Dear Alumnus,

We would like to invite you to attend the 2010 NAE Grand Challenges National Summit, October 7-8, 2010, which the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is hosting.  We expect over 1000 people to attend.  

We are providing a special discount to our Alumni, and have also arranged for discounted rooms at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.  All the details of the Summit are below.

With best regards,

Dean Yannis Yortsos

About the Summit:

The Summit will bring together leading scientists and engineers, educators, policy leaders, innovators and corporate executives to address the 14 Challenges articulated by the National Academy of Engineering. The discussions will be organized around the four thematic threads of the challenges, namely sustainability, vulnerability, health and the joy of living, which represent key societal issues of the 21st Century.

Miles O’Brien (Former CNN Science and Technology correspondent) will moderate the Summit. Lockheed Martin will be the Presenting Sponsor and sponsor the Student Day.

Panels:

The Summit will discuss the impact and importance of the 14 Challenges from the perspectives of: Technology, Innovation, Business, Policy, Communication and Education.

Speakers:

Eminent leaders from a variety of disciplines will speak at the Summit, including:

•    Amy Alving, Chief Technology Officer, Science Applications International Corporation
•    Jean-Lou Chameau, President, Caltech
•    Paul Debevec, Associate Director, Institute for Creative Technologies and Academy Award recipient for work on Avatar and other films.
•    Peter Diamandis, Founder and Chairman, X Prize Foundation
•    Debra Estrin, Professor of Computer Science, University of California - Los Angeles
•    Jay Greene, Journalist and Author: Design Is How It Works
•    Henry Jenkins, Provost's Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Cinematic Arts, USC
•    Linda Katehi, Chancellor, University of California – Davis
•    Maria Klawe, President, Harvey Mudd College; Director, Microsoft Corporation
•    John Martin, CEO, Gilead
•    C. L. Max Nikias, President, University of Southern California
•    Franklin Orr, Director, Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford University
•    James Shelton III, Assistant Deputy Secretary for innovation and improvement at the U.S. Department of Education
•    Ali Velshi, Chief business correspondent, CNN
•    Charles Vest, President, National Academy of Engineering
•    Matthew Wald, Journalist, The New York Times
•    Peter Williams, Chief Technology Officer, IBM’s Big Green Innovations




For a full list of speakers and panels, click here.

----

When

October 6, 2010: Student Day

October 7-8, 2010: 2010 NAE Grand Challenges National Summit

Click here for the full schedule.

Where

University of Southern California (USC)

Bovard Auditorium

3551 Trousdale Pkwy

Los Angeles, CA 90007

Map



Details

Registration: For prices and details, click here.

*Discounted pricing available for Advance Registration, until Sept 15. Reserve your place now!

Registration includes

            - Admission for Oct. 7-8 (two full days) master conference sessions

            - Continental Breakfast & Picnic Lunch

            - Summit Attendee Materials & Conference Bags

            - Summit Program, Publications and Additional Handouts

Accommodations can be arranged at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. A block of rooms has been reserved for Summit attendees (room block expires September 14, 2010).  To make your reservations you may contact the hotel directly at (213) 624-1000 and identify yourself as an attendee of the USC Viterbi Engineering School/Grand Challenges Summit.   If you would like to make your reservation via the web please click the Starwood Group link provided here http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1007017539&key=5A8A0.  If you need further assistance in reserving your room you may contact Evelyn Williams, 2010 NAE GCNS Liaison Team, at (919) 699-6953 or evelyn@specialeventco.com.  

Questions?

For media inquries and other questions about the Summit, contact Leslie DaCruz at viterbi.communications@usc.edu.