Become a Grand Challenges Scholar

The Fulton Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) welcomes all incoming students accepted into the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and students currently enrolled in a Fulton undergraduate degree program at the Tempe, Polytechnic, and West Valley campuses. The program combines innovative curriculum and cutting-edge research experiences into an intellectual fusion that spans academic disciplines and includes entrepreneurial, global, and service learning opportunities.

The goal of GCSP program goal is to prepare tomorrow’s engineering leaders to solve the grand challenges facing society to realize the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE)’s vision for engineering in the 21st century, “Continuation of life on the planet, making our world more sustainable, secure, healthy, and joyful. Through the achievement of the five competencies of the program, students will have the opportunity to engage in research relating to their selected grand challenge area, develop an interdisciplinary perspective, gain a multicultural awareness perspective, engage in entrepreneurship, and give back to the community through service learning.

Fulton Engineering students who complete the program will achieve the distinction of Grand Challenges Scholar, endorsed by both ASU the international GCSP Network (with around 100 GCSP institutions across the globe) and the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and will be uniquely prepared to collaborate and succeed in a transdisciplinary and global environment.

Students in Arizona State University’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program prepare to address global concerns through competencies that impart an ability to see the big picture, consider all aspects of a problem and create value for society. Photographer: Thia Fuller/ASU

Grand Challenges Scholars leave ASU with prospects for bright future

Students in Arizona State University’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program prepare to address global concerns through competencies that impart an ability to see the big picture, consider all aspects of a problem and create value for society.

What is the Grand Challenges Scholars Program?

The Grand Challenges Scholars Program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to develop a cohesive portfolio of diverse curricular and co-curricular experiences while being mentored by faculty and staff. Students will focus their experiences on addressing global challenges related to the Grand Challenges theme they are interested in: Sustainability, Security, Health, or Joy of Living. 

What Makes a Grand Challenges Scholar?

Grand Challenges Scholars are well-rounded engineers who are passionate about contributing to the efforts of addressing global challenges facing society in the 21st century. Grand Challenges Scholars complete coursework and/or experiential opportunities to achieve the five competencies of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program: Talent, Multidisciplinary, Viable Business/Entrepreneurship, Multicultural, and Social Consciousness, to become technically competent, interdisciplinarily, entrepreneurially, and globally minded, and socially conscious to make a positive impact on society.

Program Opportunities

Grand Challenges Scholars are eligible for a research stipend, the experiential learning grant, and participation in the Summer Institute. Learn more about GCSP opportunities!

T-shirt with the words Challenge Accepted on the back

ASU Grand Challenges Scholars ready to face a changing world

In Spring 2020, eight new Grand Challenges Scholars graduated to begin tackling global challenges in health, sustainability, education and more.

“The challenges we face as a global society are complex; it is important for engineers to look beyond the technical and recognize other types of people and information they must work with to effectively address them,” says Amy Trowbridge, GCSP director.

Read more about Spring 2020 | Learn about our graduates

Become a Grand Challenges Scholar

Incoming Freshmen and Current Fulton Engineering sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to apply into the program by filling out the appropriate online application.