Engineering Research to Catalyze Resilient Rural Communities

THEME OVERVIEW

In an era of rapid technological advancements, environmental challenges, and shifting populations, rural communities stand at a critical crossroads. These regions and their communities face unique and emergent problems, grappling with physical, mental, and environmental issues. Reliance on agriculture, mining, and other resource-intensive industries add to the socioeconomic stressors, complicating access to education, connectivity, and other population and civic supports. As we look to the future, these intertwined challenges are poised to intensify, driven by the forces of extreme weather, aging populations, and continued shifts in the job market.

This visioning event invites participants to reimagine a vibrant future for rural America. At its core, the event seeks to create a set of actionable engineering research recommendations to address pressing issues faced by rural communities by envisioning a future where rural America leads in sustainability and innovation—in a word “resilient.”

We will explore transformative engineering and technology research ideas with the potential to lead to long-term solutions for electricity production and distribution, transportation infrastructure, and local food production. We will envision potential models of rural communities, such as entrepreneurial communities and industrial cooperative ownership.

Through this collaborative process and using an engineering lens, we aim to create actionable strategies that respect the values of rural communities while embracing forward-thinking research directions that could lead to alternative solutions 25 to 50 years in the future. Join us as we chart paths forward, ensuring that rural America remains vital, resilient, and innovative for generations to come.

Agenda Highlights

The event will focus primarily on the engineering research needed to address the urban-rural divide and revolutionize the future of life in rural America. The fundamental engineering research foci would be in the contexts of:

• Defining Resilience in Rural Communities
• Identifying Pertinent Emerging and Future Technologies
• Equipping Future Thriving Communities