Last week was the 158th Annual ASCE Conference.  Hundreds of ASCE members met in Pittsburgh to participate in a week of committee meetings, seminars and networking events.  The Annual Conference brings together a diverse group of civil engineers.  I enjoy the opportunity to meet people from around the country who work in all aspects of the civil engineering profession.

The title of this year’s Conference was “Engineering: The Workforce of the Future.”  ASCE recognizes that if the U.S. is to address the challenges of an aging infrastructure, shrinking energy and water resources, and globalization, the profession must act to attract, educate, and train talented new professionals.  Recognizing that the future of the society will have to shoulder these challenges, the Conference provides a lot of activities for Students and Younger Members.

Every year, the Committee for Younger Members plans a day-long leadership symposium during the Annual Conference.  This year’s agenda featured presentations and panel discussions on public speaking, being an entrepreneur, the importance of being politically active, and salary negotiation.  However, the highlight for most younger members is the social program.  On the final night of the conference, we rode a funicular up to Mount Washington, which overlooks the city.   At the top, we found a great view.  The younger member program makes it easy to get to know other younger engineers.

Unfortunately, I had responsibilities that kept me working (for ASCE) throughout the Conference.  On Wednesday, I attended a meeting for the Committee on Younger Members.  I serve as a corresponding member, meaning that I receive the committee notes and assist with its activities, but my travel to meetings is not reimbursed.

I am also the chair of the Committee on Pre-College Outreach.  We held an impromptu meeting on Thursday.  With Committee Members coming from as far as Alaska, it’s important to try to meet whenever a quorum of members is present.   On Friday, I presented my Committee’s work in a seminar track about how engineering outreach is being used to improve kids’ technical literacy and attract future engineers.  For many conference participants, this was their first opportunity to learn about the outreach activities being undertaken around the country.  Younger Members and Students were especially interested in learning more about pre-college outreach.

I learned a lot during the conference and met many interesting people – including Wayne Klotz, the President of ASCE.  The President had some good ideas about invigorating the Society, particularly the idea to establish what he dubbed “the no Wrist-Watch Committee.”  The goal of this committee would be to find out what ASCE Members younger than 30 think the society needs to meet their needs.

The most awkward moment came when discussing politics with a group of Texans who were not as excited as me about the presidential election results.  All was forgiven after buying them a round and stumbling through a couple of line dances.

From political activism to pre-college outreach to networking events, ASCE presents many opportunities for civil engineers to broaden their professional horizons.  The Annual Conference is one event that brings it all together in one place.  Next year’s Conference is in Kansas City.  Attending the Annual Conference is a great way to kick start your participation in ASCE.

The election of Senator Obama is a turning point in American politics.  His selection gives a voice and provides inspiration to a large population of minorities who previously felt as though they were on the sidelines of the political process.  However, other demographics remain conspicuously absent from the ranks of national elected representatives.  In the 109th Congress, only one representative identified himself as an engineer; that’s equal to the number of professional magicians. (Find more odd jobs at www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS22007.pdf)

Given the increasing dependency of the nation on engineered systems, I believe that’s a dangerous imbalance of representation.

The solutions to critical issues including climate change, energy dependence, education, national security, water supply and even health care will require some aspect of innovative engineering.  The presidential candidates discussed these issues. (Read what they had to say at http://www.sciencedebate2008.com)  Engineers ought to join the political discussion.  At the very least, it’s our responsibility to inform our elected officials.

Although there are no civil engineers in Congress, they have a strong voice because of ASCE’s efforts.  ASCE has issued over 160 policy statements on issues of interest to the civil engineering community. The Government Relations group monitors the actions taken by national, state and local governments with regard to these issues.  Its most visible project is the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.  When this report is issued, it’s a major news event, and politicians are taking note.  It’s little surprise that funding for infrastructure projects has recently been discussed as a major component of a new economic stimulus package.

ASCE makes it easy for you to make your voice heard.  Log on to http://www.asce.org/gr and select “Click and Connect with Congress.”  You can get a list of all of your elected officials simply by typing in your zip code.  Then, take action!  For some issues, like the support of an economic stimulus with infrastructure funding, ASCE has already written the letter that gets sent to your representative.  You just need to add your contact information.

There are several ways to keep up-to-date on what’s happening in Washington.  First, check out the official blog, “Our Failing Infrastructure.”  Then, sign up to be a Key Contact and receive weekly email updates.  ASCE Government Relations is also on Facebook.  Right now, the group is asking people to send in photos of infrastructure in need of repair.

ASCE has approximately 100,000 dues-paying members.  If all those members were to become actively involved in the political process, ASCE would be a strong lobby indeed.  On his way to the White House, Barack Obama was able to convince thousands of first-time voters that their vote would make a difference.  It will be great for the country if those voters continue to tell politicians what they think.  Civil engineers need to join in that enthusiasm and become leaders in policy making.

The seasons just changed in Chicago.  Yesterday’s high was only 42 degrees.  I grew up in Michigan, so cold weather and erratic seasons are nothing new to me, but that never seems to take the edge off those first days when you realize that winter is starting.  To make myself feel a little better, I thought I’d talk about my summer vacation: a seven-day cruise in the Caribbean.

Our cruise departed from San Juan. This was my first visit to Puerto Rico, and I was impressed.  The city has an old-world feel to it, very much like a European city.  The main attractions to the engineer are the two primary forts that guarded the city.  Old San Juan was the central repository for the famed Spanish Gold before it was shipped back to the mother country.

Both forts are open to the public. It’s incredibly fun to wander through the stone passages and up to the lookout towers.  The grooves from old cannon wheels are still visible on the battlements and well-placed informational placards describe how an old ship to shore battle might have gone.  I was surprised to learn that artillery positioned near water level actually intended the cannon balls to skip across the water on their way to impact the side of an incoming ship.

Over time, parts of the fort were adapted to more modern warfare.  Both forts have concrete bunkers on their highest positions that were installed to spot German U-boats in World War One.  Today, you can still see radar towers in use by the Coast Guard.

If the forts were the marvel of 16th century engineering, then our next stop aboard the cruise ship might be a symbol for 20th century innovation.  More like a floating city, our cruise ship carried over 4,000 passengers and crewmembers. Among other things, the ship advertised a 2,000-person auditorium, an ice rink, a rock climbing wall, a gym and spa, and even a “main street” promenade complete with general store and soda fountain.  I don’t remember the dimensions off hand, but suffice it to say that it was big, very big.

The ship’s construction drawings must look more like a building than a boat.  I was continuously trying to imagine how the beams and columns would frame out the 15 stories of crew and staterooms.  Unfortunately for the structural engineer, all of the structure is discreetly hidden by carefully planned interior design.

Pulling into the island ports, on the other hand, was anything but subtle.  Our leviathan dominated the city skylines.  It caused a bit of a moral conflict for me.  On the one hand, the tourists on board stimulate the local island economies.  However, the inequity of wealth between the cruisers and the islanders seemed unjust.  In all, we visited 5 different islands.

Write in and let us know what you did on your summer vacation. What natural and man-made wonders did you explore?