PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Time Flies WHEN YOU'RE ENGINEERING

Ican’t believe it is already time for me to write my last column for TechCentury magazine as the President of The Engineering Society of Detroit. I was the 113th president in the long history of this important Society, and it has been a great honor. The last two years have been an enlightening, educational and rewarding, yet challenging, experience.

ESD and the engineering profession itself faced many changes. From being highly involved in the challenges of our city pre-COVID to finding a new way to continue our work in this modified pandemic work world, we have adjusted, evolved and continued to make our mark on the future of Detroit.

But that is what makes ESD unique. It is an organization that brings together many different professions to work together to solve problems. Representing the vast variety of engineering—civil engineering to mechanical to automotive to architectural to environmental and more—ESD articulates the vision of the engineering sciences to inspire others to become engineers, to support young people in STEM, and to create for improvement, change and a strong future.

We work together to adapt, find solutions and solve problems. Just look at technology in education. Online classrooms, virtual programs, and real-time simulations that will add efficiency, quality and effectiveness to planning our future cities and communities are happening with lightning speed. In this issue, you’ll read about Michigan Tech and other institutions’ ability to quickly adapt classrooms to move forward during COVID. But as engineers, we began that journey to new ways of doing things long ago. Because we are always thinking of tomorrow. And tomorrow’s needs.

When I gave my acceptance speech, becoming the President of ESD two years ago, I said we should look to a future in a world with zero car crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion and make that vision a reality. We can really do that in transportation and mobility around this city.

Also during my acceptance speech I asked us to imagine leaving a sporting event without the usual traffic jam. This vision was actually accomplished this year. Unfortunately, it was accomplished due to the low attendance imposed by COVID-19. In the future, we can do it for real. We can inspire our next engineers to take the baton and create that future city that is safe, secure and maneuverable with ease.

Because as members of ESD, we make things happen. Someday, the middle schoolers who are now participating in ESD outreach programs will be putting their marks on our Michigan cities. They are our future.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your president. I can’t wait to see what ESD engineers accomplish next!

Daniel E. Nicholson, PE President, The Engineering Society of Detroit Vice President, Global Electrification, Controls, Software &

Electronics General Motors Company