“Seminar Series on Engineering and Society” – Asad Madni

Convergence of Emerging Technologies to address the Challenges of the 21^st Century

There are numerous “Grand Challenges” facing humanity that will have to be addressed by us as a global society to maintain our well-being from the standpoint of quality of life, healthcare, environment, energy needs, and manufacturing efficiency, if we are to continue humanity's trajectory of progress. Traditional technologies based on classical disciplines and thought processes from the last several decades are no longer viable in addressing these challenges, and a new approach based on interdisciplinary thinking is necessary. Fortunately, numerous emerging technologies are advancing at an unimaginable pace, and it is the convergence of these technologies that hold the potential to alter our lives, businesses, government, society, and the planet. These emerging technologies are establishing the basis for a new paradigm in the development and commercialization of next generation intelligent, miniaturized, highly robust complex systems. This lecture will highlight the 14 Grand Challenges identified by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and will discuss some of the major technologies and their applications including, intelligent sensors and cars, smart highways, tele-health, clean technology, next generation AI, and others. The lecture will conclude with a description of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program that is being widely adopted by academic institutions worldwide.

Biography

Dr. Asad M. Madni served as President of BEI Technologies from 1992 until its acquisition by Schneider Electric in 2006. He led the development and commercialization of intelligent sensors, systems, and instrumentation for which he has received worldwide acclaim. He developed the Extremely Slow-Motion Servo Control System for the Hubble Space Telescope, which provided the Hubble with unprecedented accuracy and stability, resulting in truly remarkable images that have enhanced our understanding of the universe. He also developed the revolutionary MEMS GyroChip® technology, which is used worldwide for Electronic Stability Control and Rollover Protection in passenger vehicles, thereby saving millions of lives every year. For his contributions and their widespread impact, he has received over 100 national and international honors and awards including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the John Fritz Medal, the IEEE Medal of Honor, the Royal Academy of Engineering Prince Philip Prize, and many others. He has also been elected to several academies and societies including the US National Academy of Engineering, the UK Royal Academy of Engineering, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and many others.  He has been awarded 6 honorary doctorate degrees and 7 honorary professorships. In 2019, the IEEE HKN named its top award “The Asad M. Madni Outstanding Technical Achievement and Excellence Award” in his honor. In 2022, Tau Beta Pi established “The Asad M. Madni Distinguished Alumnus Award and Student Scholarship” in his honor as well.