Activities, Projects & Initiatives

As we celebrate 2026—the 250th anniversary of the United States—the National Academy of Engineering is launching a year-long commemoration of American engineering achievements. Throughout the year, we’ll highlight a different engineering discipline each month, showcasing the innovations that have shaped the nation over the past 250 years.

The National Academy of Engineering convened two national workshops—one hybrid and one virtual—to advance NSF’s Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) initiative and engage its grantees.

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.

Inaugurated in 2001 by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the intent of the Gordon Prize is to recognize new modalities and experiments in education that develop effective engineering leaders.

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.

This multi-year study reviewed state-of-the-art noise-control engineering, described the technological, economic and political climate for noise control, and identified gaps in research.

Pathways Into Engineering is an NAE initiative designed to introduce K–12 students to engineering and support their continued exploration of the field.

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...