Task: To identify, research, and present (in both written and oral formats) a topic in engineering that is currently the focus of ongoing (within the past 5 years) research, investigation, and/or development.The topic must come from the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges for Engineering:

http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/.

Rationale: Technology is developing at a rapid pace: computers are advancing at astonishing rates, new energy sources are in the development phase, crushing transportation issues require solutions, and new manufacturing methods are revolutionizing consumer products. As a professional engineer, you will need to continually educate yourself about advances in technologies to remain competitive, and this project introduces important information literacy skills to aid in your ability to educate yourself. This project also shows different ways of defining and solving complex problems depending on the perspective of the team.

Process

1. Read about the NAE Grand Challenges of Engineering and select 1 challenge to research using the library database Compendex (Engineering Village. Remember that you cannot select the Grand Challenge "Provide Access to Clean Water" and "Making Solar Energy Economical".

2. During your research, select 2 journal articles and/or conference papers that approach the challenge using different strategies. The journal articles/conference papers should be closely related (similar specific topics).

3. Read the articles and take notes. Focus your reading on the Introduction, Literature Review, and/or Background sections.Specifically look at how the author(s) write about the problem identification as well as review and cite relevant literature related to the problem.

4. Write a compare and contrastpaper (you are NOT summarizing the articles/papers) informing the audience how the authors began to solve the complex problem stated within the NAE Grand Challenge, again focusing on problem identification and the relevant literature.

5. Repeat the process of selecting and researching a Grand Challenge for Tech Brief #2 and the Presentation (note: this portion of the project is later in the semester).

Content of Submissions ( oral):

1. Briefly, describe the NAE Grand Challenge,focusing on the need for this research or development.

2. Compare and Contrast the technology presented in your sources (problem identification, proposed solution, methods, DATA, conclusions, and/or future work).

3. Identify your sources with properly formatted citations.A minimum of 3 sources are required; 2 must be the journal articles/conference papers.The third reference may be the NAE Grand Challenges website; additional sources (but not Wikipedia) may be used. You must use the IEEEcitation style.

Oral Format Requirements: Prepare and practice.

• dress well

• 5 to 7 minutes (no substantial videos)

• must be prepared using PowerPoint

• must be submitted by midnight the night prior (submission link will close)

• graphics are required

Presentation Schedule

Priority for choosing a presentation date and time will be based on attendance and memo submission.

Presentation

For the presentation, a second topic is required. The purpose of researching a second topic is to further develop your abilities to find technical publications and then organize that information for an audience. You should apply the critiques from the paper when preparing and practicing the presentation, specifically those comments regarding: 1) format, 2) grammar and spelling, 3) organization and clarity, and 4) technical accuracy. Lastly, you should practice your presentation several times to make sure you know what you are saying and stay within the 5 to 7 minute range (you are presenting, so no substantial videos). Practicing alone may be beneficial, but the nervousness, anxiousness, and/or excitement of presenting in front of a group can be a source of many mistakes.

Tips for an excellent presentation:

• Practice, practice, practice!

o Practice what you want to say by yourself.

o Practice with a video recording device.

o Practice with a small audience.