ASCE initiatives to promote diversity within the civil engineering profession include formal partnerships with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). Both societies are dedicated to the support and advancement of engineering talent. Together, our societies have pledged to work together to advance our mutual goals through a series of collaborative efforts that encourage closer relationships between our members and promote resources, services and membership benefits.

ASCE’s partnerships with NSBE and SHPE demonstrate the Society’s commitment to the proactive inclusion of talented civil engineers from diverse backgrounds and we wanted to take this opportunity to applaud the volunteer efforts of local ASCE Sections and Branches who have supported that commitment. READ ON!

Dazzling lights and desert sun set the backdrop of NSBE’s 2009 National Convention in Las Vegas and SHPE’s 2008 Annual Conference in Phoenix. NSBE’s convention in March attracted more than 11,000 students and professionals of all engineering disciplines. SHPE’s convention in November attracted more than 2,600 engineering students and professionals. ASCE staff and local volunteers were out in full force at both conventions to represent ASCE and highlight member resources, services and membership benefits. But it was their mentorship and encouragement that made the biggest impact among NSBE and SHPE members who wanted to develop their interests in the civil engineering profession.

Local volunteers provided the perfect model of how your ASCE Sections and Branches can promote diversity in the field by partnering with other organizations. Volunteers from the Southern Nevada Branch for NSBE and the Phoenix Branch for SHPE interacted with students at the career fairs and provided undergraduate civil engineering students with advice on professional development strategies. Their efforts resulted in the recruitment of 24 NSBE and 42 SHPE students for ASCE’s student membership. 

ASCE also hosted Civil Engineering Networking Suites at both conventions. The suite provided students and professionals the opportunity to network with civil engineering professionals while enjoying a relaxed environment filled with food and fun. Volunteers assisted with registration and ice breaker activities. Guests genuinely appreciated the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with practicing civil engineers.

I encourage your Section or Branch to follow the example of ASCE’s Southern Nevada and Phoenix branches by connecting with diversity partners in your local area. Email us to find out how you can connect with local diversity partners and create lasting and valuable relationships.

Has your Section or Branch partnered with NSBE or SHPE? If so, tell us about it below and encourage your local members to get involved! 

Shana Gipson
Senior Coordinator
Diversity and Pre-College Outreach

Many of us are well aware of the great contributions civil engineers make to society. However, those accomplishments may not be as apparent to someone outside the profession. One way to increase the public’s familiarity with civil engineering is to make sure it’s talked about in the news. A story with great visuals can help you achieve that goal and show the fun side of civil engineering.

People are more visual these days. To catch the attention of the potential viewer or reader, there has to be something that will catch his eye. The same can be said for the media. A good visual can often be the “make or break” that determines whether or not a reporter covers your story.

ASCE’s National Concrete Canoe Competition is a great example of students showcasing their hard work while also showing the fun side of civil engineering.

The regional Concrete Canoe competitions are a good example of an event your Section or Branch should consider promoting to the local media. Visualize a canoe, made of concrete, not only floating, but racing! Reporters and editors can see the visual potential. Not only that, kids will think it’s cool and they’ll learn more about civil engineering at the same time! Once we grab them visually, they’re hooked!

This year’s regional competitions have already been completed, but keep your eyes open for similar visual opportunities that arise throughout the year that can help you spread the word about civil engineering.

Tell us about Section or Branch events you’ve successfully promoted in the past. What other events can you think of that create good visuals to help promote the profession?

Do you have an event, but aren’t sure how to promote it? Email ASCE’s Communications office and we’ll be happy to help!

Anthony Reed
Manager, External Relations

Did the headline above make you say, “Ah ha! You have no credibility because you misspelled ‘Mispelled’”? Did you really think I’d do that? Now, most importantly: Did what you perceive as a misspelling cast a pall over the credibility and integrity of this entire blog?

You’ve only just seen the headline, so maybe you don’t think someone could have that kind of reaction that quickly. However, if you recognize that almost-instant visceral feeling of irritation you just had on seeing the error, now you understand: Yes, you can lose your readers’ trust that fast. If you produce any materials read by a mass audience - and that includes everyone from a few people in a meeting to thousands of e-newsletter subscribers - and you value your reputation, the copy had better be as error-free as humanly possible, from spelling to grammar to style. Although your readers may not know all the intricacies of the English language, they are quick to spot a mistake. They usually won’t call you on it, but the residual damage is done in lost credibility over the long term.

It’s an axiom that mistakes are remembered well, but the great work is largely forgotten. It’s an occupational hazard of being a writer, editor, or content producer. While perfection is impossible, frankly, if such errors do not gnaw at you and inspire you to work harder toward a near-perfect average, then you shouldn’t be an editor.

The good news is it’s a lot easier to be correct today thanks to the Internet. Of the many resources available online, here are two that should be among your bookmarks:

• The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White (yes, the E.B. White who wrote “Charlotte’s Web”). This online version of the seminal guide to grammar and writing techniques is searchable.
• OneLook Dictionary Search works like a Google search of hundreds of dictionaries. Enter your word, and a search page appears with quick definitions and links to more from just about every dictionary you can think of, from Merriam-Webster and Webster’s New World to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Also, if your group follows the rules set by either The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook, both are available online in fully searchable versions, but only to paid subscribers.

Do you have any tips or tricks you use to make sure your work is as close to error-free as possible? Share them in the comments below.

John Marston
Web Content Editor

Kids are pretty savvy these days about making choices.  Let’s face it.  They are bombarded daily by innovative marketing campaigns that inform their choice of snacks, toys and video games, clothes and even colleges!   People who market successfully to kids know that brand matters, and it is an integral part of any marketing strategy aimed at grabbing kids’ attention. But branding is more than just a logo. Branding creates an image which reflects the emotional connection a person has with the product. Successful branding creates enthusiasm, positive identification and loyalty.

As ASCE pre-college outreach volunteers, you are engaged in the rewarding work of increasing awareness about the profession of civil engineering and the positive benefits that engineers have around the world. So it may be helpful to think about various levels of brand recognition as you set out to establish a connection with kids that is positive, and long lasting.

Kids who associate engineering with something negative are more likely to purposely avoid the profession. The result may be brand rejection. Beware of language that promotes negative stereotypes or which is narrow and limiting in scope.

In addition, kids may lack a clear understanding of the difference between engineering and other professions, they may lack the knowledge to make a personal connection or make a well-informed decision. The result is likely to be brand non-recognition.

To achieve brand recognition, kids need to have both a positive association and meaningful understanding about what engineers do. Find differences in value between your profession and other professions and highlight that difference mercilessly.  This is a good first step! Whether students choose to be engineers or not, helping kids learn and recognize the role of engineering in the world is a worthy goal.  

As outreach volunteers you have the opportunity to take students beyond recognition!  Students will have achieved brand preference when, given a choice between two brands, they choose one option over another.  By continuing to differentiate from other professions and by illustrating  and demonstrating the added value of the work that engineers do, kids will see time and time again the challenges and possibilities available to engineers and the ways in which engineers change the world.  Hopefully they will want to be a part of that and choose the path that takes them there!

And finally, remember the highest level of brand recognition - brand loyalty. Keep talking about engineering in ways that describe its uniqueness, and provide plenty of added value through your discussions and demonstrations.  You might also strive to offer them a memorable experience at a level they will not get anywhere else.

ASCE’s pre-college outreach program is here to help you connect with kids using resources that focus on civil engineering as well as guidance to help you positively brand civil engineering during your next outreach activity or event.  Email us at outreach@asce.org to learn about ways you can build techniques into your outreach events to ensure a loyal following of students interested in civil engineering!

Leslie D. Payne
Manager, Pre-College Outreach