NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES)
January 6, 2007
Report to the Board of Directors
Representing NSPE, Kathryn Gray, PE, F.NSPE and Arthur Schwartz, CAE attended the meetings of the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES) at National Academies Keck Building, on the morning of December 6, 2006 followed by the afternoon AAES Board of Directors Meeting intended to address the morning findings. The Morning Program Session was titled "Promoting the US Engineering Community’s Pursuit of the “Rising Above” Recommendations."
During the Spring AAES Board meeting, held in conjunction with the National Academy of Engineering Convocation of Professional Engineering Societies during May 8 and 9, 2006, the report by the National Academies on "Rising Above the Gathering Storm" and its recommendations were discussed. Following that meeting engineering societies were encouraged to continue their efforts in line with the report's recommendations and to collaborate with others in advancing the objectives of the report. The Morning Program Session on December 6th continued that focus and theme. Presentations were made and each of the following speakers entertained questions after their presentations.
Potential for Congressional Action Jim Turner, Full Committee Chief Democratic Counsel, Committee on Science, U.S. House of Representatives spoke on the need to:
1.) continue coordinated pressure among national engineering societies on Congress
2.) educate the new house and senate on engineering and engineering related legislation
3.) support engineering deans making Hill Visits to promote STEM education
4.) promote legislation to reduce costs of engineering student loans and decrease energy subsidies
Further Efforts by the National Academies on the Rising Above Recommendations Deborah D. Stine, PhD, Associate Director, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy and Study Director, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, of The National Academies presented opportunities for the engineering profession to act. Debbie's ppt Presentation; Debbie's Questions for the US Engineering Community
1.) Work together to answer the following questions of legislators:
a. How many (real) engineers are there? Are there jobs available for new ones?
b. Why are engineers not paid more as incentive to increase the interest of students in entering the field?
c. Why can’t the universities retain engineering majors through graduation?
2.) Collaborate to address the public needs:
a. Educate parents and students about engineering
b. Promote AP Engineering Courses for HS students (MD started)
c. Promote teacher certification to engineering students
d. Increase engineering student retention rate
e. Encourage K-12 programs with engineers from industry
f. Provide more job market information to parents and HS/College students
g. Encourage mandatory CPC so current engineers have more flexibility to change specialties.
Developing Effective Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering Greg Pearson, Program Officer, Program Office, of the National Academy provided an update on the NAE committee for developing effective messages that all societies can adopt. Study scope and objectives;Greg's Slides. Key messages are being evaluated and tested and will be available for public input from the engineering community in January 2007. They have come to agreement on a few themes such as:
1. Engineers are creative problem solvers
2. Engineering is essential to our health, safety and happiness
3. Engineers shape the future
4. Engineers make a world of difference.
The next step is testing tag lines and slogans and requesting input from the engineering associations to key messages followed by promoting a coordinated message for all associations to adopt. Greg also requested cooperation on a new study to support outreach programs with purpose and metrics proving impact on the engineering community.
Design Squadpromotes awareness of Engineering to American Youth.Stacey Ober, Public Relations Manager, National Society of Professional Engineers, presented the reality showDesign Squadwhich is the public broadcasting station (WGBH) response to the need for children, especiallyduring junior high, to learn the importance of engineering in our modern world. This multimedia program promises to excite MS and HS students about engineering design, encourages the design process
Discussion of Actions of the US Engineering Community to Promote the "Rising Above" Recommendations Following these presentations Kathryn Gray, PE, F.NSPE, Immediate NSPE Past-President, facilitated a discussion of AAES Member Societies recent activities along the lines of the report's recommendations, and follow-up opportunities from the morning presentations, and what further actions should be taken by the US Engineering Community.
Member Societies were asked to prepare brief summaries of their activities to facilitate a mutually helpful discussion. Links to those activities received to date are below.
ASMEASME ACI activities_103106; IEEE-USAIEEE-USA report; AIMBEAIMBE Competitiveness Write-up revised; SWE SWE Report to AAES on ACI 2006_12; NSPE NSPE Gathering-Storm Rpt
Key areas of focus discussed for consideration by the AAES Board and member societies in the afternoon session included the following:
1.) Help Congress obtain a better understanding of the BIG picture of the engineering profession
2.) Collaborate on diversity / innovation / and the Grand Challenges for the future (5-10 years) (Cooperate with EWeek to promote to public)
3.) Jointly evaluate outreach programs to grow effective efforts and eliminate wasted efforts on less or non-effective programs
4.) AAES must be proactive as conduit for collaborating input to NAE Committees
5.) Promote STEM legislation that includes engineering courses
6.) Integrate new effective programs (i.e. Design Squad) into existing association events held by member societies and their partners
7.) Identify other appropriate engineering societies to join with AAES in these efforts.
AAES Board of Directors Meeting
December 6, 2006
Representatives of the 12 AAES Member Societies and Guests were present: AIAA, AIMBE, ANS, ASCE, ASEE, ASME, HFES, IEEE, JETS, NCEES, NSPE, SWE. AAES is aggressively soliciting interest by additional engineering societies to join AAES for an enhanced collaboration of the engineering profession.
Bill Henry, PE completed his term as chair of AAES and is followed by Alma Fallon of SWE for the 2007 term. Jon Nelson, PE, Past President of NCEES and a member of NSPE was elected 2008 chair of AAES.
NSPE ACTION: Each member society is asked to provide their thoughts on the 3-5 highest issues of importance to the engineering profession for the next 5-10 years.
NSPE ACTION: Each member society is asked to provide a calendar of major society events so AAES can post a master engineering calendar to be used by all engineering associations to present a unified profession to those who view it and aid in publicizing events that may be of interest to other societies.
The AAES Board voted to approve the recommended changes to remove ambiguity between the AAES Constitution and Bylaws as approved by the NSPE Board.
AAES ExCom is reviewing candidates for a new part time Executive Director.
NSPE ACTION: Each member society is asked to submit nominees for the AAES Annual awards. NSPE should keep these awards and deadlines in our records for consideration next year and in future years. [The NSPE ExCom discussed the awards available to NSPE members (and friends) through our membership in AAES and agreed we should take advantage of the awards if we have suitable candidates. I looked through the descriptions and brief application, and determined it was too late to act on them this year (the nomination deadline was December 31, 2006 for 2007 awards).]
Below is a brief description of each award.
The AAES AWARDS http://www.aaes.org/communications/awards.asp
Honoring People for their Contributions to Engineering and Society
National Engineering Award
The National Engineering Award is presented for inspirational leadership and tireless devotion to the improvement of engineering education and to the advancement of the engineering profession, as well as to the development of sound public policies as an engineer-statesman.
Kenneth Andrew Roe Award
The Kenneth Andrew Roe Award is presented on behalf of the engineering community to recognize an engineer who has been effective in promoting unity among the engineering societies.
Norm Augustine Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Communications
This award is presented annually to an engineer who has demonstrated the capacity for communicating the excitement and wonder of engineering. The award is to be conferred on those rare individuals who can speak with passion about engineering, its promise as well as its responsibility, so that the public may have a better understanding of engineering and a better appreciation for how engineers improve our quality of life.
John Fritz Medal
The John Fritz Medal, referred to as the highest award in the engineering profession, is presented each year for scientific or industrial achievement in any field of pure or applied science. It was established in 1902 as a memorial to the great engineer whose name it bears.
AAES Engineering Journalism Award
The Engineering Journalism Award recognizes outstanding reporting of an event or issue that furthers public understanding of engineering.
Joan Hodges Queaneau Palladium Medal
The Joan Hodges Queneau Medal recognizes an individual who encourages cooperation between engineering professionals and environmentalists to create innovative solutions to environmental problems.
AAES Chair's Award
The AAES Chair's Award is presented by the AAES Chair to recognize an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the welfare of our nation.
Call for Nominations for 2007 AAES Awards
The nomination deadline is December 31, 2006, and the awards will be presented at the AAES Awards Banquet held at National Academy of Engineering in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2007 in conjunction with the 2007 NAE Convocation and AAES Board of Directors Spring Meeting. Nomination procedures are presented in the Memorandum dated October 9, 2006 from Suzanne Jenniches, AAES 2006 Awards Committee Chair; AAES 2006 Past Chair.
AAES member societies join forces with other member societies to address areas of common interest in groups called Action Groups. Current Action Groups include Diversity, International Activities Committee (IntAC), K-12, American Competitive Initiative (ACI), Emerging Issues, and Engineers Forum on Sustainability (EFS).
NSPE ACTION: NSPE has agreed to serve on three Action Groups: Diversity, K-12 and ACI.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathryn A. Gray, PE, F.NSPE
NSPE Liaison to AAES
AAES Report to the NSPE Board of Directors, January 6, 2007 pg. 1