The BRIDGE National Academy of Engineering George M. C. Fisher, Chair Wm. A. Wulf, President Sheila E. Widnall, Vice President W. Dale Compton, Home Secretary Harold K. Forsen, Foreign Secretary Paul E. Gray, Treasurer Editor-in-Chief George Bugliarello (Interim) The Bridge (USPS 551-240) is published quarterly by the National Academy of Engineering, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 1, Spring 2001 Editor: Greg Pearson (Interim) Production Assistants: Penelope Gibbs, Kimberly West Postmaster—Send address changes to The Bridge, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418. Papers are presented in The Bridge on the basis of general interest and timeliness in connection with issues associated with engineering. They reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the National Academy of Engineering. The Bridge is printed on recycled paper. © 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. A complete copy of each issue of The Bridge is available online at http://www.nae.edu/TheBridge in PDF format. Some of the arti- cles in this issue are also available as HTML documents and may contain links to related sources of information, multimedia files, or other content. The VOLUME 31, NUMBER 1 SPRING 2001 BRIDGE Editorial 3 3 Brad Allenby Earth Systems Engineering Features 5 5 George Bugliarello Rethinking Urbanization Balancing the biological, social, and machine elements of modern cities will be key to creating environmentally sustainable, emotionally satisfying urban centers of the future. 13 Robert M. White Climate Systems Engineering Forestalling the projected adverse effects of climate change presents an immense and complex challenge to the engineering profession. 18 Geeta Pradhan and Hybrid Cities: A Basis for Hope Rajesh K. Pradhan Combining the best features of city and country life in one place can create the diversity and sense of commu- nity needed to nurture creativity and innovation. NAE News and Notes 24 24 Class of 2001 Elected 29 Draper, Russ Recipients Honored 30 NAE Hosts Draper Forum for Students 30 Gordon Prize Launched 31 NAE Treasurer Gray to Step Down 32 From the Home Secretary 33 NAE Thanks Donors 38 Committee on Engineering Education Adds Staff 38 NAE Fellow on Board 39 NAE Newsmakers 40 NAE Calendar of Meetings 41 In Memoriam National Research Council Update 42 42 High-Tech Labor Squeeze 43 An Agenda for Environmental Sciences Publications of Interest 44 National Academy of Sciences National Academy of Engineering Institute of Medicine National Research Council 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 grant- ed 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 Acad- emy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Acade- my 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. Kenneth I. Shine 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 tech- nology 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 oper- ating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the pub- lic, 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. William A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council. Editorial Earth Systems of projects within the city but learning how to engineer Engineering the city as an organic whole, along its three dimen- The National Acad- sions: biological, social, and machine. emy of Engineering’s The challenges that this poses to engineering—in annual meeting tech- scale, complexity, and multidisciplinarity—are appar- nical session last Octo- ent. Moreover, they will grow as the complexity and ber was, as always, power of our technologies grow. What will be the informative and enter- impact on the city of biotechnology, information taining. But it was also technology, and nanotechnology? At what scales will noteworthy, for it functionality, such as energy or water services, best be introduced a new provided? adventure for engi- White discusses an issue on many people’s minds neers and the engi- these days, climate change, but does so from an ESE Brad Allenby is environment, perspective. He thus introduces what may be the first health and safety vice presi- neering professions: branch of ESE: climate systems engineering (CSE). dent at AT&T, an adjunct Earth systems engi- professor at Columbia Uni- neering (ESE). ESE, The couplings between human systems and complex versity’s School of Interna- as I define it, is the natural systems, including not just atmospheric tional and Public Affairs, study and practice of dynamics, but also the carbon, hydrological, and and the inaugural Batten engineering human oceanic systems as well, are both apparent and quite Fellow at the Darden Gradu- technology systems in complex in this instance. ate School of Business at the such a way as to pro- Moreover, the climate change issue is pervaded by University of Virginia. The vide the required engineering and technology, from the systems that views expressed in this editor- functionality while generate greenhouse gases to the systems that enable ial are the author’s alone. facilitating the active us to perceive relevant changes in natural systems in management of the the first place to the technologies that can mitigate dynamics of strongly coupled fundamental natural such impacts. In this regard, the lack of a robust tech- systems. nology dimension to existing global climate change The articles in this issue, based on presentations negotiations is both noteworthy and dysfunctional. It made at the technical session, begin to flesh out that is to be hoped that this gap will be addressed in any definition. In the process, several themes that continuing process intended to address global climate undoubtedly will characterize any ESE discourse can change. already be discerned: the need for the designer of What roles, for example, can biotechnology, infor- technology systems, and society as a whole, to assume mation technology, and new energy technologies such ethical responsibility for both artifact and systems as active carbon sequestration play in enabling devel- effects; the role of technology as an absolutely critical opment, especially in emerging countries, while at the element of social response to environmental pertur- same time reducing anthropogenic climate change bations; and the significance of complexity, not only forcing? of the technical systems, but also of the environmen- That this and related questions have not even been tal, social, and cultural systems to which they are asked yet is a serious indictment of the existing process inevitably coupled. and probably reflects a profound lack of understand- Bugliarello provides an ESE vision of cities as places ing of technological evolution on the part of many par- where technology, population, culture, economics, ties currently engaged in such negotiations. CSE clear- and natural systems intersect and interact. He calls for ly poses a profound challenge for engineering going rethinking the city in terms of efficiency, manageabili- forward, and an active role for the Academy in this ty, and (especially emotional) quality of life. The area would be entirely appropriate. approach requires not just the traditional engineering Pradhan and Pradhan urge the redefinition of cities The BRIDGE 4 in an attempt to capture the benefits of both large and dialog by questioning accepted “opposing concepts” is small scale, of the urban center and the village. Some a productive and necessary first step. may feel that reconceptualizing big cities as conglom- Humans will exist within complex systems, both erations of small towns can hinder, rather than sup- social and natural,