2015 Issue

6 Engineers Make the World Better National Engineers Week, February 22-28, 2015 Theme: Celebrating the Engineers Who Make the World A Better Place F arming, energy, water, transportation, communication, and medi- cine – all these necessities are either made possible or made bet- ter because they use engineering solutions. The world is more comfortable, more exciting, and safer as a result. Even though engineers are an important part of the nation’s industries and economy, fewer people are choosing to become engineers or to get advanced engineering degrees. As demand outpaces supply, engi- neering jobs are sometimes left empty at companies and government agencies throughout the U.S. This year’s National Discover Engineering Week theme — Engineering New Horizons — is a call to each of us to consider how we can make a difference individually and as companies and organizations. Our future depends on our continued efforts to make the world a better place through innovation, design, collaboration and forward thinking. We encourage you to consider how you can get involved in the process of making a difference and helping others discover engineering through the many programs that help spark the imagination and excitement of our next generation. Some of these activities may include the following activities sponsored by Discover Engineering: • Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day • Future City Competition • Discover E Outreach • Discover E Educator Recognition The National Engineers Week Foundation is a coalition that consists of over 100 government agencies, major corporations, and professional societies. Its purpose is to cultivate and direct the education of future engineers and to ensure that their education will provide them with a solid but diverse foundation. It accomplishes this goal by helping young students to understand and, perhaps, increase their interest in engineer- ing and technology careers. Finally, the foundation actively promotes pre-college literacy in math and science. Engineers Week educates the public so that people can better understand and appreciate engineers’ contributions to society. In the U.S., the third full week of February is National Engineers Week. The celebration of National Engineers Week was started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers in conjunction with the birth- day of our first president, George Washington. President Washington, who worked as a surveyor, has been called the nation’s first engineer. The field of engineering consists of many separate disciplines that can be applied to improve our world. Everyone knows that an engineer needs a good background in math and science in order to become an engineer, but someone who wants to become an engineer should also be a creative pragmatist. An engineer learns about many different subjects, not just science and math, and then uses that knowledge to solve problems for everyone. Engineers are often asked to solve dif- ficult and important problems, so it appropriate that the standards for becoming an engineer are set high.  Member Societies www.aaees.org www.acecutah.org www.aiaa.org www.asce.org www.utahashrae.org www.asme.org www.ite.org www.same.org www.seau.org www.swe.org www.ucls.org www.ucea.net www.aspe.org www./ /sites.ieee.org/utah