The modification of nature and the creation of artifacts (“machines”) is as old as humans (and, at times, predates them). Engineering can be broadly defined as encompassing what is usually defined by that term, but also other activities that modify nature, like agriculture, architecture and medicine. Ever tighter interactions among the “biosoma” (that is, the synergy of living systems, society, and machines) and between it and our environment raise increasing concerns about what this will mean to our lives in the future. An assessment of where we are and of where we might be going demands an understanding of several fundamental relations ranging from those among of the components of the biosoma to those of engineering to science, innovation and society.

The ISD was honored to have hosted the last public lecture in December 2010 of the late George Bugliarello, President Emeritus, University Professor and former chancellor of Polytechnic Institute of NYU. He died on February 18, 2011. An acknowledged visionary who brought about significant changes in engineering and education, Dr. Bugliarello had a broad background ranging from fluid mechanics to computer languages, the environment, biomedical engineering and science policy. He was a member of the National Academy of Engineers, and in recognition of his leadership in creating MetroTech, one of the nation's largest urban university-industry parks, he was a recipient of the Marconi Society's Beacon of Light Award.