"Grand Challenges for Engineering"

Courtesy of Charlie Bess of EDS I saw what the National Academy of Engineering lays out as challenges:

    * Make solar energy economical
    * Provide energy from fusion
    * Develop carbon sequestration methods
    * Manage the nitrogen cycle
    * Provide access to clean water
    * Restore and improve urban infrastructure
    * Advance health informatics
    * Engineer better medicines
    * Reverse-engineer the brain
    * Prevent nuclear terror
    * Secure cyberspace
    * Enhance virtual reality
    * Advance personalized learning
    * Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Comments

[Gregory Yankelovich]

I am disappointed that re-engineering energy storage devices (batteries) are not on the list. This technology is so behind the curve, that IMO is a major cause of poor economics on solar and wind. I have tinkered with these technologies extensively for my cruising sailboat to support dual refrigeration, water maker, and the rest of our electrical needs. The weakest link is batteries by a long shot. Long live the Church of Fossil Fuels :-)