(543a) Megatrends Creating Opportunities

The world is undergoing unprecedented change in the size and affluence of the middle class in developing countries. Simultaneously, people everywhere are awakening to the realities of global climate change and the limits to the supply of some basic resources. The problems generated by these dynamics create significant opportunities for engineers who can help turn our dreams for a more sustainable planet with a good standard of living for all into reality. The need for more food with higher nutritional value, for alternate sources of energy, and for ways to protect what matters most are challenges that are here to stay. The incredible technology advances of the last few decades allow talented people around the world to partner in unusual ways to develop solutions that meet these rising demands with greater speed and "greener" products. The magnitude of the megachallenges before us drives the necessity for collaborations that bring together the best minds across the public and private sectors in partnerships that are beneficial to all stakeholders. A host of challenges for engineers arises and illustrative examples from DuPont will be showcased to demonstrate innovation and the power of engineering in recreating our tomorrow.