GW welcomed Dr. Arati Prabhakar, Assistant to President Biden for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, to the Jack Morton Auditorium on January 14. In this enlightening presentation, Prabhakar used her 40 years of experience in research and development to discuss how today’s advances in science and technology can be leveraged to build the equitable, sustainable future we all aspire to.
In her talk, aptly titled “A Better Tomorrow: Science and Technology’s Essential Purpose,” Prabhakar touched on specific challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. today, including climate change, healthcare, and artificial intelligence. As President Biden’s Chief Science Advisor, she brought a unique perspective on addressing these national concerns, focusing on recent progress made at the federal level, such as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Building on these challenges, Prabhakar emphasized the vital priorities necessary to address them effectively, including accelerating technology commercialization. Her talk at GW follows a similar one at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in November 2024, underscoring her belief in academia’s pivotal role in sustaining U.S. global leadership in technological innovation.
Prabhakar is an engineer and applied physicist with broad management and leadership experience across the government and private sectors. Having spearheaded the innovation at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency from 2012 to 2017 and the National Institute for Standards and Technology from 1993 to 1997, she has long championed the role of research and technology in addressing society’s grand challenges.
GW Engineering faculty and students left Prabhakar’s presentation feeling particularly inspired. By leveraging their technical expertise and commitment to discovery, GW engineers and computer scientists are uniquely positioned to strengthen science and technology development in the U.S. Her visit reinforced for them the transformative impact science and technology can have when guided by a shared vision for a better tomorrow.