered systems developments, and practical applications.
Since its inception in 1950, the National Science Foundation (NSF)-an independent federal agency-has played a critical role in funding cutting-edge research, including in engineering. At the request of NSF, Impacts of National Science Foundation Engineering Research Support on Society explores how investment in engineering research and education has led to positive societal impacts, focusing on the stories of the people responsible for these impacts. This report presents clear, compelling narratives for the public about the sources and effects of engineering innovations and offer recommendations on how to bring this information to the attention of diverse audiences.
Table of Contents
Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 NSF's Support of Engineering-Related Research and Education 3 Considerations in Identifying Engineering Impacts on Society 4 Recognizing Engineering Impacts on Society Brought About by NSF Investments 5 Communicating Engineering Impacts on Society to Diverse Audiences Appendix A: Agenda 2022 Symposium on Extraordinary Engineering Impacts on Society Appendix B: Examples of Engineering Impacts on Society Outreach Materials Appendix C: Biographic Sketches of Committee Members and Project Staff
