College of Engineering and Science Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP)
The National Academy of Engineering has outlined fourteen Grand Challenges focused on some of the most important and complex issues facing our world in the 21st century. To solve them will require the best efforts of engineers and scientists integrating their knowledge, expertise and creativity, with a variety of other experts in global and social issues. The Academy’s Grand Challenge Scholars Program is designed to prepare our engineering and science students to solve these issues. Thus, the vision of the Louisiana Tech College of Engineering and Science Grand Challenge Scholar Program is to encourage, educate and prepare our students to lead the charge in addressing the Grand Challenges.
2011 Grand Challenges Scholars Showcase. Click here to watch the video!
2011 Grand Challenges Scholars
Louisiana Tech University students Stephanie Parker and Louis Reis have received national recognition and congratulations from the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) as two of just 14 students in the country who are graduating as 2011 Grand Challenges Scholars.
Louis Reis (Chemical and Biomedical Engineering-left), Stephanie Parker (Electrical Engineering-right)
Do You Know the 14 National Academy of Engineering Grand 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
Links to information sheets, forms and applications:
Faculty Mentor Orientation Guide
One Page Handout on the Program
Applying to the GCSP
To apply to become a GC Scholar Apprentice, a student must:
1) Be at least a sophomore* engineering or science major
2) Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on all attempts of all courses;
3) Submit a completed application form (including a personal essay, recommendations from two COES faculty, including a GC Faculty Mentor);
4) Submit a proposed GC Curricular Plan which encompasses the required five curricular components as outlined in the GCSP Program.
*Defined as enrolled in sophomore-level or higher engineering or science courses as listed on the appropriate official curriculum sheet.
The GC Oversight Committee will review all applications/recommend students for admission. A maximum of 50 students can be enrolled in the program at any time.
GCSP Curricular Plan
Each applicant must develop a Curricular Plan which satisfactorily addresses each of the following components as outlined in the GCSP program:
1) Research Experience
Participate in an approved team or independent senior capstone research or design project and course(s)* relating to a Grand Challenge theme or specific Grand Challenge problem.
2) Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Complete either the integrated interdisciplinary Living With The Lab Freshman Engineering Curriculum* or integrated science curriculum * and one of the following*:
BISC 470 – Medical Ethics; or
BLAW 255 – Legal Environment of Business, or
HNRS 110 – Foundations of Sociological Thought, or
HNRS 114 – Foundations of Behavioral Thought, or
HNRS 212 – Foundations of American Political Thought, or
POLS 350 – International Relations.
3) Entrepreneurship
Either enter a Grand Challenge-related project in the Association of Business, Engineering, and Science Entrepreneurs (ABESE) Top Dawg Business Plan Competition; or complete* ENTR 430 - Innovative Product Design, and ENTR 460 - Innovative Venture Research.
4) Global Dimension
Complete* either:
a. a Louisiana Tech University Study Abroad Program;
b. an approved international study program;
c. an internship with a significant global focus;
d. a research experience with a significant global focus; or
e. GEOG 205 - Cultural Geography, and one of the following courses*:
HIST 406 - Modern Eastern Europe; HIST 441 - History of Latin America since 1824;
HIST 436 - History of the Modern Near East;
POLS 460 - Politics of Developing Nations;
POLS 465 - Asian Politics;
GEOG 470 - Urban Geography;
POLS 302 - Comparative Foreign Governments;
POLS 350 - International Relations; POLS 355 - American Foreign Policy; or
SOC 360 - Sociology of Terrorism and Social Movements.
Students must submit a justification for how their proposed experience will cultivate an enhanced global awareness in their field.
5) Service Learning
Participate one or more years as:
a. A Supplemental Instruction tutor, or
b. A Bulldog Achievement Resource Center (BARC) Tutor,
Or a sustained contribution for one or more years to:
a. Engineers without Borders project, or
b. Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Association (LTESA) service project(s), or
c. Equivalent approved experience.
*All courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or higher in each course.
Curricular Connectivity
The GC Curricular Plan must demonstrate intellectual and thematic connectivity across the five curricular components and a Grand Challenge theme or problem.
GC Faculty Mentor
Each GC Scholar Apprentice must have a GC Faculty Mentor to counsel and direct the completion of their Curricular Plan. At the completion of the Plan, the Mentor must write a letter of recommendation to the GC Steering Committee, to accompany the Apprentice’s final report, in support of their application to be named a Louisiana Tech College of Engineering and Science Grand Challenge Scholar.
GC Progress Review
To remain in the program, a GC Scholar Apprentice must maintain a 3.2 or better GPA on all attempts of all courses, meet once a quarter with their GC Faculty Mentor/GC Director to review their progress and Curricular Plan, and submit a progress report to their GC Faculty Mentor outlining their accomplishments for the past academic year and a detailed plan for the upcoming academic year.
For more information please contact:
Dr Jenna Carpenter
Director
Grand Challenge Scholar Program
College of Engineering and Science
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA 71272
(318) 257-2101
Click on the following links to access the national site and their active programs:
http://www.grandchallengescholars.org/
http://www.grandchallengescholars.org/active-programs
