SHORT ARTICLES, REPORTS AND WEBSITES

Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms: A recent Washington Post Article provides an introduction to synthetic biology and its possible manufacturing and engineering implications.

From Cars to Medicine, Nanotubes May be Miracle Material: This short CNET special report on nanotubes gives a glimpse at the possibilities that nanotechnology will create in engineering and other fields.

Patent reform: Is this the year? This brief by EETimes on the patent reform debate of 2007 provides a good overview on where the patent reform debate currently stands.

Design for the Other 90%: This website hosted by the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum has an interactive map of products worldwide that are designed to reach the other 90% at the bottom of the pyramid.

Educating Engineers for 2020 and Beyond: This short article by president emeritus of MIT and president of the NAE Charles M. Vest describes the opportunities and challenges for engineering education.

Making Sense of Change: Engineering Management published this well thought out article that looks at the challenges faced by system engineers and those involved in engineering management.

World Federation of Engineering Organizations Newsletter: New Technologies Are the Solutions to Overcome Shortages of Energy Resources, When the Green City Becomes a Reality and more.

REPORTS AND BOOKS

The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in the New Century: Published in 2004 by the National Academies of Engineering (NAE), this book provides four scenarios on the future of engineering in 2020 as well as emerging technologies, trends, professional conditions and aspirations that will affect future engineers.

Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century: This 2005 book by NAE looks at changes needed in engineering education to adapt to rapidly changing conditions worldwide.

Six Strategic Issues Shaping the Global Future of Mechanical Engineering: This 2005 report prepared by IAF for ASME addresses six strategic issues vital to the future of ASME.

Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future: This 2007 book looks at the urgent changes needed to bolster the competitiveness of U.S. science and technology in the face of growing global competition in the 21st century.

ASME STRATEGIC ISSUES AND TRENDS BRIEFS

Open Access to Knowledge: Access to open source scientific and technical journals have exploded in recent years and there is a push to make more federally funded research open to the public.

Megacities: Urban areas have grown dramatically and will continue to grow over the next 20 years providing numerous challenges to the global profession of mechanical engineers.

Virtual Worlds: Creating New Spaces for Collaboration: This brief describes the growth of virtual worlds and their potential for collaboration among engineers worldwide.

PAPERS SUBMITTED BY ASME MEMBERS

The Engineering Graduate of the Future - Submitted by Mahmood Tabaddor, Ph.D.

Future of Mechanical Engineering - Submitted by Anil Nair, M.Tech, M.A.Sc.

Inconvenient Truths and Consequences: Implications for Mechanical Engineering in the Next 20 Years - Submitted by Akira Tokuhiro, Ph.D.