2014 Issue

10 generation to be born. Born into a society where information, education, entertain- ment, and everything else, is just a click away, they are certainly living in the informa- tion age with technology. This generation is said to exhibit positive feelings about the increasing diversity in the U.S., and they are more likely than older generations to have social circles that include people from different ethnic groups, races, lifestyles and religions. No matter what you believe about these generational norms or how you see yourself fitting into these, there is no denying that advances in technology within each genera- tion tremendously impact the social norms of our lives. In turn, these social norms will be the drivers for the direction that advanced technology takes in the future. As much as we can feel a sense of accom- plishment in our involvement towards a bet- ter “engineered” world, it also requires the fulfillment of those personal relationships we make along the way. We can be con- stantly receiving and creating influences, both good and bad, on those immediately around us, regardless of our intentions or abilities. One of my goals has always been to be intentional in “making a difference.” This is the theme for this year’s Engineering Week, hence my interest in writing this commentary. Engineers Week—the only event of its kind—is a time to: • Celebrate how engineers make a dif- ference in our world. • Increase public dialogue about the need for engineers. • Bring engineering to life for kids, edu- cators, and parents. More than a week-long event, Engineers Week is a year-round commitment to mak- ing a difference. The UEC is made up of 17 different profes- sional associations or societies. All aspects of its mission are, in one way or another, to make a difference through engineering. In short, we strive to advance the art and sci- ence of engineering for the general welfare of the society as a whole, by its member societies, on matters beyond the scope of the individual societies. One way this is ac- complished is to foster public recognition of the engineering profession. This is the honor in which the UEC is proud to accept when we recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves in contributing to society as a whole and not just in their in- dividual fields. I encourage you to read the full Mission Statement in this year’s Journal . I commend all those who have pursued serving in their individual societies and non-profit endeavors. I support the idea that there should always be a need for vol- unteerism. The freedom to choose and the ability to give back to society is rewarding and fulfilling. Large regulated government programs have their limitations and down- falls. A society where individuals care for the welfare of each other, and the building up of a community with the common goal that everyone matters, is a thriving healthy environment. I was fortunate to participate in one such endeavor this past fall, with the UEC’s new- est member society, Engineers without Bor- ders. EWB, as they are known, is somewhat unique, as several of our member societies are, in that their members are from a num- ber of different engineering disciplines. On their brochure the statement is made: The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get for it, but what they become because of it. -John Ruskin I think this statement sums up a lot of what is meant by giving back and volunteering. If what you become is fulfilled with a sense of having made a difference, and your re- ward is personal relationships where lives are better off because of your efforts, then you can know that your work will live on and not decay into the heap of obsolescence. One way in which the local professional and student chapters of EWB provide op- portunities for individuals to participate, is volunteering on Navajo Nation projects twice a year over the course of several long weekends or spring and fall school breaks. The Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribal land nearly 27,500 sq. miles in size, equivalent to the State of West Virginia. The boundaries include the northeast area of Arizona, the northwest area of NewMexico and the southeast area of Utah below Lake Powell and stretching to the Colorado border. Several thousand Navajos still live without electricity and running water. Often, they drive 50 miles or more over dirt roads to get wood and water, and light their houses with kerosene lamps. Because they don’t have power, many Navajos can’t store fresh foods and medicine, or run medical devices. This past fall, a group of professionals and students with EWB, in conjunction with Plateau Solar and Wind, worked on a green building project that is bringing green energy, clean water and jobs to the Navajo Nation residents. The work was on the George family home and has become a technological showcase that demon- strates economical and innovative ways to bring electricity, clean water, and heating and cooling to off-grid Navajo families — even in an unforgiving environment where temperatures vary from -30 to 110°F. More importantly, the home is a testament to the Navajo people’s ability to live in harmony with nature. The George family moved into their new home on Friday December 6, 2013, and has electricity for the first time. Their entire lives, these elders and their handicapped children lived off the power grid. Until now, they lived in a makeshift two-bedroom dwelling built with toxic railroad ties and a badly leaking roof. Elsa Johnson, director of the Navajo non- profit IINA (“life” in Navajo) Solutions, says, “It’s so gratifying to me to help bring elec- tricity and other clean energy to our people. I left the reservation nearly thirty years ago and I see that little has changed, especially for the elders, so I developed an initiative to help the marginalized tribal members. Thousands of my people still live in survival mode without power, fresh vegetables, or clean water.” That’s changing due to an ambitious project called Plateau Solar and Wind. Founded in 2010 by Elsa and green building expert MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL’S CHAIR | continued from page 9