GRAND CHALLENGES SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The Grand Challenges—presented by the National Academy of Engineering—are an aspirational vision of what engineering needs to deliver in the 21^st century. Its 14 corresponding goals are focused on “continuation of life on the planet, making our world more sustainable, secure, healthy and joyful.”

The Grand Challenges Scholars Program is an experiential education program that broadens the reach of undergraduate study:

Preparing students to think in international terms
Developing the perspectives and skills needed to find solutions to real and urgent problems
Offering a clear view to future jobs that matter and the opportunities in engineering

Updated 8/15/2024

Here’s what some of our recent GCSP graduates had to say about the program

“The Grand Challenges Scholars Program allowed me to experience courses and activities outside of the engineering field, while working towards a common theme.”

Bridget LaSala '21, Civil Engineering

"The Grand Challenges Scholars Program, along with the guidance of many mentors, has given me the focus, knowledge, and broad experience needed to concretely pursue an issue I have always had an interest in: access to clean water."

Ryan Ford '22, Chemical Engineering

“Pursuing the Grand Challenges Scholars Program helped to continuously remind me of my goals and aspirations, and allowed me to reflect on the impact my actions have on the communities I will be working in.”

Siobhan Merrill '21, Civil Engineering

The Grand Challenges

In the Villanova GCSP, the grand challenges are organized into four themes. Each theme has a subset of specific challenge areas from which the students can choose to focus their defined grand challenge. The challenge areas leverage the areas of expertise that exist within the faculty at Villanova.

HEALTH

Medical devices and technology
Rehabilitation
Therapeutics
Environmental contaminants

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Transportation and mobility
Urban infrastructure
Decarbonization
Cyber security
Advanced communications

SUSTAINABILITY

Greenhouse gas management
Sustainable systems
Alternate and renewable energy
Sustainable infrastructure and built environment
Sustainable infrastructure materials
.Water resource sustainability

JOY OF LIVING

International development
Personalized learning
Self-empowerment
Human wellbeing
Creativity and innovation

Requirements for Completion

Scholars complete the Program and demonstrate sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge and impact by meeting requirements for the five GCSP competencies (see below). These competencies can be fulfilled by the scholars in numerous ways.

Minimum Requirements
The steering committee has identified three possible levels at which a scholar can fulfill the competencies, characterized by the level of rigor required.

Scholars must complete:

At least two competencies at the Intensive level
At least two competencies at the Engaged level (or higher)
No more than one competency at the Exploratory level

Each competency must be met separately. Activities used to meet one competency may not be used to meet a second competency.

Students must complete all requirements for the program and submit their dossier to the Steering Committee no later than December 1^st of the final year of their undergraduate program. This will allow sufficient time for the Steering Committee to convene to review their dossier prior to end of semester reporting deadlines.

The options for fulfilling these competencies are described below.

Required Competencies

The NAE requires that Grand Challenges Scholars demonstrate these competencies, and the College of Engineering has identified options for fulfilling them:

Options to fulfill the five GCSP Competencies

Competency	Options for Completion
Competency	Exploratory Level	Engaged Level	Intensive Level
Talent *this competency must be completed at the Engaged or Intensive level	N/A	50 hours of undergraduate research under the direction of a faculty member	100 hours of undergraduate research under the direction of a faculty member
		One semester of a research driven capstone project approved by the steering committee	Full-time internship or co-op experience with presentation of results*
		Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*
Multidisciplinary understanding multidisciplinarity of engineering systems solutions developed through personal engagement	Any one (Exploratory) or two (Engaged) courses from the following list: EGR 2001 EGR 2002 EGEN 2200 EGEN 3100 SUSE 2110 SUSE 2111		Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor
	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*	INNOVATE: The L3Harris Summer Program	Engineering Entrepreneurship Summer Institute
		Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*	Humanitarian Engineering Minor
			Sustainable Engineering Minor
			Sustainability Studies Minor
			Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*
Viable Business / Entrepreneurship understanding, preferably developed through experience, of the necessity of a viable business model for solution implementation	EGEN 2200 (Academic Year Only)**	INNOVATE: The L3Harris Summer Program	Engineering Entrepreneurship Summer Institute
	European Innovation Academy**	EGEN 2200 and EGEN 3100 (Academic Year Only)**	Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor
	Finalist in Villanova Student Entrepreneurship Competition (VSEC)**	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*
	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee*		Real Estate Development Minor
Multicultural understanding different cultures, preferably through multicultural experiences, to ensure cultural acceptance of proposed engineering solutions	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee, including multi-cultural courses related to GCSP theme*	Semester study abroad (Intensive/Engaged to be determined by steering committee)
		Summer study, research, or internship abroad (Intensive/Engaged to be determined by steering committee)
		European Innovation Academy**	VESL summer service internship program
		Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee, including multi-cultural courses related to GCSP theme*	Humanitarian Engineering Minor
			Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee, including multi-cultural courses related to GCSP theme*
Social Consciousness understanding that engineering solutions should primarily serve people and society reflecting social consciousness	25 hours of service such as Villanova Engineering Service Learning (VESL) experience or STEM outreach activities	50 hours of service such as Villanova Engineering Service Learning (VESL) experience or STEM outreach activities	Humanitarian Engineering Minor
	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee, including social consciousness component related to GCSP theme*	Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee, including social consciousness component related to GCSP theme*	100 hours of service such as Villanova Engineering Service Learning (VESL) experience or STEM outreach activities
			Other experience(s) proposed to and approved by the steering committee, including social consciousness component related to GCSP theme*

How it Works

Accepted students will have a faculty mentor from their department.
You will meet with your mentor at least once every semester, during academic advising, to ensure you are on track to fulfill the requirement.
Your plan of study will be a living document that will change over time; new opportunities will become available and you will gain feedback and advice from your mentor and the steering committee.
Students completing the GCSP will have this accomplishment noted in the College’s recognition ceremony program. In addition, these students will receive a stole to wear with their academic regalia, will receive a certificate acknowledging their accomplishment and a letter from the President of the National Academy of Engineers, and inclusion on the scholars list on the GCSP website.

Interested in becoming a Grand Challenges Scholar?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. As part of the application process, you must state why you are interested in pursuing the GCSP and which grand challenge (of those listed above) will form the unifying theme for your plan. Applications will be judged on your passion for exploring the selected theme, as well as your current GPA. Applications are only accepted prior to the end of a student’s third semester.

Apply Now

Questions? Contact Undergraduate Affairs Team.

GRAND CHALLENGES SCHOLARS PROGRAM ALUMNI

2024
Emma Olson, CE ’24: Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure

2023
Laura Moore, CE '23: Provide Access to Clean Water

2022
Ryan Ford, ChE '22
Mai Kuk, ME '22: Make Solar Energy Economical

2021
Simon Brooks, ChE '21: Intersectional Human and Climate Sustainability
Bridget LaSala, CE '21: Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure
Siobhan Merrill, CE '21: Providing Access to Clean Water
Aldo Pierini, CE '21: Food Waste and Water Consumption