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Engineering Change Lab - USA

A catalyst for change within the engineering community, helping it reach its highest potential on behalf of society

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Knowledge Hub

From internal practices to global impact, our events span a variety of topics that all share a focus on catalyzing action in the engineering community. If you’ve attended a virtual summit or in-person institute in the past, these are great resources to reference as you lead change. If you’ve never participated in ECL, we invite you to freely explore this information and hope you will join us at an upcoming event. 

 

Annual Reports

  • 2022 Year in Review
  • 2021 Year in Review
  • 2020 Year in Review
  • 2019 Year in Review
  •  

    Engineering & Public Policy Leadership

    June 20, 2023

    The public policy arena is where priorities are established, and policies and standards are developed to address the greatest challenges facing our communities and society. To unlock its full potential, the engineering community must step boldly into this arena as advisors, advocates, collaborators, and leaders and learn how to get things done through active engagement in public policy. The summit provided important learning regarding the need for the engineering community to increase its engagement in public policy, the skills needed for engagement, the wide variety of options for engagement, and the satisfaction and sense of purpose that can come with contributing to society and the future of engineering in this manner.

    Reading List

  • Public Policy Leadership Summit Reading List
  • Summit Recording

  • Public Policy Leadership Summit Recording
  • Presentations

  • Patricia Gomez – Policy Implementation at the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience
  • Jimmy Hague – Public Policy Leadership at The Nature Conservancy
  • Deanna Matthews – Carnegie Mellon University’s Engineering & Public Policy Program
  •  

    View Engineering & Public Policy Leadership Summit Report

     

    Exploring Engineering Education, Sponsored by NCEES and Presented in Collaboration with ABET, Engineering for One Planet, and Olin College of Engineering

    March 14, 2023

    Why is sustainability important to the transformation of engineering education? ECL-USA’s virtual summit, Scanning the Horizon of Engineering Education:  The Sustainability Imperative, explored this question. The multi-faceted answers to this question lie in the engineering community’s responsibility in protecting our planet, the massive impact of the work of engineering, engineering student values, employer needs and responsibilities, and the academic community’s role in preparing the next generation.

    Summit Recordings

  • Summit Recording
  • Michael Milligan Interview
  • Cindy Cooper Interview
  • Presentations

  • Michael Milligan – ABET Accreditation and Engineering’s Impact on Global Sustainability
  • Alessandra Ferzoco – Sustainability and Impact-Centered Education at Olin College of Engineering
  • Cindy Cooper – The Lemelson Foundation’s Engineering for One Planet Initiative
  • Adam Carberry – Implementation of Engineering for One Planet at Arizona State University
  • Vince Nguyen – Implementation of Engineering for One Planet at the University of Maryland
  • Jennifer Bradford – Siemens Skills for Sustainability Initiative
  •  

    View Exploring Engineering Education Summit Report

     

    2022 Engineering Ideas Institute

    September 26-28, 2022

    Sustainability is not enough. Escalating climate, infrastructure and social crises are outpacing efforts to address them with sustainable practices. The engineering community has the tools and strategies to take us beyond sustainability — both to address dire challenges and to restore living systems. Circular economy and regenerative approaches are principal means for achieving these ends.

    Engineers and their allied fields must have the commitment and courage to step up and engage in the hard work of leading change to benefit society.

    These propositions were at the heart of the 2022 Engineering Ideas Institute. This summit drew on provocations, exercises, nature walks and dialogues to shift minds and prompt participants to think differently about the future of engineering. This year’s Institute focused on circular economy and regenerative strategies to push society toward a healthy, resilient future. An overview of the Institute is available here.

    Presentations

  • Jerry Buckwalter – Engineers Can Be Change Agents
  • Kyle Davy Facilitator Slides
  • Daniel Lawse – Regeneration & Mindset Shifts
  • Juan Lucena – Colorado School of Mines Humanitarian Engineering Strategies
  • Rex Miller – MindShift & Gnarly Problems (1)
  • Rex Miller – MindShift & Gnarly Problems (2)
  • Maury Salz – ASABE’s Circular Bioeconomy Systems Initiative
  •  

    View Leading Change Report View Circular Economy Report

     

    Technological Stewardship, Presented in Collaboration with ECL-Canada

    Summit 15 | June 14, 2022

    Since the dawn of humanity, our technologies have transformed the world around us, adapting our environment to meet our needs and wants. Over the last 150 years, the Engineering Community has played a primary role in the creation and application of physical, digital, and biological technologies. This summit introduced Tech Stewardship as a professional identity, orientation, and practice that can support us in navigating the complex tensions inherent in our work, broadening our perspective about potential impacts of our efforts, and bending the arc of technology towards greater good.

    Summit Recording

  • TS Summit Recording
  • Presentations

  • Mark Abbott – ECL Canada’s TS Initiative
  • Janna Rosales – Teaching TS at Memorial University
  • Micheal Mooney – Implementing TS as Part of the Regulatory System in Canada
  •  

    View Tech Stewardship Summit Report

     

    Augmenting the Engineering Workforce Through Technological Innovation

    Summit 14 | March 15, 2022

    The Engineering Community is facing an unprecedented talent crisis. Unemployment rates for the industry are less than three percent. The retirement of baby boomers continues. The number of new graduates is increasing at low rates. Meanwhile, the demand for new talent continues to increase dramatically, driven by a growing economy and increasing investments in infrastructure. These stresses on our workforce come at a time when the Engineering Community is challenged by the need to contribute at higher levels in addressing the challenges of the 21st Century. Summit 14 explored how technology may be viewed as a significant strategy for closing this unfolding supply and demand gap – augmenting the engineering workforce using emerging technologies to increase productivity, enhance creativity, and work more efficiently and safely. Key takeaways and important strategies as well as a map of the summit outcomes are available at the links below.

    Summit Recording

  • Augmenting the Engineering Workforce Summit Recording
  • Presentations

  • Paul Surin – Augmenting the Engineering Workforce Ideas from IBM
  • Michael Gustafson – Future Technology Trends from Autodesk
  • Chris Harman – Digital Delivery Concepts at WSP
  •  

    View Augmenting the Engineering Workforce Summit Report View Augmenting the Engineering Workforce Map of the Future

     

    The Engineering Ideas Institute II

    Summit 13 | October 11-13, 2021

    The second edition of The Engineering Ideas Institute (first in-person) was held at The Colorado Chautauqua in Boulder, a historic venue located at the foot of the mountains. The program for the summit focused on two major themes.

    • Engineering in an Age of Acceleration – How are the forces of acceleration in technology, the natural environment, and society impacting engineering?
    • Engineering and Justice – What can we learn about engineering’s roles in contributing to racial inequality? What can we do, through our work, to help create a more just, equal, diverse, and inclusive society?

    Presentations

  • Bob Prieto – Sensemaking in an Age of Acceleration
  • Bruce Bartolf – Forces of Change
  • Alison Wood – Engineers as Agents of Adaptation and Change
  • Yolanda Webb – What Happened to Lincoln Heights
  • Nancy Pridal – Equity in Infrastructure
  • Erin McLaughlin – ACEC Engineering and Equitable Design Report
  •  

    View Acceleration Report View Racial Justice Report

     

    The Engineering Firm of the Future

    Summit 12 | June 16, 2021

    How will the engineering firm of the future be transformed in the coming decade? Summit 12 explored a set of driving forces that will reshape the environment within which firms operate, their internal business models, and models of practice. Themes explored included the following.

    • How will the external landscape within which engineering firms operate be reshaped by global risks and technology accelerators?
    • What aspirations, values, and needs will new generations of engineering talent manifest as they join and build careers within firms?

    Presentations

  • Mark Abbott – Technological Stewardship
  • Stephen Brockwell – Impact of Emerging Technologies on Engineering Practice from ESRI
  • ECL-USA Engineering Firm of the Future Focus Groups
  • Darshan Karwat – Engineering Firm of the Future Research at ASU
  • Doug Melton – What If Every Engineer Were Entrepreneurially Minded (KEEN)
  • Chris Murphy – Black & Veatch Learning on Transitioning to Digital Business Models
  • Martha Rogers – Engineering for Nature (The Nature Conservancy)
  •  

    View Engineering Firm of the Future Summit Report

     

    The Imperative of Climate Change and the Future of Engineering

    Summit 11 | March 22, 2021

    How will engineering and the engineering community be transformed by the way it responds to the emerging dynamics of climate change and the threat it poses to our world? How might its stewardship of technology and nature on behalf of society be manifest in helping society confront this climate imperative? Summit 11 explored the roles the engineering community can play within and across the private sector, public sector, and the non-profit sector to answer these questions.

    Presentations

  • Thelma Briseno – Climate Change and Social Justice
  • Andrew McAllister – California’s Climate Change Challenge
  • William Rouse – Understanding and Addressing the Complexity of Climate Change
  • Heather Rock – Building a Climate Resilient Energy System in California
  • John Shinn – Meeting the Climate Protection Challenge in the Real World
  •  

    View Engineering and the Grand Challenge of Climate Change Map of the Future View Engineering and the Grand Challenge of Climate Change Summit Report

     

    Licensure Models for the 4th Industrial Revolution

    Summit 10 | December 16, 2020

    Summit 10 was presented in partnership with the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The participants in the summit explored the future of licensure for engineering and the role licensure and regulatory bodies can play in ensuring that engineers and organizations engaged in the development of the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution act in the public interest.

    Presentations

  • Caitlin Kenney – Licensure and Industry 4.0
  • Kinney & Mamola – Licensure Challenges in the 4th Industrial Revoluation (2)
  • Kinney & Mamola – Licensure Challenges in the 4th Industrial Revolution (1)
  • Mark Abbott – Engineering Licensure Challenges in Canada
  • Tim Jacobs – The Future of Engineering Licensure in the Face of Changing Engineering Education
  •  

    View Future of Licensure Summit Report

     

    The Engineering Ideas Institute

    Summit 9 | July 29-30 & August 4-5, 2020.

    Summit 9 featured deep dives into four of the strategic issues of the future.

    Technological Driving Forces – Social Impacts of Technology / Building Capacities for Stewardship of Technology
    View Technological Driving Forces Session Report

    Environmentally Responsible Engineering Leadership Challenges – Building Capacities for Leading ERE Work / Leading the Change
    View Environmentally Responsible Engineering Leadership Session Report

    Diversity Challenges – Exploring Barriers and Enablers for Women and Under-Represented Minorities in Engineering
    View Diversity Challenges in Engineering Session Report

    Public Policy – Enabling Engineering Leadership in the Public Policy Arena
    View Engineering Leadership in the Public Policy Arena Session Report

    Presentations

  • George Sparks – The Institute for Science and Policy at Denver Museum of Nature and Science
  • Steve Costello – Engineering and Public Policy
  • Rosa Sheng – AIA’s Equity by Design
  • Peggy Layne – Diversity in Engineering
  • Jen Molnar – Nature & Engineering (The Nature Conservancy)
  • Cindy Gilbert – Environmentally Responsible Engineering (VentureWell & Lemelson Foundation)
  • Darshan Karwat – Activist Engineering
  • Guru Madhavan – Do It Yourself Pandemic Models
  • Iana Aranda – Engineering Global Development (Engineering for Change)
  •  

    Exploring Bio-Medical Engineering / Climate & Extreme Weather Challenges

    Summit 8 | March 10 & 11, 2020

    Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute, Houston, TX. The themes of Summit 8 included exploration of the future of engineering through the lens of biomedical engineering and the stewardship role of engineers with respect to climate and extreme weather challenges, both of which are major issues for Houston and the Gulf Coast.

    Presentations

  • Guru Madhavan – Engineering for Better Population Health
  • Corey Squire – Design Excellence in the Era of Climate Change (AIA)
  • Cindy Cooper – Engineering for One Planet
  • Cyane Dandridge – Teaching Environmental Responsibility in California Schools
  • Coastal Surge Protection – Galveston Bay Park Plan (SSPEED Center)
  • Summit 8 – Guru Madhavan Interview
  • Summit 8 – Corey Squire Interview
  •  

    View Biomedical Engineering Summit Report View Environmental Leadership Summit Report

     

    Engineering Challenges for the 21st Century

    Summit 7 | October 21 & 22, 2019 | Boston, Massachusetts

    Summit 7 continued the work of ECL-USA on technological driving forces that are transforming the way engineers do their work and also included a deep dive into the future of consulting engineering.

    Presentations

  • Randy Atkins – NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering
  • Jerry Buckwalter – ASCE’s Future World Vision
  • Rob Mansperger (Autodesk) – Forging a New Path
  • Robert Otani – Disruption: Emerging Technologies at Thornton Tomasetti
  • Jerry Buckwalter Interview – ASCE Future World Vision
  • Chris Walcutt Interview – Cybersecurity
  •  

    View Engineering Challenges of the 21st Century Summit Report

     

    Engineering Ethics in a World of Rapid Technological Change / Entrepreneurship & Engineering

    Summit 6 | July 15 & 16, 2019 | Berkeley, California

    Summit 6 was a joint effort of ECL-USA and ECL-Canada focusing on engineering ethics in a world of rapid technological change and engineering entrepreneurship. Summit 6 was held at the historic Berkeley City Club.

    View Engineering Ethics Summit Report View Entrepreneurship Summit Report

     

    K-12 Education and Engineering / Engineering and Public Policy 

    Summit 5 | March 5 – 6, 2019, Kansas City, Kansas

    This Summit focused on K-12 Education and Engineering, and Engineers and Public Policy. Thank you Blue Valley CAPS for a great meeting facility and for introducing us to an innovative program.

    View Summit 5 Report

     

    Key Concepts for the Future – Technological Change, Engineering Education, & the Intersection of Technology and Nature

    Summit 4 | October 25 – 26, 2018, Denver, Colorado

    The primary goals of Summit 4 were to hear from provocateurs, to explore key concepts for the lab (Technological Change, Change in the Academy, and the Intersection of Technology and Nature); and to advance the work of our focused initiative. View the Summit 4 Report.

    View Summit 4 Report

     

    Vision for ECL-USA 

    Summit 3 | June 12 – 13, 2018, Omaha, Nebraska

    At Summit 3, the attendees explored the Vision Statement’s imperative for the engineering community to serve as stewards of technology, the built and natural environments, and public health, safety and welfare, and worked on a definition of stewardship. Additionally, time was spent on expanding our understanding of and commitment to the role that the ECL-USA can play, and how we could continue to evolve the ECL-USA as a social change lab.

    View Summit 3 Report

     

    Exploring the Potential of ECL-USA 

    Summit 2 | February 5 – 6, 2018, Omaha, Nebraska

    The objectives of Summit 2 were to explore the prospect of, and process for, moving the engineering profession toward fulfilling its highest potential in the emerging future; crystallize the intent of the ECL – USA and commit to using a social laboratory approach in taking on this work; recognize and make progress on focused initiatives begun at the first summit; organize ECL – USA, including structure, participation, communication protocols, and plans for future summits.

    View Summit 2 Report

     

    Evaluating the Need for ECL – USA 

    Summit 1 | July 31 – August 1, 2017, Omaha, Nebraska

    This first Summit was convened to evaluate whether there was a need for the ECL-USA, and to gauge overall interest in the effort.  The Summit heard from Engineering Change Lab – Canada, conducted scenario planning exercises, discussed other efforts ongoing in the United States, identified several initiatives, and identified next steps.

    View Summit 1 Report

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