Science, engineering, and technology advances during the next few decades will provide many opportunities for America’s engineers—structural engineers included—and a great promise for them to significantly influence the outcome of the coming years. This is true because engineers add value and engineering achievements are so uplifting to the human spirit.

Visionaries and futurists say that the future of any nation—its economic stability, growth, and well-being—depend on the strength of its engineering base. So if engineers are so integral to advancing civilization, then why, when crucial public decisions are made and heroes are listed, are engineers rarely included?

According to public perception, engineers make things run, but they don’t normally run things. Additionally, engineers are so infrequently mentioned in mainstream media that the average person can barely relate to them. So how can the structural engineering community better deal with this quandary?

Because the world is run by those who show up, structural engineers increasingly need to show up by taking on leadership roles beyond engineering. They need to aggressively use their expertise to help society make the best decisions possible.

Former U.S. Senator Daniel Evans, who was also a three-term governor of Washington State and a registered structural engineer, said, "Society is too dependent on technology not to have engineers in public leadership. It’s a waste of talent not to have those with strong engineering backgrounds making vital decisions involving growth, infrastructure, and the environment."

Evans’ words are especially true in light of today’s struggling economies and particularly in regard to the following six trends affecting our country and the world:

• Population growth—The United Nations forecasts 10 billion people living on this planet by the end of the 21st century. The population of the United States alone will double, as will the need to double the size of our infrastructure.
• International terrorism—The war on terrorism will continue to affect our lifestyle in countless ways. So will the need to incorporate costly security and safety features into building and product designs.
• Natural disasters—Population growth will continue to concentrate in areas that are highly susceptible to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural hazards because these locations attract people. Yet, this presents more probability for heavy loss of life and property when disasters strike.
• Proliferation of computer-driven technologies and communication tools—With technological development comes access to low-price labor markets from every corner of the globe. It also facilitates instantaneous transfer of designs and drawings to places around the world. And today’s advanced computer software programs allow non-engineers to create designs and "do" the engineering.
• Environment and sustainable development—Concerns over issues such as global warming will continue. So will dealing with a looming shortage of safe, drinkable water, even in the United States.
• Exploration of space and the oceans—Engineering’s role will be crucial to unraveling unknown frontiers.

These global developments dangerously combine with the fact that Americans are "lawsuit crazy," a problem that stifles engineering innovations. To confront these issues, structural engineering leaders need to step forward and participate in making critical public judgment calls.

One way to do this is for engineers to serve as leaders on advisory boards that counsel elected officials. They can also get appointed to meaningful public boards including long-range planning boards and economic development and highway commissions.

They can also befriend editors, reporters, and newscasters, and write op-ed pieces or columns in large-circulation publications. They can appear on TV and radio talk shows, telling how sound engineering policy can advance progress and preserve the environment.

As humorist and philosopher Will Rogers said, "Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there." The demands that a changing world puts on its professionals won’t allow structural engineers to sit idle. That’s why it’s imperative that large numbers of razor-sharp engineers show up to lead and to speak out.

If they do, they can seize the moment as well-rounded professionals and leaders, not narrowly focused technicians and followers. And they can take their rightful place as powerful forces tackling the amazing challenges the future holds.


Richard G. Weingardt, P.E., is CEO and chairman of Richard Weingardt Consultants, Inc., a Denver-based structural engineering firm. He can be reached via e-mail at rweingardt@gostructural.com.