Modern Challenges in Engineering and Technology

What are the main categories of global issues that the Grand Challenges for Engineers in the 21st century address?

• Economic growth, technological advancement, space exploration, and artistic expression.

• Sustainability, security, health, and general quality of life.

• Military defense, industrial efficiency, urban planning, and digital entertainment.

• Agricultural output, transportation speed, communication range, and material strength.

What environmental problem is caused by the release of nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere from modern agricultural practices?

• Depletion of the ozone layer.

• Increased ocean acidification.

• Intensification of climate change and acid rain.

• Reduction in biodiversity.

What is the primary goal of carbon sequestration in addressing climate change?

• To increase the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

• To convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for breathing.

• To remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it safely.

• To use carbon dioxide as a fuel source for power plants.

What is a significant risk to modern infrastructure, such as power grids, due to increased connectivity and reliance on computer networks?

• Physical wear and tear from natural disasters.

• Overpopulation leading to system overload.

• Vulnerability to cyberattacks from hackers.

• Lack of skilled maintenance workers.

What method can make vulnerable computer systems more secure from hackers?

• Operating them on networks entirely disconnected from the internet.

• Connecting them to a wider range of public networks.

• Installing a greater number of software firewalls.

• Regularly updating their hardware components.

What are engineers developing to prevent the misuse of radioactive materials?

• New types of secure storage containers.

• Advanced methods for monitoring and tracking radioactive elements.

• More powerful nuclear deterrents.

• International treaties to ban nuclear materials.

How can genetic engineering contribute to the development of new medicines?

• By creating artificial organs for transplantation.

• By designing specialized enzymes to produce drugs more efficiently.

• By directly altering human DNA to cure all diseases.

• By developing new surgical tools for complex procedures.

What is the field that uses data from medical devices to investigate and predict healthcare trends?

• Biomedical Engineering

• Health Informatics

• Clinical Diagnostics

• Public Health Epidemiology