To maintain the nation’s economic competitiveness and improve the quality of life for people around the world, engineering educators and curriculum developers must anticipate dramatic changes in engineering practice and adapt their programs accordingly. This report from the National Academy of Engineering, written by a group of distinguished educators and practicing engineers from diverse backgrounds, includes various scenarios for the future based on current scientific and technological trends. In addition to identifying the ideal attributes of the engineer of 2020, the report recommends ways to improve the training of engineers to prepare them for addressing the complex technical, social, and ethical questions raised by emerging technologies.

CITATION: "The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century," National Academy of Engineering. 2004. ISBN-13: 978-0-309-09162-6.

Access Report