May 24 2012
A Tree May Grow in Brooklyn But It’s “The Bridge” We Celebrate Today!
On May 24, 1883 . . . that’s 129 years ago. . . the now-famous Brooklyn Bridge was opened.
Being in the heart of Brooklynites, the locals celebrate the day across the coming weekend.
Cr. Google Images
Cr. Marc Perkins
Consider checking out the lesson plans [at the link above] based on THE BRIDGE, to bring engineering alive and into the lives of students.
Also, the Brooklyn Bridge is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Consider the leadership that was needed to take on such a project. Please share your personal memories of the bridge. Did great civil engineering achievements like this inspire you to become civil engineers. . . .if not, then what attracted you to the civil engineering profession?
2 responses so far
Bill,
Yes the Brooklyn Bridge required leadership and a Master Builder to build it. There were many such projects over the centuries, such as the San Francisco golden gate bridge, Hoover Dam, etc., and going back to the Roman times and the pyramids. Those people were Leaders, Master builders as well as technical engineers.
Where did our engineering education veer off the track as we do not graduate engineering leaders anymore? More important, what must be done to rectify the situation to return engineering to be leaders and master builders again?
I believe ASCE’s VISION describes the kind of engineer we need; one that is a leader and master builder. Where was the engineering leadership that allowed the deletion of a semester of technical courses out of the BS degree over the past couple decades? Where was the engineering leadership that allowed universities to assume one could adequately teach the art of engineering, the practical component, without faculty having this ability themselves. The majority of the younger civil engineering faculty has little or no practical experience. When one considers that the definition of engineering is the “application of math and science to projects for the benefit of society”, then how can faculty adequately teach the application when practically all that is discussed is the theoretical, technical component of engineering? No other profession or craft assumes that one not competent in the practice of the profession can adequately teach the topic. Why does engineering assume this is the right way to go?
Then we wonder why the public does not consider engineering a profession as it does the medical and legal profession!!!
What are the suggestions for the way forward? Let’s have a good discussion on this.
Merlin
“It is an imposing architectural sensation; vertical, slender, immense, yes I come back to the immense and like a barbarian I enjoy it, or better, as a man animated by a constructive spirit, active but wearied by the depressing atmosphere of cowardice and abdication in Paris, crushed often dishonored, treated as a madman and Utopian consigned to the Greek calends, etc… here I find reality. And it brings me a profound satisfaction. Reality, that is the lesson of America. It gives our boldest speculation the certainty of imminent birth.”
When the Cathedrals Were White, by LeCorbusier, translation by Francis E. Hyslop, Jr., published by McGraw-Hill in paperback, 1964. More LeCorbusier quotes about New York are included in the January 6, 2009 Bridging the Gap blog. http://blogs.asce.org/bridgingthegap/2009/01/06/224/