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s
RAISING
PUBLIC
AWARENESS OF
ENG~EER~G
Lance A. Davis and Robin D. Gibbin, Eclitors
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING
OF THE NATIONAl ACADEMIES
The National Academies Press
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.eclu
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS · 500 Fifth Street, N.W. · Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: This publication has been reviewed according to procedures approved by the National
Academy of Engineering report review process.
Funding for the activity that led to this publication was provided by the Elizabeth and Stephen Bechtel,
Jr., Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publica-
tion are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies
that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number 0-309-08624-8
Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street,
N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington
metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu
Copyright 2002 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Stience, Engineering, and Medirine
,5
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of
distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the
furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the
authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate
that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the
National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is
autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the
National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government.
The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meet-
ing national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior
achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of
_ . .
engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences
to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination
of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the
responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to
be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of
medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute
of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in
1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's
purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in
accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the
principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National
Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the
scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both
Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are
chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
www.national-academies.org
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Preface
In April 2001, The National Academy of Engineering (NAE), with funding
from the Elizabeth and Stephen Bechtel, Jr., Foundation, initiated a new project
as part of its Public Understanding of Engineering Program. The project was
informed by public opinion surveys that indicated that the American public has
minimal understanding of engineering and engineers and little appreciation for
what they do. A survey/questionnaire was developed in conjunction with outside
consultants, Market Research Bureau and McMahon Communications, to create
an inventory of current outreach programs for improving public awareness of
engineering and to better understand their effectiveness or lack of effectiveness.
The survey was administered and the results were collected by the consultants.
To review the results of the survey/questionnaire, the NAE formed the Committee
on Public Awareness of Engineering (CPAE), composed of a group of distin-
guished citizens interested in and/or involved in the engineering community.
Based on their review, the committee made recommendations for the engineering
community's future approach to public awareness activities. This report is a
report from the NAE to the engineering community based on a synthesis of the
consultants' report of the survey, background information developed by the NAE,
and the recommendations of the CPAE.
Wm. A. Wulf
President
National Academy of Engineering
v
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Acknowledgments
4
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their
diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures ap-
proved by the National Academy of Engineering report review process.
The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical com-
ments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as
possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity,
evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and
draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative
process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the
review of this report: Albert A. Dorman, AECOM; Samuel C. Florman, Kreisler
Borg Florman Construction Company; Henry Kressel, E.M. Warburg, Pincus &
Company, LLC; Susan Staffin Metz, Stevens Institute of Technology; Robert L.
O'Rourke, California Institute of Technology; and Winfred M. Phillips, Univer-
sity of Florida.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive com-
ments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recom-
mendations nor did they see the final draft report before its release. The review of
this report was overseen by Harold Forsen, National Academy of Engineering.
Appointed by the National Academy of Engineering Executive Office, he was
responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was
carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review com-
ments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this re-
port rests entirely with the institution.
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s
Contents
Execubve Summary
-duchon
Importance of Engt
I'
ineedng, 6
Public Awareness Today
Follow-on Survey, 10
Conclusion, 17
The National Academy of Engineering Survey of Public Awareness of
Engineering Oulreacb Programs
Receives and Helbodology, 19
The Cudgel Siluadon, 22
Inle~relalion of Findings, 38
Messages, 43
4 Recommendadons
Sewing me Slake, 47
Coal: Improved Public Awareness of Engineering, 48
Next Steps, 31
. .
jazz
10
18
47
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. . .
V111
Appendixes
A Engineering Enrollments
B Sample Mission Statements
C Selected Outreach Programs
D Committee on Public Awareness of Engineering
E Engineering Communications, Education, and Outreach Questionnaire
List of Organizations Responding to NAE Inventory Questionnaire
CONTENTS
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62
64
71
74
93
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