Future of AI and Engineering

AI and machine learning are transforming engineering. Learn the skills, applications, and career opportunities shaping the future workforce.
About this Event

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are becoming increasingly important across all engineering disciplines and are no longer confined to computer science and related fields. As these technologies continue to transform engineering practice, they are reshaping the skills and knowledge that engineers need to succeed in an evolving workplace. What should engineering students learn about AI/ML, and how can these skills be applied across different industries and engineering domains? How will AI/ML influence career opportunities for future engineering graduates?

This presentation explores the growing role of AI/ML in engineering education and practice, discusses the challenges and opportunities these technologies create, and examines strategies for preparing students for an AI-enabled future. Topics include interdisciplinary approaches to AI/ML education, emerging applications across engineering fields, and examples of current AI/ML research and innovation. The presentation concludes with insights into how students can develop relevant AI/ML competencies and position themselves for success in tomorrow’s workforce.

Speaker:

Prof. Patrick “Pat” Phelan

Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU), and the Associate Dean of Engineering Graduate Programs.

Patrick “Pat” Phelan is a Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU), and the Associate Dean for Engineering Graduate Programs. He previously served as the Director of the National Science Foundation Thermal Transport Processes Program (2006 – 2008), and as Manager of the Emerging Technologies Program at the US Department of Energy Building Technologies Office (2012 – 2016). He received his BS degree from Tulane University, his MS from MIT, and his PhD from UC Berkeley, all in mechanical engineering. Following two years as a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, he began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii before moving to ASU in 1996. He is the Director of the ASU Industrial Assessment Center, part of the ASU Energy Efficiency Center, the Field Chief Editor of Frontiers in Energy Efficiency, and teaches and conducts research in the fields of heat transfer, thermal engineering, and energy efficiency.