Visioning Event | Strategic Thinking for Engineering Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This visioning event will convene top researchers from various sectors to consider the theme of Strategic Thinking for Engineering Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.

November 7-8 | In-Person, Atlanta, GA

The goal of ERVA visioning events is to identify specific areas that are nascent or require additional exploration with the potential for the greatest return on investment.

ERVA is holding this event to envision the future of artificial intelligence and identify the emerging research opportunities where engineering can lead and accelerate our global competitiveness. This is an exceptional opportunity for the engineering community to come together to discussed the future of the research funding landscape.

Academic and industrial researchers have achieved very impressive breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years. Large-scale investments in AI from governments and the private sector worldwide will likely fuel breakthrough achievements, new technologies, and new tools that potentially transform industries, businesses, governments, and educational institutions.

Engineering subfields are actively engaged in these developments. Robotics, automation, and control theory are leading the development of AI with autonomy and safety guarantees. Information theory and signal processing are also making important contributions. At the same, other fields such as civil engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, etc., are taking advantage of powerful new machine learning and big data technologies.

In view of the rapid progress in AI, it is critically important that engineering leaders in academic, industry, and government organizations are leaning forward and positioning engineering research community to play leadership roles in (1) the development of new AI technologies suited for engineering applications and imperatives, and (2) in the use of the most powerful AI techniques to advance engineering research fields.

The proposed ERVA event is aimed at developing key insights and major opportunities for academic, industry, and government organizations by answering the following questions:

• What are the major opportunities for engineering to lead advances in AI? 
• What new questions can be formulated and feasibly answered to dramatically move engineering research to greater successes?
• What can engineering leaders do to ensure their organizations will thrive and meet their missions in the coming era of AI?