Reclaiming engineering as a public good
A new national initiative to develop bold, systems-minded engineers who solve the hardest problems with speed, purpose, and real-world impact
The future depends on engineers who are bold enough to build it.
If engineering is our most powerful tool… why are we so afraid to redesign how it’s taught?
Vision
To engineer a future that is resilient, secure, and just by empowering a generation of engineers to solve the hardest problems with speed, rigor, and purpose
Mission
Develop, connect, and deploy engineers who work across disciplines and sectors to create breakthrough solutions for the most pressing challenges
The three pillars
We Convene
Mission-driven networks across sectors
Peer cohorts and mentorship
Action-focused professional development
We Research
Rapid testing of new training and deployment models
Radical transparency on what works—and what doesn’t
Partnerships with universities to track real impact
We Translate
Ideas into policies, playbooks, and prototypes
Strategies into scalable programs
Talent into measurable outcomes
The U.S. cannot afford business as usual
From climate resilience to infrastructure, health security to economic stability—engineering is our most powerful tool for progress. EfA exists to tap the full potential of American engineering talent and make that talent count where it matters most.
Backed by AAAS
Engineering for America is hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society. We operate across institutions and geographies to deliver results, not rhetoric.
About Our Founder
Dr. Gilda A. Barabino
Founder and Executive Director, Engineering for America
Engineering for America (EfA) was founded on a conviction Dr. Gilda Barabino has carried her entire career: that engineering should be pursued in service of everyone. For her, pursuing research on sickle cell disease, a complex disorder that disproportionately affects Blacks, linked science and community. Her groundbreaking research in sickle cell disease has informed current technologies and formed the basis for novel therapies. EfA’s inaugural convening carries that same purpose forward—bringing innovation directly to the communities it should serve.
Dr. Barabino served as the second President of Olin College of Engineering from 2020-2025 where she is now Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering. Prior to Olin, she held faculty and administrative appointments at the City College of New York, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University and Northeastern University. At the City College of New York, she established the Master’s in Translational Medicine program integrating engineering, medical innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Barabino has received many of the highest honors in academia and science. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2024, she was awarded the Dickson Prize in Science.
She leads on a global stage and is the Past Board Chair and Past President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She serves as the Chair of the National Academy of Medicine’s Commission on Investment Imperatives for a Healthy Nation. Previously, she served on the National Academy of Medicine’s Committee on Addressing Sickle Cell Disease: A Strategic Plan and Blueprint for Action. In her own words: "Science has the power to change the world. Harnessing that power requires science for all in service of humanity."
With Engineering for America, Dr. Barabino is building the ecosystem she has championed for decades—one where community-centered innovation in sickle cell disease, diabetes, and beyond is backed, connected, and brought to scale.
Have a question?
Ready to build what's next?
Whether you're an engineer, educator, policymaker, or partner—join us in shaping the next chapter of American ingenuity.
