Each week throughout March, National Engineering Month has been spotlighting various aspects of the engineering profession—from the collaboration between engineers and other professions, to diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering, to engineering students and the next generation of engineers. As National Engineering Month enters its last full week, we turn our attention to the important role that engineers play in society, and the role they will play in shaping our collective futures.
The last full week of National Engineering Month starts with World Water Day on March 22, a day that raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living worldwide without access to safe water, and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Engineers have a key role to play in ensuring access to clean water. For example, engineers may implement systems to improve water quality. Or they may develop affordable ways to store water in extreme conditions like drought while ensuring that the water remains potable. Or they may develop methods to improve water-use efficiency in homes and businesses. The ways in which engineers can contribute their expertise in confronting global challenges are boundless.
World Water Day offers just one example of a global challenge in which engineers play a key role. Climate change, pandemics, cybersecurity…engineers are and will be key players in developing solutions to these societal challenges. Engineers will be called upon to redesign the essential infrastructure upon which society depends, to turn engineering knowledge into practical solutions. What the future holds is uncertain. But one thing is clear: engineers will play a major role in shaping the world of tomorrow.
The last full week of National Engineering Month focuses on this key role that engineers play in society. It is an opportunity for the engineering community to share how they are shaping our future. For example:
- Take to social media to spotlight your engineering discipline and its impact on society.
- Post on social media about the work that you or your organization’s engineers are doing to tackle society’s biggest challenges. This could be food insecurity, climate change, transportation, COVID response, energy, clean water, etc.
Shine a spotlight on the role that engineers play in society by joining the National Engineering Month celebrations on social media at #NEM2021 or #NEGM2021!
