To All UEC Members,

It has truly been a pleasure to lead you all in the past year as your UEC Chair.

The theme of this year’s Engineers Week was “Creating the Future.” Looking around the room at our annual banquet and awards ceremony, I had the privilege to look at the future engineering workforce. There, I was uplifted to see that the demographics of the room are shifting and slowly becoming more inclusive. Young, energized engineers are establishing their presence in this world, and their unique perspective invigorates the current workforce. Despite the great strides forward, there is still work to be done to further develop and encourage diversity in engineering. One of the ways we have the privilege to address this is through the UEC’s scholarship program. Financial stability allows for the future to be more complete, as more people have the opportunity to contribute towards it in a meaningful way. I extend my sincere gratitude to our scholarship sponsors who help provide this critical financial support.

We are faced with more demanding engineering problems than ever before, but I have full confidence that our next generation of engineers is prepared to take on these substantial challenges. This is illustrated by the incredible feats of engineering being accomplished within our beautiful state. The University of Utah has created a Bionic Leg, which has been featured on the cover of Science Robotics. BYU professors have created a molten salt nuclear reactor that is resistant to accidents and can minimize nuclear waste. NASA’s twin boosters for its Artemis program were developed and manufactured in Utah. It is clear that Utah’s engineering potential is prominent, and I look forward to seeing what the next generation achieves in this dynamic environment.

The engineering community has a responsibility to create an environment in which our future generation can thrive. This is a daunting task. However, we can create a future in bite-size pieces, each meaningful in their own way, which cumulatively add up to larger, substantial change. This can take the form of mentoring a new employee at your company, volunteering at a career fair or simply encouraging a love for learning in the children in your life. Within a community, we each forge our own path, illuminating it and creating a brighter environment for those who follow. There is still darkness to be explored, but handing the torch to the next generation will empower them to continue this journey, and the world will be better for it.

Once again, I thank you for the honor of being your UEC Chair, and I challenge you to consider how you can participate in “Creating the Future” in your own meaningful way.

Sincerely,
Caite

Additional Information About Referenced Projects:

The Utah Bionic Leg
https://www.mech.utah.edu/utah-bionic-leg-in-science-robotics/

The Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor
https://www.ksl.com/article/50505054/byu-professors-create-reactor-designed-to-safely-produce-nuclear-energy-heres-how-it-works

Artemis Program Twin Boosters
https://www.fox13now.com/news/uniquely-utah/uniquely-utah-local-rocket-facility-involved-in-upcoming-artemis-launch