Engaging Future Engineers Driven
by a Social Value Experiences
Darryll J. Pines
Nariman Farvardin Professor and Dean
A.James Clark School of Engineering
University of Maryland
Outline of Talk
•Greatest Engineering Achievements of 20th Century
•The Big Picture: Top 10 Society Challenges in 21st Century
•Who is Gen Y?
•Survey Results: What do today’s students say about
engineering?
•Engagement thru International Experiences
•Engagement through Domestic Experiences
•Tips on Engaging Future Engineers
•Summary
Greatest Engineering Achievements
of the 20th Century
Airplane
Automobile
Electrification
Water Supply & Distribution
Electronics
Greatest Engineering Achievements of
the 20th Century
Radio & Television
Telephone
Computers
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Agriculture Mechanization
Greatest Engineering Achievements
of the 20th Century
Health
Technologies
Lasers and
Petroleum and
Petrochemical Technologies Fiber Optics
High Performance Materials
Appliances
Consequence of the
Industrial Revolution
The Big Picture: TOP 10 Humanity
Challenges of the 21st Century
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Energy
Water
Food
Environment
Poverty
Terrorism and War
Disease
Education
Democracy
Population
Courtesy of Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley
Who is Gen Y?
• Each Generation has:
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differing work ethics,
career expectations
management styles
and goals
• Significant change in these areas in the
work place has been influenced by the
entry of Gen Y into the work force.
• They know what they want and they want it
now!
Definition of Generations
Baby Boomers
Generation X
Generation Y
• “I have worked hard
and have been loyal.
Keep and nurture my
talent and I will stay”
• “I am a single parent
and I need flexibility
to work from home
otherwise I will fulfil
my needs at another
company”
• “I want to be mobile
and work any time. I
don’t need to be in
the office to be
connected and I
want to build my
skills fast”.
44 – 62 yrs
31 – 43 yrs
14 – 30 yrs
Different Generations Defined by
Different National/International
Trends/Phenomenon
Trend/Event/Phenomenon
Baby Boomers
Generation X
Generation Y
War
Vietnam
Berlin Wall
Gulf War/9-11
Medical/Healthcare
Birth Control
HIV/AIDS
Poverty/Viruses/Uninsu
red
Technology
Snail mail,
computers
Bulletin Boards to the
development of the
Internet, PCs
Web, SMS, mobile,
wireless comm., Instant
Text Messaging, Social
Geopolitical Event
Assassinations
Cold War/ Gulf War
War against Terrorism
(9/11, Bali)
Energy
1968
Energy Crisis
Clean Energy
Family
Women’s Liberation
Dual career parents,
start of high divorce
rates
Single parent families
Human Rights
Civil Rights
Gay Rights
Post-Racial? Prisoner
Different Generations Defined by
Different National/International
Trends/Phenomenon (continued)
Trend/Event/Phenomenon
Baby Boomers
Generation X
Generation Y
Physical Fitness
Exercise is a duty
Exercise for mental
health
What’s your second
sport?
Status/Independence
Buy as many houses
as you can
Reclaim the inner city
I like living with my
parents
Technology Literacy
Technically challenged
Technically Savvy
Technically
sophisticated
Workplace
Expectations
Racial Intolerances
Tolerant of differences
Expect workplace
diversity, friendships,
accepting of differences
Values
Social
Consciousness
‘Greed is Good'
Re-emerging social
consciousness
Survey Results: Why did UMD Gen Y
Freshmen choose engineering?
• Please rank all reasons why you decided to
pursue engineering- (ENES181)
Job Satisfaction
Good in Math
And Science
Job satisfaction
Financial Security
Intellectual development
Opportunities to benefit society (social value)
Impact the Global community
I was good at math and science
I wanted to solve complex problems
I wanted an international experience
Financial
Security
Opportunities to
benefit Society and
have global impact
Family member is an engineer
I do not want to pursue engineering
Survey Results: In your opinion,
what are the important
trends/challenges facing
engineering? (ENES 181)
Energy
Sustainability
Bioengineering: Health Informatics, Personalized Medicine and Healthcare
Cognitive Engineering and Neuroscience
Environmental Engineering
CyberSecurity (“Protection of an individual’s privacy”) and Information
Technology
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Cloud Computing, Social Networking
Social Value Engineering and Global Impact – e.g. Engineers Without Borde
(EWB)
Energy and Sustainability stand out
Engagement thru International
Experiences
Engineers Without Borders-USA
University of Maryland Chapter
“Building a better world,
One community at a time”
EWB Mission
• Application of Education
• International Exposure
• Sustainable Design
• Foster Professionalism
• Gain Real World Experience
Over 300 Chapters
12,000 Members
380 Projects in 45 countries
What will you gain?
Social Value
and Awareness
Technical
Engineering
Skills
Professional
Leadership/
Business
Skills
IMPACT
EWB-UMCP Chapter Background
• Traveled on 27 trips over 5
years
• Completed 12 projects in:
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Brazil
Burkina Faso
Ecuador
Peru
Thailand
• Hundreds of students have
impacted over 10,000
community members
Accurate as of 21 Feb. 09
Burkina Faso Project
Location:
Dissin, Burkina Faso
Population:
30,000
Phase I: Solar lighting
for literacy centers
Phase II: Solar water
pumping for irrigation
Phase III: Solar recharge
station cooperative
Implementations:
January 2008, June 2008,
January 2009
© E. Smela
© E. Smela
© E. Smela
Peru Project
Location:
Compone, Peru
Affected Population:
1500
Project:
Water sanitation
Planned Implementation:
June 2009
Ethiopia Project
Location:
Addis Alem, Ethiopia
Population:
14,000
Project:
Youth Center &
Microenterprise
Planned
Implementation:
June 2009
Engagement thru Domestic Programs
Anacostia Bioretention Project
Location:
Prince Georges
County, MD
Edmonston
Project:
Bioretention
Planned
Implementation:
June 2009
Bladensburgh HS
Domestic Engagement:
Anacostia Bioretention Project
Earns National Attention
• UMD students worked
on a pollution/runoffprevention project
closer to home.
• The Clark School
distributed a press
release about the
project, which was
picked up nationwide.
DOE Solar Decathlon
Competition
2st Place 2007 International Solar Decathlon
Tips on Engaging
Future Engineers
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Develop opportunities for experiential learning.
– Small group discussions
– projects, team projects
– Field experiences, hands-on opportunities
Encourage the development of learning communities
Provide lots of structure. Generation Y look for structure in their learning
setting. They want to know precisely what is required of them, when work is
due, and very specific information about expectations.
Use technology. This is a generation that uses technology for "everything."
– Solar photovoltaic installation, Wind Turbine, Clean Water Well
– Bioretention, Mobile wireless
Be relevant
– Want their work to have a positive impact on society
Utilize their talents
Present the big picture.
– Concerned about Energy, Climate Change, Environment and Healthcare.
Summary
• Understand your customer, i.e. today’s
student
• Some want to develop technical and
leadership skills to achieve social impact
Thank You