leading the Charge

By Uchenna T. E. Okoye, P.E., LEED AP and Eric Borchers, S.E.

Do you remember what inspired you to become a structural engineer? Did you love building blocks and toy construction sets when you were little? Maybe you had a relative who was an engineer or an architect. Maybe you loved problem solving, or you just wanted to build big things. However you managed to get involved with this profession of ours, we remain a relatively small and unique selection of the general population. Our profession is typically not very well known or en vogue, but it has a strong impact on the lives of countless people. It is up to each of us to grow our profession by helping to mold the next generation of engineers and leaders within the industry. Without a strong corps of professionals volunteering EAA finalists display their bridges prior to lead testing. Courtesy of EAA. to teach the next generation, it is possible that we may inadvertently stifle innovation, and the architecture, engineering, construction The High School Outreach program repsuppress fees, and by extension, wages, and (AEC) industry in general. resents a relatively short-term program that reduce the talent pool due to attrition and The High School Outreach program is can reach multitudes of students and comlack of leadership. defined by a 1 to 1½ hour workshop put on munities with the strength of its volunteer Volunteering in schools is a great way to by design professionals in local schools during core. Start one of your own, or contact your have a positive impact on students’ lives and the school day. The workshop is generally local MO about getting involved. NCSEA improve the long-term well-being of our composed of two parts. The first part is a short has even created a guide available on the profession. Many engineers are already part but comprehensive presentation on structural resources page of their website. The High of outreach programs that seek to introduce engineering and the AEC industry. The pre- School Outreach Start-Up Guide includes a students to structural engineering in fun sentation may be customized to emphasize sample presentation and a step-by-step rubric and meaningful ways. You too can make a engineering challenges typical to the area, for building a base of schools interested in the difference in as little as a single classroom e.g. earthquakes in California, large snow program. This guide is available for download session by using the High School Outreach drifts in Montana, or hurricanes in Florida. at www.ncsea.com/resources/documents/. Program provided by the National Council The second part is a hands-on activity used of Structural Engineering Associations (NCSEA). Engineers Alliance for the Arts to strengthen the students’ understanding of some of the structural engineering principles Engineers Alliance for the Arts (EAA) and the Architecture Construction detailed in the presentation. This is usually the Another extraordinary way to engage younger Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program feature fun part. Example activities include gum-drop members of the community is through the the opportunity for students to learn about and toothpick towers, and chocolate chip Engineers Alliance for the Arts (EAA) organithe engineering and design process over a pudding concrete. zation. EAA was founded in 2000 by several longer in-depth program. All of these pro- The High School Outreach Program is per- San Francisco Bay Area structural engineers grams serve as catalysts for us to get involved fectly suited to be created and sustained by to introduce engineering concepts specifiin raising the next generation of engineers at a volunteering committee within your MO. cally to visual and performing arts students. varying levels of personal commitment. However, the program excels when a cham- This organization seeks to bridge the gap pion is found to actively recruit schools with between art-and-architecture and structural High School Outreach Program willing teachers, and to organize the volunteers. Young Members Groups in several engineering, thereby aiding in the development of well–rounded, unique minds capable One way to get involved in helping to ensure states have taken on the task of implement- of understanding the world through both an the longevity of structural engineering, and to ing this program with great success, and engineering and artistic framework. give back to the community, is to participate in many MO’s have adapted the same basic The flagship program within the organizaa High School Outreach Program within your program for both high school students and tion is called the Student Impact Project, local NCSEA member organization (MO). This middle school students. The recent article in in which volunteer engineers teach in a program is a simple, fun way for design profes- the August 2014 issue of STRUCTURE by classroom once per week for ten weeks. sionals to engage with students and teachers and, Barnes and Dos Santos describes one adapta- Volunteers are equipped with a curricuin the process, demystify structural engineering tion for the middle school level. lum that has been developed by the EAA

Boston area students race against the clock to build the tallest tower during a High School Outreach program workshop. Science and craft combine as an EAA bridge begins to take form. Courtesy of EAA.

curriculum committee and is approved by several school districts in California. The curriculum begins with general engineering concepts, but students quickly dive deeper into specific structural systems as they build and test prototype girder, arch, and suspension bridges. Along the way, students also learn about efficiency, scale, sustainability, and presentation skills. The program culminates with a final project – a physical scale model bridge and presentation that represents each student team’s entry into a realistic design competition based on a specific scenario. A final competition is held in which students must present their bridge to a group of design professions and sell their idea as the best. Projects are judged based on several factors including structural efficiency, aesthetics, and student presentation. The program is held in such high regard that there is a long wait list for teachers at multiple schools around the San Francisco Bay Area. EAA has recently expanded to other U.S. cities due to overwhelming demand for programs like this from schools, teachers, students, and structural engineering professionals alike. As a 10-week program, volunteers make strong connections with the students, but without the commitment of a full school year. It does take a few hours out of your workday, but working with students in local schools and teaching them the fundamentals of engineering is a rewarding experience. Finally, by volunteering for this program you get to ensure the future of our profession while also meeting other design professionals from your area. Please do not hesitate to start or participate in an EAA program near you. Visit EAA’s website, www.eaabayarea.org, for an overview of the organization and contact EAA Executive Director Kelly Bitzer at eaa@eaabayarea.org for opportunities to participate in your region.

ACE Mentor Program

The ACE Mentor Program was founded by Charles Thornton in 1994 in New York City, and it has grown into a national program that every year mentors over 8,000 high school students who are interested in Architecture, Construction and Engineering. ACE Teams consist of 20-25 students and industry mentors that represent the project owner (client), the design disciplines (architecture, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and construction managers. Over the course of a school year, ACE teams develop a design project that covers all disciplines, and most teams construct a model of their design project. At the end of the season, each team gives a presentation explaining their design to other teams, family members, teachers, prospective mentors, and ACE Board Members and company principals. The ACE Mentor Program has active Affiliates in most states that each comprise multiple teams. Each team meets after school for 2 hours, either weekly or bi-weekly, from October through May. Many teams have company sponsors which provide funds for model materials and refreshments at team meetings. In addition to developing a project, teams take field trips to construction sites or construction trade apprenticeship facilities. Finally, many ACE Affiliates offer college scholarships for promising graduates of the program who go on to study architecture, construction, or engineering. If you are interested in volunteering, find a local ACE Affiliate at the ACE Mentor Program Website, www.acementor.org.

Find Your Fit and Fund Your Find

These options, which represent a range of opportunities and time commitments, have each been successfully used by many design professionals to inspire and develop some of the bright young engineers in firms throughout the country today. However, they are by no means exhaustive. If you have a particularly ambitious venture, note that NCSEA has recently launched a grant program whereby interested members can apply for funds to advance the profession through research, outreach, or other creative means. Any program that can help introduce developing minds to the profession certainly deserves consideration for such a grant, whether you wish to begin a brand new program or expand upon any of the opportunities mentioned in this article. The grant application can be found at the NCSEA website: www.ncsea.com/resources/documents/. Applications are due on February 15, 2015, and grants will be awarded on March 15, 2015. The actions of engineers like you are what will lead our profession to new heights. By volunteering your time and expertise, you will become the leader that directs our profession and new leaders for decades to come. You have more power than you realize. Take action. Get involved. You will not regret it. It may even be more fun than running calculations.▪

Uchenna T. E. Okoye, P.E., LEED AP, is an independent professional engineer based in San Francisco currently working with Arup Americas. Uchenna is a member of the NCSEA Basic Education Committee. Uchenna may be reached at uokoye@gmail.com. Eric Borchers, S.E., is a senior structural engineer with Arup in San Francisco. Eric is a member of the NCSEA Basic Education Committee. Eric may be reached at eric.borchers@arup.com.

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POSTEN Engineering Systems

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Western Wood Structures, Inc.

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Williams Form Engineering Corp.

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