6 ways to engage with Grand Challenges
1. Insert "Grand Challenges" into a paper or report title (and only the title)
A few have tried this over the years, but it is unconvincing and so is not common.
2. Actually write a Grand Challenges paper
That is, list the top 10 problems you think everyone else should work on.
3. Organize a conference session followed by a journal special issue and have others write the GC list
There are lots of examples of conference-special issue grand challenge efforts. Often they seem to occur when the identity or purpose of a field is in question. The idea being that if people could come together around a few big issues, the joint effort would move the field forward. This points to a tension: Does the field define the GC or do the GC's define the field? The National Academies hew to the former, the special issue folks the later.
4. If caught up in a strategic planning exercise, suggest the group identify grand challenges for your organization
This might have become a cliche by now. If not yet in your organization appear to be on the cutting edge by making this suggestion.
5. Start a competition
Requires a million dollars, an idea to save humanity, and lots of social media presence.
6. Map the brain, find an asteroid about to destroy the planet, make solar power radically cheaper, get all kids on the planet reading
The White House wants all hands on deck, including yours presumably