The virtual, multi-stage process will be facilitated by the UNL Office of Research and Economic Development on behalf of the Office of the Chancellor. It will comprise seven stages, starting June 5 and concluding mid-July, after which the selected grand challenges will be announced with the start of the 2020-21 academic year. The identified grand challenges themes will help guide activities and talent and be used to guide institutional investment and resource allocation. For questions about the process, contact Nathan Meier, assistant vice chancellor for research.

For the grand challenges kickoff, UNL leadership will inform participants about the goals for this initiative, identify opportunities and discuss planning and goal setting. Michelle Popowitz, University of California, Los Angeles, assistant vice chancellor for research and co-founder of UCLA Grand Challenges, will share her insights on how grand challenges can help an institution focus on a set of common goals to fulfill its mission. Resources will be provided for review before the next stage of discussion from Blueprint Nebraska; National Academy of Sciences; National Science Foundation’s 10 Big Ideas; Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey; Nebraska Rural Poll; Bureau of Business Research; UNL Extension; UNL Libraries and UNL’s Office of Research and Economic Development.

Register for this virtual event:
https://research.unl.edu/events/event2.php?eventID=4662