Global Grand Challenges are the interdisciplinary, large-scale challenges we, as a global community, face and attempt to solve through research, science and technology, and other collaborative efforts. These challenges are posed by governments and nonprofits alike to achieve development goals by solving pressing issues such as climate change, global hunger, and major disease epidemics. Continue reading →

Despite the constant improvement of science and technology and social development, some monumental problems defy solution. These grand challenges can be social, such as inclusivity and equality, technical, like cures for cancer and finding new energy sources, or both. Tom Kalil, formerly of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy described grand challenges as “ambitious but achievable.” Grand challenges should be measurable with defined targets and indicators. Their goals should motivate people, inspire individuals to spend a significant proportion of their lives working to solve these complex issues. Continue reading →

The numerous large-scale, societal problems that the world faces are known as Grand Challenges. These challenges are faced by individuals and communities’ worldwide and require multifaceted and creative approaches to combat. From ending hunger, to sustainable energy, to developing more inclusive education practices, improving health, reducing the cost of care and more, Grand Challenges are at the forefront of development work. Groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US AID, The US White House, and Grand Challenges Canada, an initiative supported by the Canadian Government, all place emphasis and focus on Grand Challenges and in order to complete the challenges, an emphasis on “moonshot” ideas. Moonshot ideas, a word derived from the US Apollo missions, meaning an ambitious and radical, yet achievable solution, that addresses a huge problem.  The United Nations has also placed a focus on Grand Challenges and “moonshot” ideas creating the SDG goals that attempt to solve 17 Grand Challenges that the UN has outlined, by focusing on numerous aspects of the issues and promoting creative and interdisciplinary ideas.

However, with the focus on Grand Challenges also comes a focus on science and technological innovations as being the moonshot ideas that have the potential of solving the numerous issues. A large amount of funding is put towards creating new vaccines, studying technological efforts that are already in place, inventing new forms of sustainable energy, and while science and technology have the potential to make a great impact, unfortunately, there are shortcomings. As Branscomb discusses in his paper, the emphasis on research is not as effective as governments and independent actors would hope, often producing ideas that are just theoretical and not able to be easily applied. Branscomb argues the need for more of a focus on applied research, to be able to “create knowledge that is as socially useful as it is scientifically meritorious”. Furthermore, I would argue that there is also a need for an emphasis on ideologies and public support in order for Grand Challenges, particularly the SDGs, to make progress.

When we look at the ideas, the Apollo 11 mission, it wasn’t completed and wasn’t successful simply because of government-funded technological innovations made by NASA that allowed for the first humans to reach the moon. Apollo 11 mission was so successful because they had support. NASA and the “Space Race” had many Americans’ full support. In the US, for instance, pushed math and science in schools to get kids interested and publicized the space race heavily. This need for public engagement is necessary with the SDGs in order to create a passion for solving Grand Challenges among the public. In order to ensure that Grand Challenges will continue to be funded, continued to be actively researched, and continue to be in the forefront on peoples’ minds, the individual member of the public needs to feel connected and part of the solution.

As we discussed in our first meeting, grand challenges are challenging societal problems for which there are no concrete solutions.  Examples of grand challenges today are finding solutions to climate change, curing cancer, developing clean energy and resources, and ending global hunger.  Grand challenges often require science and technological innovations to understand and unearth possible solutions.  In addition, grand challenges are large, ambitious goals that are physically attainable within a designated timeline (Kalil). One such example of an ambitious goal with a timeline is President Kennedy’s plan to send a man to the moon known as “moonshot.”  The moonshot video explains that when faced with a grand challenge, one must utilize “moonshot thinking” which is explained in the video as choosing to be bothered by the idea that things are impossible.  In other words, you believe things can change and happen if you work hard and take risks.

To solve a grand challenge, “moonshot thinking” and multidisciplinary collaboration between fields is necessary.  To do this, fundamental research and education is paramount in defining global goals and discovering solutions.  In his article, Branscomb argues that to solve grand challenges “Jeffersonian science” and shifting scientific products to new industries must occur. Jeffersonian science is defined as a type of policy that promotes science that is more focused than pure research but more creative than applied research (Branscomb).  This combines top-down and bottom-up strategies to encourage basic science that may lead to knowledge that will make grand challenges easier to solve (Branscomb).

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are examples of grand challenges that have been clearly identified with a timeline of 2030.  This short, 15 year, timeline is attainable and achievable, two important aspects of grand challenges described by Tom Kalil.  Solutions for these global goals are being researched and realized by the entire global community.  The world-wide focus of the SDGs allows for increased innovation from a variety of players. Academics, scientists, tech, industry and various other fields must come together to “moonshot” and think beyond what they ever thought possible.  The USAID website lists nine grand challenges.  They believe that science and technology, coupled with other industries and global organizations, will find breakthrough solutions to these challenges.  As described in Kalil’s article, these grand challenges are intrinsically motivating and capture the imagination of the public. This is important because the more individuals believe in the possibility of finding a solution, the harder they will work in their field.  This then leads to increased innovation and creativity in not only their own field but in others as well as ideas are shared and spread.  In addition, Tom Kalil believes that people need to devote their entire career to one goal.

I am passionate about SDG two, zero hunger, and SDG ten, reduced inequalities.  Food security is a major grand challenge that will only be solved if various political, economic, and agricultural actors come together in search of a solution.  However, I grapple with the idea that technological advancements are the solution to global food insecurity.  In my opinion, indigenous agriculture techniques should be looked and taken into consideration when searching for a solution to this challenge.

One difference between the MDGs and the SDGs is the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the SDGs.  Disability, linked with development, is a grand challenge for the world due to the large number of individuals living with some form of disability.  As discussed, persons with disabilities face barriers in access to education, transportation, employment, and representation in government.  These problems were put in place by society as barriers to those with disabilities and it is a grand challenge to reverse these barriers and establish more inclusive development practices.