The Samuel Ginn Distinguised Seminar Series

Founded in 2005, this series brings distinguished leaders from the academic and business communities to Auburn's campus to interact with faculty and students. Lectures cover subjects such as engineering, education, entrepreneurship and global engineering issues, as well as engineering and business leadership. It honors Auburn engineering alumnus and wireless engineering pioneer Samuel Ginn, who in 2001 donated $25 million to Auburn with the goal of advancing his alma mater into the ranks of the nation's top wireless engineering research and teaching institutions.

Charles M. Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering and president emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discussed the impact that globalization and the changing nature of science and technology have on higher education, research, development and innovation, as well as the ways that our educational systems may have to transform to meet the greatest human challenges of this century.

William A. Wulf, president emeritus of the National Academy of Engineering, discussed the need to increase the involvement of the engineering community in public policy decision by increasing the number of engineers in public office and improved education of ordinary citizens to ensure they know enough science and engineering to develop informed public policy.

Reischman Provides Overview of NSF Engineering Opportunities and Priorities Michael M. Reischman, deputy assistant director for engineering for the National Science Foundation (NSF), discussed pportunities and priorities within the NSF Engineering Directorate. The seminar was followed by an open forum for engineering faculty to learn more about working with NSF to maximize research awards