Check out the feature article on ECL-USA in the November/December 2019 issue of NSPE’s PE magazine (https://www.nspe.org/resources/pe-magazine/september-2019/engineering-futurists).
Recent News
Summit 7 Provocateurs
Provocateurs have been finalized for ECL-USA Summit 7. This summit will focus on technological driving forces that are transforming the way engineers do their work and on the future of consulting engineering. One of the provocations for the summit will come from Autodesk and will include a tour of their Boston Build Space. Other provocateurs will include:
- Randy Atkins, Director, Grand Challenges for Engineering Project, National Academy of Engineering;
- Chris Walcutt, Director of Security Solutions, DirectDefense, cyber-security expert and ECL-USA participant;
- Jerry Buckwalter, COO, American Society of Civil Engineers, focusing on ASCE’s “Future World Vision” project;
- Robert Otani, Principal and Chief Technology Officer, Thornton Tomasetti; and
- Linda Bauer Darr, President, American Council of Engineering Companies, discussing ACEC’s new strategic plan.
ECL – USA Leadership
On August 1, 2019, Mike McMeekin assumed the role of Executive Director of ECL-USA. Mike will also remain as Chairman of the Board at Lamp Rynearson. In August 2019, ECL-USA also expanded its Board of Directors. Current Board members include:
- Mike McMeekin, Lamp Rynearson – Executive Director
- Lauren Evans, Pinyon Environmental
- Edwin Friedrichs, Walter P. Moore
- Clint Robinson, Black & Veatch
- Dan Linzell, University of Nebraska College of Engineering
Contact Mike McMeekin ([email protected]) for any questions regarding ECL-USA.
McMeekin Takes on Role as Engineering Change Lab Director
Michael P. McMeekin, PE, ENV SP, Chairman of the Board for Lamp Rynearson, has been selected as the Engineering Change Lab-USA’s (ECL-USA) first Executive Director. The ECL-USA is a social change lab seeking to connect, share information, and collaborate with individuals and stakeholder groups within the engineering community. It is made up of change leaders and explorers committed to benefiting society by unlocking the full potential of engineering.
McMeekin, who was an initiator/founder of the ECL-USA, was instrumental in the recent award of a major grant to the organization. His leadership and commitment to educating others in the mission of furthering the advancement of engineering are attributes that make this new role an exceptional fit. McMeekin’s drive, vision, advocacy, and leadership will create a solid platform to move the not-for-profit’s goals forward. He will continue his position as Lamp Rynearson’s Chairman of the Board on a part-time basis.
ECL-USA Summit 7
Engineering Change Lab USA Summit 7 will be held at the Kostas Research Institute on the Burlington Campus of Northeastern University just outside of Boston, MA on October 21 and 22, 2019. The summit will explore two primary themes. The first theme is a continuation of the work of ECL-USA on technological driving forces that are transforming the way engineers do their work. The second theme will be a deep dive into the future of consulting engineering. For registration information, contact Mike McMeekin, ECL-USA Executive Director ([email protected]).
Summit 6 Ethics & Entrepreneurship Reports
The Ethics and Entrepreneurship Reports from Summit 6 in Berkeley, California, have been published. Click on the images below to review the complete issue summaries.
Summit 6 Report – Ethics
Rapid technological change is generating discussions regarding the relationship between technology and society. The unknown nature of this future relationship generates new, important, system-wide ethical issues and dilemmas related to engineering and how the engineering community will respond. The key question for our future is whether technology will shape the future or will humans shape technology. The key question for the engineering community is what role we will play in answering this question.
Summit 6 Report – Entrepreneurship
Summit 6 offered the opportunity to explore the relationship between engineering and entrepreneurship in the emerging future, as expressed broadly in the Bay Area’s engineering and tech community.
