Look ahead to the year 2050, to a world of 9 billion people, and ask yourself what critical challenges must be met over the next four decades to ensure the expectation of a high-quality life. Renewable nonpolluting energy. Abundant clean water. Access to modern healthcare. Sustainable agriculture and manufacturing. Safe roads and bridges. Adequate preparation for, and protection from, natural and man-made disasters.

Meeting these challenges requires the technical expertise and social ingenuity to collaborate locally and globally, with a full appreciation of cultural values and priorities. The work will take determination and vision. Who has the capability and commitment to lead us to solutions, and to implement those solutions?

The College of Engineering at Iowa State University calls this the 2050 Challenge. It is a challenge to ourselves and to the world. We are meeting it by taking the lead in Iowa and throughout the global community. How? By applying practical engineering technologies and implementing pragmatic solutions to immediate problems. By educating high-quality students who become graduates with the technical expertise to be successful professionals. By embracing the fundamental ideals of the land-grant institution: that hard work produces results, a personal approach builds relationships, and a commitment to service fulfills the purpose of higher education.

We also understand the role of state-of-the-art research in addressing long-term problems, and we recognize the responsibility we have to address them. Our outstanding faculty and on-campus access to the highest level of research technology give us the capability to approach complex problems from a systems perspective.

Each day, the College of Engineering is improving the quality of life in Iowa, the nation, and the world. Our solutions are not just mechanisms and processes: they are pathways to human progress. The engineers we prepare are more than just technical experts: they are the foundation for leadership in academics, law, medicine, industry, and government. Through foresight, knowledge, and leadership, we are creating the opportunity for a safe, productive, meaningful life today, with the promise of such a life in 2050.

Watch the 2050 Challenge Video      

Learn More at the College of Engineering website