The Grand Challenges and nursing

Abstract

66 V O L U M E 5 8 W hat are the Grand Challenges? For nearly 30 years, governments around the world have been allocating their resources to address problems known by several specific names, but generally known as the Grand Challenges. These problems were modeled after the work of David Hilbert, a mathematician, who more than 100 years ago developed a list of the unsolved problems he believed to be mathematics’ most significant, known as Hilbert’s Problems. The Grand Challenges are difficult problems that stretch the limits of cognitive or cooperative skills. The solutions to the Grand Challenges will fundamentally alter current practice through their broad application and meaningful impact, while providing a high return on investment. A number of disciplines, particularly in science and engineering, have developed a set of Grand Challenges around which to focus intellectual resources. Notably, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has established 14 Grand Challenges as well as programs to engage experts and students in a dialogue focused on these problems. As examples, the current NAE Challenges include: (1) making solar energy economical, (2) providing access to clean water, (3) advancing health informatics, (4) advancing personalized learning, (5) reverse engineering the brain, and (6) enhancing virtual reality. (The complete list of Grand Challenges may be found at http://www.engineeringchallenges. org.) Addressing the full set of 14 Challenges are 2 specific programs. The NAE Summit Series on Grand Challenges convenes meetings of experts and students throughout the year and at various locations for the purpose of discussing progress and approaches to the Challenges. The NAE Grand Challenge Scholars Program includes curricular and extracurricular elements, focusing students on the Challenges. The curricular commitments include 5 areas to be included in the formal program: (1)