Jenn Gustetic (Program Executive for NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program) recognized UCLA Grand Challenges and Michelle Popowitz, JD, MPH (UCLA Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Executive Director for UCLA Grand Challenges) during her opening keynote entitled “Moonshots for Science Engagement” at the 2019 Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Annual Conference on September 21, 2019.
Gustetic, an experienced innovator and policy entrepreneur, shared examples of “moonshots” including how people and organizations in the government, private, and philanthropic sectors, as well as research institutions, science centers, and museums are pursuing Grand Challenges. She also discussed how NASA uses cross-sector collaboration to advance its own daring projects.
Gustetic emphasized how “Grand challenges can be led from anywhere within an organization…” and how they are “ …an ideal strategy for the intrapreneur.” In doing so, she highlighted how Michelle Popowitz galvanized campus efforts to create UCLA Grand Challenges by asking one simple question: How can UCLA serve a greater role in solving problems relevant to LA and beyond? Doing so led to the creation of the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge and Depression Grand Challenge, thus solidifying UCLA as the first university to develop a campus-wide, SMART goal-oriented Grand Challenge program.
