About

Charles M. Vest NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering International Scholarships

The Charles M. Vest NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering International Scholarship Program (The Vest Scholarships) was launched in March 2013 at the inaugural Global Grand Challenges Summit sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), National Academy of Engineering (US) and Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The program builds upon the 14 NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering originally introduced by the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) with input from a global panel of experts.

These “game-changing” challenges—from making solar engineering economical to engineering better medicines—constitute a strategic calling for engineers across the world to use their unique strengths and training to make a lasting difference for our global society.

The Charles M. Vest NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering International Scholarship Program (The Vest Scholarships) was launched in March 2013 at the inaugural Global Grand Challenges Summit sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), National Academy of Engineering (US) and Chinese Academy of Engineering.

The program builds upon the 14 NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering originally introduced by the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) with input from a global panel of experts.

These “game-changing” challenges—from making solar engineering economical to engineering better medicines—constitute a strategic calling for engineers across the world to use their unique strengths and training to make a lasting difference for our global society.

Scholarship Partners

The Vest Scholarship Program was initiated by US engineering schools who have taken a leadership role in promoting the NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering through scholarship programs and summit meetings. They include:

  • Duke University Pratt School of Engineering
  • California Institute of Technology, Division of Engineering and Applied Science
  • Olin College
  • University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering
  • University of Washington, College of Engineering
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering
  • North Carolina State University, College of Engineering
  • University of Minnesota College of Science & Engineering
  • West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Together, these partners created the Vest Scholarship Program to provide a unique opportunity for graduate students at selected international universities to pursue research addressing the Grand Challenges.

Read the March 13, 2013 NAE news release announcing the Vest Scholarships

Charles M. Vest: Confronting the Grand Challenges

“As we think about the challenges ahead, it is important to remember that students are driven by passion, curiosity, engagement, and dreams. Although we cannot know exactly what they should be taught, we can focus on the environment in which they learn and the forces, ideas, inspirations, and empowering situations to which they are exposed.”

Charles Vest

Scholarship Partners

Duke University Pratt School of Engineering
California Institute of Technology Engineering and Applied Science
Illinois Institute of Technology Armour College of Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering
NC State University College of Engineering
Olin College of Engineering
University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering