MIT’s president emeritus, Charles Vest, recently gave a presentation on the topic of education engineers for the year 2020. Here is the link to his talk:

• Charles Vest – Education Engineers for Tomorrow

Quoting from the MIT World web site, here is a short overview:

Though two years departed from the MIT President’s office, Charles Vest
has lost none of his zeal for issues of education and training. Says
Vest, “I envy the next generation of engineering students. This is
without question the most exciting period of human history in science,
technology and engineering.”

He cites exponential advances in knowledge, instrumentation,
communication and computational capabilities, which have “created
mind-boggling possibilities,” cutting across traditional boundaries and
blurring distinctions between science and engineering. At the same
time, globalization is changing how engineers train and work, as well
as how nation’s resources are directed. “The entire nature of the
innovation ecosystem and business enterprise is changing dramatically
in ways we do not yet fully understand,” says Vest. These dizzying
changes require an accelerated commitment to engineering research and
education, and compel research institutions simultaneously to advance
the frontiers of fundamental science and technology, and to address the
most important problems that face the world.

Okay … once again, I am a proud Papa! My youngest son, Erik, was just selected as a Presidential Classroom Scholar. My big question … why can’t I attend?! Here is how the program is described: (video)

The Science, Technology & Public Policy Program examines the
role of the government in issues related to scientific discoveries and
technological advances. PC Scholars receive a firsthand look at the
political responses to scientific advances, environmental quality,
space exploration, disease control and changing technology. Students
also study hot topics in the biotechnology community. The Junior
Engineering Technical Society and the Engineering Foundation assisted
in the development of this program.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• National Security Agency on-site seminar and small group meetings with agency officials
• Seminar on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Seminar with a NASA astronaut
• On-site seminars/visits to facilities such as the Navy Medical
  Research Center, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center or the U.S. Army
  Night Vision facility
• National Academy of Sciences seminar
• National Science Foundation seminar
• Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Visits
• Capitol Hill Visits
• Meeting with an inventor and venture capitalist
• “Careers in Engineering” panel