PURDUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The Global Engineering Professional Seminar
Overview for Guest Speakers
Guest speakers are the core of the Global Engineering Professional Seminar. The following overview of
the Seminar (ME 290) is intended to support speakers as they plan seminar presentations relating to
global issues relevant to the field of mechanical engineering.
Global Seminar Description
The Seminar is a required course in the School. The purpose of the Seminar is to begin the process of
developing a global engineering literacy critical to technical participation and leadership in the engineering
environment of the 21st century. This involves aspects of global citizenship, i.e. engineers’ responsibilities
for helping meet global grand challenges, as well as being a contributing and successful member of the
profession. Additionally, the Seminar fosters identification with excellence in mechanical engineering and
supports the development of professional communication skills important for the emerging opportunities
for engineers working in diverse markets.
To emphasize that engineers are critical to improving quality or life for people in both developed and
developing worlds, the global “Grand Challenges,” as identified by the National Academy of Engineering,
are introduced in the Seminar. Another resource is the IEEE Committee on Earth Observation list of
“Nine Societal Benefits.” Such large-scale challenges provide perspectives that help students to identify
with the global engineering profession and to consider how they, as global professionals, can contribute.
For that reason, guest speakers are asked to consider framing presentations in terms of these major
issues, including energy, health care, environment, security or other global issues.
Typical Seminar Class
Class Schedule: The class meets each Thursday in ME Lecture Room 161 in the Mechanical
Engineering Building from 2:30 to 3:20 p.m.
Class Business: 2:30 to 2:35 p.m. ME School or Global Seminar announcements may require a few
minutes at the start of class.
Speaker Introduction: 2:35 p.m. The speaker is welcomed to the School and to the Seminar. Often the
Head of Mechanical Engineering can participate, introducing the speaker and indicating the particular
relevance of the speaker’s experience to the Seminar. Specifics about previous connections to Purdue,
including academic degrees, technical collaborations with Purdue faculty or with School programs are
often part of this introduction. Please note: Speakers are asked to forward a brief summary of technical
and professional milestones, along with an abstract of their presentation (a descriptive paragraph or two)
for distribution to students via the Seminar Bulletin. After the seminar presentation, speakers are invited to
contribute both lecture materials and a picture for Seminar Archives, an Internet resource for the ME 290
course, if they wish.
Speaker Remarks (about thirty-five minutes): 2:35 to 3:10 p.m. The speaker is invited to define an
agenda. In the past, speaker remarks have addressed global challenges for specific products or for
particular industries. Speakers have also shared personal histories relating to career development as
mechanical engineers in an increasingly global environment. Often these comments have demonstrated
the versatility of the mechanical engineering degree for advancement via successes in product
development or in corporate leadership.
Speaker remarks help students make decisions about how to prepare for the competitive world market in
engineering expertise. Students are in the process of making decisions about continuing foreign language
study, incorporating international program opportunities into the BSME, and selecting specific elective
coursework. Students also have questions about obtaining technical experience as undergraduates and
about pursuing graduate work. Most especially, students benefit from discussions about change—what is
different now and where it is headed. The new is always news.
Interactions with Students: 3:10 to 3:20 p.m. The last ten to fifteen minute segment of the class is
available for student questions. Student interaction could also be incorporated at earlier points if the
speaker would want to do so. If the speaker would want students to review materials or to visit specified
Internet sites ahead of class to prepare for discussion, that can also be arranged.
The question and answer exchange is often engaging. Here are some common questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Do engineering students really need to worry about getting international experience?
What is the impact of global markets in your industry?
What changes do you anticipate in your industry over the next decade?
What do you look for in new engineering graduates?
How important are foreign language competencies? Other “soft skills”?
Discussion of such issues helps new mechanical engineering students plan their undergraduate
experience and prepare for global engineering challenges.
Seminar Facilities
The Seminar classroom has a wide center aisle and a small gradient from the front to the back. Speakers
can use the center aisle to be closer to the audience. A lectern can also be placed at the front of the
room. Both lanyard and wireless microphones are available, although certainly speakers can be effective
without amplification. Usual class size is about 160.
Projection equipment is available for transparencies, electronic files, and videotapes. Speakers can use
their own laptop computers (PC or Mac) or the PC installed in the room. Portable media such as a CD or
“flash memory” stick can provide redundancy. Presentation files may also be emailed a day in advance of
the Seminar to be pre-loaded for the presenter’s use in the Seminar room.
Please e-mail such files to Dianne Atkinson, dla@purdue.edu.
Appreciation
We recognize that the effort required for a seminar presentation is substantial. The investment on behalf
of our students is deeply appreciated.
Global Engineering Professional Seminar