Nebraska Engineering partners with NSF to impact STEM research

Industry Communications: Spring 2021

By Phil Carter

Engineering has the power to transform people’s lives, especially when it brings to bear a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experience to solve important problems
Dawn Tilbury NSF Assistant Director for Engineering
Nebraska engineers will have a unique and exciting opportunity to shape the future of the state’s economy through research thanks to a a five-year, $8 million partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering that launched the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) this spring.

ERVA is the first engineering research visioning organization of its kind and includes the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, as a founding partner.

“The College of Engineering is honored to be a founding partner in this national effort to maintain the country’s engineering and technological superiority,” said Lance C. Pérez, dean. “Our participation in ERVA is aligned with our strategic goals and will accelerate our efforts to conduct research that positively impacts the lives of Nebraskans and leads to economic development in the state and the region.”

ERVA was created to provide the engineering community with a process for identifying bold and impactful engineering research, and it’s an engaged, inclusive, multilayered partnership, providing a diverse array of voices to impact national research priorities, including high-impact, cross-domain, fundamental research addressing national, global and societal issues.

“Engineering has the power to transform people’s lives, especially when it brings to bear a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experience to solve important problems,” says NSF Assistant Director for Engineering Dawn Tilbury. “With NSF’s support, the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance will enable the engineering community to mobilize and make a difference in our country’s future.”

ERVA’s structure is designed to coalesce the engineering stakeholder community to identify and develop bold new fundamental research directions. Its founding partners are members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)/Institutional Development Award Foundation, and the University Industry Demonstration Partnership.

NSF Engineering Research Visioning Alliance