Empowering Innovation: A West Coast Hub for the NAE and the Engineering Community
Donor Stories
Last update March, 31 2025
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The Beckman Center is one of the NAE’s greatest resources and we created the NAEF Beckman Endowment to allow the NAE to make the most of the facility in the near future and beyond.
Known as the West Coast hub of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center is a warm and inviting place to convene students, Academy members, volunteers, and the public. This collaborative environment fosters deep discussions on critical matters spanning science, engineering, technology, and education. Sitting on seven acres of land adjacent to the University of California, Irvine, the Beckman Center strengthens the National Academies’ presence in the region and provides a space to engage with our entire community through meetings, forums, and public gatherings.
Beyond the numerous programmatic activities and conferences at the Beckman Center, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) hosts its annual National Meeting and the Lillian Gilbreth Lectureships. These events offer local high school students the unique opportunity to hear about exciting advancements in engineering and STEM from leaders who present on leading-edge topics such as robotics, space exploration, and environmental and biomedical engineering. These experiences are a powerful catalyst to inspire the next generation of innovators, fostering an environment where young minds can actively participate in the conversation shaping tomorrow’s world.
“Thank you so much for the thoughtfulness and learning opportunities that you provided! I learned so much and I enjoyed speaking with the members personally! Experiences like this always inspire me to pursue a career in STEM. Seeing so many intelligent women motivated me to push forward.” – 2025 Gilbreth Lecture Attendee
“Thank you so much for providing our school the special opportunity to listen and interact with experts within the STEM field. It was incredibly inspiring to hear from experts in the field and learn how engineering expands into so many areas of life. The presentations were engaging, and I appreciated how the presenters broke down complex concepts, making them easily digestible for us as students. I left feeling motivated and more confident in my future pursuing engineering. I look forward to attending again!” – 2025 Gilbreth Lecture Attendee
Co-owned by the National Academy of Sciences, the Beckman Center is supported through a modest endowment that is supplemented with critical funding from unrestricted annual donations. To make needed improvements and secure the finances of the Beckman Center, the NAE—under the leadership of President John L. Anderson—embarked on an ambitious fundraising effort to grow the endowment to at least $10 million. This vital funding will ensure the NAE can cover its share of the Beckman Center’s expenses in perpetuity.
“Arnold Beckman is not only considered one of the top inventors of scientific instruments but also one of the greatest philanthropists of his time. The Beckman Center is a testament to his and Mabel’s love and dedication to science, engineering, and technology.” – John L. Anderson
As part of this fundraising effort and to commemorate John L. Anderson for his extraordinary leadership over the last six years as NAE president, the Beckman Center Boardroom was named in his honor. Throughout his tenure, President Anderson has been a tireless advocate for maintaining the Beckman Center, expanding its vibrant programming, and ensuring it remains a vital hub for engineering leadership. Although his term concludes this summer, the boardroom will serve as a testament to his commitment for years to come.
Numerous naming opportunities are available for you to join the members and friends who have already supported the NAE’s Beckman Center effort. The NAE is accepting donations to the general NAEF Beckman Center Endowed Fund, and spaces in the building and Beckman Auditorium seats are available to name in honor of themselves, a loved one, or a mentor. Please contact Radka Z. Nebesky, NAE Director of Development, if you’d like to participate in this vital effort.
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Donate today to join a community that shares a passion for advancing science for the greater good. Your valued contributions can help transform ideas into action and knowledge into progress.
