Engineering and science, while related, have distinct goals. Science seeks to understand the natural world and is the foundation that engineering uses to develop solutions to real-world problems. Scientists ask “why,” and engineers ask “how.” Both are in large part responsible for the safety, health, comfort and convenience we enjoy today. Unfortunately, we now face a long list of interwoven impacts on our planet and over the next decade the science and engineering industry must confront a host of environmental, workforce and technological challenges if we are to maintain or improve our quality of life and ecological balance. To this end, scientists and engineers will be on the front lines working to address these challenges over the next decade.
A major challenge facing the U.S. and many countries around the world is providing sufficient housing and replacing/upgrading aging civil infrastructure to be more efficient, resilient and sustainable. This includes single and multi-family housing along with small dwellings such as tiny homes and ADUs. Significant public investment, prioritized smart design and large-scale construction will be essential to bring housing supply, roads, bridges, water supply, water treatment and energy sources up to sustainable working order. Local authorities, politicians, engineers and scientists are all tasked with developing and implementing resilient building codes and policies that support proactive management of the wildland-urban interface.
There is irrefutable evidence that earth’s climate is warming which demands immediate action to mitigate for the effects of 100+ years of fossil fuel emissions. Engineers and scientists are working to advance renewable energy sources with more efficient and cost-effective solar panels, hydropower systems and wind turbines. Other advancements in CO2 capture and storage (CCS), energy storage (battery) technology, optimizing industrial and manufacturing processes, smart-grid energy distribution and energy efficient building design are also underway.
Another consequence of the global climate crisis is that oceans are now warming at a rate of 0.27o C/decade. When compared to the 1980s when the rate was much lower (0.06oC/decade), the current rate of ocean warming has increased by an alarming factor of 4.5 over 40 years. This has resulted in more severe weather events, accelerated deglaciation, sea level rise and increased flooding across many parts of the U.S. and around the world. These impacts require urban and suburban areas to adapt new strategies including resilient design and construction of coastal defenses barriers such as levees and seawalls, improving drainage systems to handle stormwater runoff, protecting and restoring coastal wetlands and reefs to serve as natural buffers against storms, and when necessary, raising/relocating buildings and civil infrastructure in vulnerable areas.
Access to clean water also ranks as one of the world’s most pressing needs. Freshwater represents only 3% of the world’s water, however 65% of that is currently locked up in continental ice sheets, glaciers, or other unavailable forms for human use. It is estimated that 15-20% of the world’s population does not have daily access to clean water. As such, scientists and engineers are hard at work developing innovative solutions for water conservation, aquifer storage and recovery, balancing supply and demand, advanced treatment technologies including seawater desalinization, and more efficient supply and distribution systems.
After the need for clean water comes the need for a sustainable supply of safe food to eat. Unfortunately, with the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, food demand, particularly in developing countries, is also expected to increase by 60% over the same period. In 2023, The World Health Organization estimated that 733 million people experienced food insecurity and hunger. The food supply challenge facing 21st-century engineers and scientists is daunting. Fortunately, through the development and use of innovative technologies such as farm automation, precision farming, vertical farming, agri-drones, satellite imaging and bioengineering have led to improved efficiency, reduced environmental impacts and increased crop yields.
Like most businesses, engineering and science firms are facing talent shortages and workforce challenges. Over the next decade it will be essential to attract, educate and retain young students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers to replace an aging workforce. The infusion of new talent with the skills to keep pace with rapid technological changes such as artificial intelligence (AI), digitization and cyber security will be crucial to maintaining the engineering and science industry as we know it.
Clearly, the needs and opportunities are endless. With training, dedication, fulfilling work and rewarding compensation, engineering and science careers will continue to make a profound difference around the world. The challenges are there to be solved, and the critical role of engineers and scientists isn’t going away anytime soon.
Scott Wallace, R.G., is Principal Geologist and President of Wallace Group, Inc., a geo-environmental engineering and construction services firm based in Bend.
