10. Because if we don't those darn scientists will take credit
for all of our efforts.
9. To remind those jerks in school just who's having fun
now.
8. Even garbage collectors want to be called engineers.
7. To stop people from snickering when we discuss "flocculating" devices.
6. "ENGINEER" - you can't spell it without "G.E.E.!"
5. It's either that or "Broccoli Awareness Week."
4. What else have you got to do in the third week in February?
3. Spring will come early if enough engineers emerge from
the shadows.
2. Pocket protectors! Pocket protectors! Pocket protectors!
1. Because 1,800,000 engineers can't be wrong.
National Engineers Week, February 22-28, offers great opportunities to educate the public and communicate pride in the profession.
Commencement Address, June 13, 1997 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, given by Anne C. Petersen, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
...One of Drucker's conclusions is that, "we will redefine what it means to be an educated person. Traditionally, an educated person was someone who had a prescribed stock of formal knowledge." This, according to Drucker, is no longer the case. "Increasingly," he said, "an educated person will be someone who has learned how to learn, and who continues learning ... throughout his or her lifetime."
The biggest question though is how you will use what you have learned. At some point in life we all ask ourselves what matters most to us. What contributions do we want to make? What legacy do we want to leave? Most of us do not accumulate tremendous wealth to invest in good efforts. Instead we need to focus on the contributions of our own efforts. What will your contribution be?
What I encourage you to do is to identify ways to contribute to people and their communities. You may be thinking, "Engineers don't focus on people; we focus on machines, or manufacturing." I urge you to consider how your special engineering skills and interests can make this a better place for humankind. Joseph Bordogna, an engineer and former colleague of mine at the National Science Foundation, has said that the true strength of society lies in its human capital, and especially its engineering workforce. "Engineers," he said, "develop the new processes and products, and create and manage new systems that make commerce hum, health prosper, and an increasingly integrated society function." Engineers put knowledge to work for society and catalyze the private sector's potential to create wealth and jobs.
To be successful at this task, according to Bordogna, you as engineers must exhibit more than first-rate technical and scientific skill. You must invest considerable amounts of time, money, and human resources to create what has not been. You must be able to work across intellectual boundaries and make the connections that will lead to deeper insights and more creative solutions. Bordogna sees the engineer as someone who not only knows how to do things right, but also knows the right thing to do. As engineers, you can make tremendous contributions to society to improve life on earth. And I hope that you do.
Science writer Isaac Asimov said that "no sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is world as it is, but also the world as it will be." That's what I would like to challenge you to do when you leave here today. Think about engineering applications that can make tomorrow's world a better place for people. For example, I was delighted to meet an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota who designed a device to assist wheel-chair users. The impetus behind this work was that the student had a family member who was physically challenged; the student used that human need to design something that was beneficial - not only to her family member, but to others as well. Using your skills to meet human need is what I believe you should be striving to do throughout your careers.
Another kind of example of using engineering skills to solve the problems of people and society is that of environmentally benign manufacturing. These new manufacturing processes are designed to avoid pollution and toxic contamination from the outset, rather than trying to capture unhealthy toxins at the end of the process, coming out of smokestacks. When these processes are also more cost effective, everyone wins.
Writing in the Spring 1997 issue of The Bridge, a journal of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Bordogna points out that engineers must be able to work in teams and communicate well. You must be flexible, adaptable, and resilient. Equally important, you must be able to employ a systems approach in your work, to make connections within the context of ethical, political, international, environmental, and economic considerations. Now if that sounds like walking on water, that's okay; you can do it!
Now that you have acquired the skills needed to graduate in engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, I encourage you to find creative ways to bring improvements to the future education of engineering students and engineers. Engineering education has become much more than a bachelor's degree, or even a Ph.D. It now requires strengthening and continually refreshing your talents for innovation and creativity. Professional societies will need to assume greater responsibility for enabling their members to thrive through change. Universities will need to embrace new mechanisms such as the exciting ones now available with the Internet for interacting with students and graduates, as well as for linking the creation of knowledge with its dissemination and use. Your college is exemplary in its approach to education. You can help it continue to motivate, and spread this approach more broadly.
Graduates, you have before you an unusual and important opportunity. You have the opportunity to build upon your knowledge and experience to help shape life in the 21st Century by putting people at the center and developing practical innovations that serve communities. Whether you plan to continue your academic careers, or move into business and industry, you can help provide the leadership needed to improve the way that engineers go about their work. Partnerships among universities, businesses, industries, and communities will be essential, as no one group alone can meet the needs of people and propel us successfully into the next millennium.
Your help is needed to continually create new engineering and educational approaches that better serve a knowledge-based society. Especially needed are efforts that focus on all people, so that technological advance does not become a wedge that further divides haves from have nots. Key questions that must be asked include: How can we make a difference in the lives of people? How can we help communities find their own solutions to the problems they face? How can we affect public policy and create economic and social opportunities for people to improve their quality of life?
Each of you who is receiving a diploma today can be instrumental in answering these questions. You can help identify new approaches to problems and bring about positive social change. I urge you to not be like the people described by Winston Churchill, who occasionally stumble over the truth, then pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.
You have achieved much here on this campus in the shadows of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. Take today to celebrate your many successes and achievements. Then let your sense of adventure take your journey of life to the highest peaks, and use your skills and courage to make the climb. Along the way, though, remember that your ideas and skills are needed by real people facing real problems. Always evaluate your progress in terms of meeting those needs.
There's a story about Charles Steinmetz, an electrical engineer who once charged GE $10,000 for chalking an "X" on a defective machine part. When GE protested and asked Steinmetz to justify the charge, he sent back an itemized bill - "$1 for making one chalk mark; $9,999 for knowing where to place it."
Congratulations to all of you and your families! May you always know where to make your mark. Thank you.
by E L (Ed) Safford III, Lockheed Martin Senior Engineering Staff
"Engineer's Guide to Lifelong Employability," IEEE-USA Employment Assistance Committee, 1997, $19.95 (members), $24.95 (non-members), IEEE Catalog Number UH2970-0-041997-1-0
This book should be required reading for every graduating engineer, every engineer over the age of forty, and every engineer who has thoughts about becoming a self-employed. It is quite simply the best book on the market today about engineering career management.
Think I am overstating the case? In the first fifty pages alone you will learn how to start a job search, how to assess yourself as a marketable product, how to transition from school to work, and how to understand and correctly apply yourself to networking. What I appreciated most was that no time was wasted on "fluff." You got right into "how-to," with the facts and the FAQs (frequently asked questions). The illustrations and style of writing make it easy to read.
Like many "survivors," my bookshelf has half a dozen books on resume' writing, being a good employee, job-hunting, and "parachute" building. But in the last few years, they've all become obsolete. Now we have resumes scanned by optical readers and searched for keywords, extended networking through the Internet, and the prospect of having to search for a new job (inside or outside of a company) every two or three years. The concept of seeking lifelong employability has replaced that of seeking lifetime employment. Chuck the old stuff, this should be your new survival guide. And, it is as much about how to seek better employment within your own company as it is about how to make a successful move.
Need to write a resume, there's a chapter on that and an appendix with examples. Got an interview? Read the chapter on "How to Ace an Interview." Thinking about going to a headhunter? The chapter on recruiters was a real eye-opener for me. It could have saved me hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars over the course of my career, not to mention the savings in mental anguish. And there's more, much more. The chapter on consulting condenses the knowledge of a good business seminar and the wisdom usually acquired only painfully and after-the-fact into ten-minutes reading! I found it directly consistent with my own personal experience, and the most straightforward and honest account I have seen.
Was there anything a reader might not like? Well, it's definitely IEEE proactive. But though this bias was conspicuous, it did not in any way detract from the value of the book. I have to confess that as a senior member of the IEEE, I agree with the idea that professional society activity is one of the cornerstones of a professional's career. Also, it was biased toward electrical, electronics, and computer/software engineering. If you don't fit that category, then you have to be able to make the mental substitution of wording that is closer to your own profession. But, does it apply to other professions? Absolutely!
So how much is this little gem worth? I would have paid the price of the book to get the salary information. But how do you calculate the value of reducing the amount of time you are unemployed at any given time in your career, or of having fewer periods of underemployment so that your earnings potential remains at its highest?
The bottom line is this ... if you don't own a copy you may soon find yourself competing for that job with other folks who do, and that just might give them the competitive edge.
Engineers are America's problem solvers. They are practical inventors who use science and technology to turn ideas into reality, making our lives easier, healthier, more productive and more fun.
Thanks to engineers you can...Cruise down your local superhighway paved with information or asphalt...Bite into a fresh tomato in February or take a megabyte of your favorite computer program....Run in the latest sports shoes and then run clean tap water for a refreshing drink. Every day everyone benefits from the work of engineers.
Engineers design, build, manufacture, research and develop products, structures and machines. They are members of Congress, chief executives and even TV personalities.
There are more than 1.9 million engineers in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yet, their quiet, behind-the-scenes work has earned engineering the title of "the stealth profession." National Engineers Week brings recognition to this important profession. Celebrate E-week February 15-22.
LOCAL IAS CHAPTER UPDATE - Our efforts to form a local Chapter of the Industry Applications Society hit a slight snag last autumn, however, they are off and running again. Anyone interested in participating in this organizational effort, contact Ed Worley, 817-738-0630, e.worley@ieee.org.
Warm greetings to all those celebrating National Engineers Week, 1998.
The efforts of engineers are vital to building a competitive and prosperous America. As we approach the 21st century, we recognize more than ever the many contributions engineers make to our quality of life. Turning ideas into reality, our engineers provide us with the research, innovation, and technological achievements that help keep America strong and growing.
I commend the organizers, volunteers, and supporters of National Engineers Week for using this time to educate our nation about the importance of engineering. Through hands-on activities and scientific demonstrations across the country, you are sharing your love of engineering and encouraging thousands of young Americans to pursue careers in this exciting field. With your continued commitment to excellence, we can look forward to unprecedented prosperity and achievement for generations to come.
Best wishes for an enjoyable and productive week.
- Bill Clinton
IEEE-USA STUDY SHOWS STEADY INCREASE IN WORKER DEMAND - The demand for all electrotechnology engineers in the U.S. will increase by 28% over the next decade, while demand for computer engineers, computer scientists and systems analysts will grow about 40% during the same period, according to an IEEE-USA study. The workforce forecast, developed by DRI/McGraw-Hill, used sophisticated economic input-output methodology to create more reliable projections than possible through impressions of current demand. While the IEEE-USA forecast shows that future needs will require additional electrotechnology professionals, the IEEE-USA Workforce Committee projects that the existing domestic workforce is capable of providing these additional workers. For more information contact Chris Currie, IEEE-USA, 202-785-0017, c.currie@ieee.org, or see the February edition of The Institute.
IEEE EAB AND IEEE-USA URGE NEW DIRECTION IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION - A joint Entity Position Statement, "Engineering Education in the United States" advocates new guidelines for engineering education from the employer-needs perspective and calls for the faculty to instill in their students the discipline of continuous learning. The statement also discusses the need for career paths that offer engineering graduates relevant, attractive, and connected career choices. For more information, contact Tatiana Garnys, 732-562-6526, t.garnys@ieee.org.
CONGRESSIONAL FELLOW SOUGHT - IEEE-USA is seeking members interested in becoming 1999 Congressional Fellows. To learn more, request the free, eight-minute video, "Linking Engineering With Government," which includes a historical perspective and shows past fellows in action (contact Sharon Richardson, 202-785-0017, s.richardson@ieee.org), review the December 1997 issue of IEEE-USA Perspectives, or access the Web site at www.ieee.org/ usab/FORUM/GOVFEL/. The deadline for 1999 fellowship applications is 27 Feb. 1998.
PARTICIPATE IN CONGRESSIONAL VISITS DAY (CVD) - The CVD, February 25-26, is a two-day annual event that brings scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and technology executives to Washington to raise visibility and support for science, engineering, and technology. Uniquely multi-sector and multi-disciplinary, the CVD is coordinated by coalitions of companies, professional societies and educational institutions and it is open to all people who believe that science and technology comprise the cornerstone of our Nation's future. If you would like to participate, contact IEEE-USA at 202-785-0017, ieeeusa@ieee.org.
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE COALITION CALLS FOR DECADE OF INVESTMENT IN R&D - IEEE-USA has joined a blue-ribbon coalition of more than 100 scientific and engineering societies in urging the federal government to double its investment in research over the next 10 years to ensure "the health of the nation's science, engineering, and technology infrastructure." The coalition had already established links with like-minded members of Congress to publicize the commitment to higher R&D spending, including Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, who announced introduction of a revised National Research Investment Act of 1998 (S. 1305), which would authorize a doubling of non-defense research funding over 10 years. In response to input from the engineering community, the revised bill broadens its definition of research to include "precompetitive engineering research."
DEFICIT WILL DISAPPEAR THIS YEAR - The federal deficit will virtually disappear in the next year, even without any new actions by Congress or President Clinton, the Congressional Budget Office predicted. The CBO delivered a report to congressional leaders projecting that the budget deficit would shrink to $5 billion in fiscal 1998 and $2 billion in 1999. It estimated the first surplus would be $14 billion, in fiscal 2001, followed by a $69 billion surplus in fiscal 2002.
EU & US SIGN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION AGREEMENT
- After a year of negotiations, a science and technology
agreement between the European Union and the United States of
America was signed during the EU/US Summit in Washington. Running
for an initial period of five years, it will help promote, develop,
and facilitate cooperative R&D activities for mutual benefit,
and covers virtually all areas of the natural sciences and engineering.
Based on the principles of mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities
for cooperation, and fair treatment, the agreement should help
researchers and research institutions on both sides of the Atlantic
to work more closely together in a very wide range of research
areas.
Recognizing our Section members for their long-time commitment to the profession on the anniversary of their joining IEEE.
50 yrs
35 yrs
30 yrs
25 yrs
20 yrs
Find the words whose initials are on the right side of each equation below. (The first answer is shown.)
Answer to last month's Brainbuster:
Don't calculate the length of the bee's back-and-forth flight. Just observe that it flew for one hour, and therefore flew 60 km.
Jean Eason, Editor