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  • 1.  What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-21-2019 08:00 AM
    Hello all - we are working on a content series to educate high school students about Civil Engineering.

    My question to you is below, and if you'd like to read more about this, you can do so on ASCE's website here.  Thank you.

    QUESTION >> What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

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    Anthony Fasano P.E., M.ASCE
    Engineering Management Institute
    Ridgewood NJ
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  • 2.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-22-2019 07:39 AM

    Hey Anthony,

     

    Being as though most engineers go into consulting at some point in their careers, I think there are two main things high school students should know about civil engineering:

     

    1. Civil engineering consulting is a for-profit business.
    2. Being a good consultant is a skill entirely of its own that most civil engineers take years to master.

     

    Qualities of a good consultant are:

     

    1. Effectively and accurately tracks time.
    2. Keeps a planner and manage their effort across various projects.
    1. Prices their services conservatively enough based on projected time and materials.
    2. Drafts comprehensive, yet succinct, proposals and contract documents.
    3. Learns to under-promise and over-deliver.
    4. Is an effective communicator (i.e., knows when to email vs. when to pick up the phone and call)

     

    There's much more but I think this covers the basics. Hope this helps and good luck!

     

     

    Dave Ureña, P.E.

    Banneker, LLC

    3104 N. Armenia Ave

    Suite 2

    Tampa, FL 33607

    813.415.7872

    dave@...

     






  • 3.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-25-2019 04:12 PM
    Dave - thanks for taking the time - very helpful. I appreciate you outlining the qualities! I will let you know once series is up and running!

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    Anthony Fasano P.E., M.ASCE
    Engineering Management Institute
    Ridgewood NJ
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  • 4.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-22-2019 08:49 AM
    Civil engineers design and build roads, bridges, sewer systems, and water systems. The one thing all of those have in common is that they are Public Works. These are things that the government builds and maintains. Without these Public Works, the country would not function as well as it does, if at all. I think this is the highest level of public good that an individual can offer and a career in public service is the peak of the profession.

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    Yance Marti P.E., M.ASCE
    Civil Engineer IV
    City of Milwaukee
    Milwaukee WI
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  • 5.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-22-2019 11:19 AM
    I find in my mentoring program with high school students that it's best to be very simple and succinct when talking about Civil Engineering.  The number 1 thing I want them to know about Civil Engineering is:

    Civil Engineering is a very diverse field.  We do a lot more than bridges and buildings.  In the world of Civil Engineering there's something for everyone.  Even in my graduating class, in which we all took the same classes, my friends and I all do surprisingly different work.  From bridges and buildings, to roads and drainage, airports and cityscapes, environmental quality to oil and gas extraction and transmission, and oh so much more.  Civil Engineering is supposedly the "2nd Oldest Profession" and is truly the Grandfather/mother of all engineering.  As such all engineering can trace their roots to the diverse field of Civil Engineering.


    After that, and hoping I have their attention, I try to enforce these points:
    Civil Engineering is about creative problem solving.  No solution will work exactly for every scenario.  Everything something is different and you have a find a solution that meets your design requirements, budgets, client needs/wants, and more.  It can be challenging, but if you enjoy solving puzzles, Civil Engineering is a rewarding field.

    In engineering, almost all internships are not only paid, but paid competitively.  From talking with high school students they're more aware than ever that college tuition prices are extremely expensive.  So much so that a lot are looking into other options.  It would be a terrible shame to lose the greatest Civil Engineer of tomorrow because of that.  Furthermore, unlike other internships you won't be the coffee runner.  You'll be a member of the design team helping to bring projects together.  Once you have your degree you'll make wages than enable you to pay back student loan debt and not be a slave to it.

    Civil Engineering more than any other give you the opportunity to see your designs come to life.  This is probably my favorite part about Civil Engineering opposed to others.  You can look at a road, bridge, building, lock, canal, etc. and see that finished construction often on a large scale.  You get to see an idea grow from your head to the computer to the contractor to reality.  It's the most rewarding part of my job.

    Civil Engineering is about public service.  Like other professionals such as nurses, doctors, firemen, police officers, etc. we serve the public.  While we might work for private clients, but our work will be used by the public at some level or another.  We always strive to improve.  Bettering our means, methods, safety, and profession.  We make the world a better place, one design at a time.

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    James Smith P.E., M.ASCE
    Project Engineer
    Bergmann
    Grand Rapids MI
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  • 6.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-25-2019 04:12 PM
    Wow James - super thorough and informative, I will definitely use some of this and reference you! I will let you know once series is up and running.  Thanks for taking the time!

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    Anthony Fasano P.E., M.ASCE
    Engineering Management Institute
    Ridgewood NJ
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  • 7.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-22-2019 12:26 PM
    1. CE was the first recognized type of engineering, deriving from military engineering
    2.CE has diverse areas of practice that overlap into other engineering disciplines
    3. CE will lead to a professionals life of learning and adventure

    Peter Fadden PE (Retired), MASCE





  • 8.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-26-2019 09:01 AM
    My daughter is in high school, and I've found that high school students rarely know much about civil engineering.  High school students need to know that, while they may think that interesting engineering mostly involves electronics, computers, robotics, biotechnology, and other 'high tech', ​civil infrastructure has always been fundamental to the functioning of societies, and it remains challenging and fascinating to work with water, air, soil, rock, timber, asphalt, concrete, steel, etc. on scales ranging from microscopic to miles.

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    Irfan A. Alvi, P.E., M.ASCE
    President & Chief Engineer
    Alvi Associates, Inc.
    Towson, Maryland
    www.alviassociates.com
    ialvi@...
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  • 9.  RE: What's One Thing High School Students Should Know About Civil Engineering?

    Posted 11-26-2019 10:29 AM
    Thank you Irfan - great to have an answer based on first-hand experience!

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    Anthony Fasano P.E., M.ASCE
    Engineering Management Institute
    Ridgewood NJ
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