Engineering Inc. - November/December 2008 - (Page 4)

NEWS & NotES C CH2M HILL Donates Historic Engineering Artifacts to Smithsonian H2M HILL has donated more than 36,000 “ink on linen” architectural and engineering drawings to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The effort was important to preserve and catalogue American engineering heritage, said CH2M HILL Chairman and CEO Ralph Peterson. “This is very exciting for us,” said Peterson. “These drawings provide a glimpse into the evolution of engineering and immortalize the industrial revolution by showcasing some of the first textile mills and manufacturing facilities. “Helping to archive and preserve these drawings for future generations is a privilege and helps to honor the legacy of Lockwood Greene, the oldest American engineering and construction firm in continuous operation.” Discovered in 1996 at an abandoned Civil War weapons warehouse in Boston, the documents provide a pictorial account of America during the industrial revolution. The drawings, handcrafted on linen parchment, represent some of the most prominent textile mills, manufacturing facilities, mechanical processes and buildings of the 19th century. Drawings catalogue the first electric-driven manufacturing facility, the Columbia Mills CH2M HILL Chairman and CEO Ralph Peterson (center) and textile mill in Columbia, S.C. Michael McKelvy (right), president and group chief executive of CH2M HILL’s Industrial Group, present a “gift” to Dr. Brent D. Lockwood Greene, acquired Glass (left), director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of by CH2M HILL in 2003, is credited as the first company to American History. successfully engineer and apply an electric drive to a manufacHouse at Cité Universitaire in Paris, Lewisturing operation. The 1893 project was undertaken with a new startup company, ton Bleachery & Dye Works, Piedmont General Electric, which was incorporated Manufacturing Company, Pelzer Manufacturing, American Cigar Company, Piercejust one year before. Arrow Motor Car Company, Gillette, Other early drawings and photographs Hewitt Rubber and numerous cotton and from this period include office buildings textile mills across the eastern seaboard. and manufacturing plants for the Baldwin Denver–based CH2M HILL has more Piano Company, The Christian Science Monitor, Palmolive, the International than 25,000 employees worldwide. “Almost without exception, executives overwhelmingly recognize this country’s great need to tap the potential of the entire STEM talent pool, and the importance of doing so at every point on the development continuum beginning in elementary school with high-quality, handson, inquiry-based science education,” said Dr. Attila Molnar, former president and CEO of Bayer Corporation. Not one of the executives surveyed graded the United States an A when asked how well the U.S. precollege system is engaging and nurturing girls and minorities to pursue STEM careers. In fact, approximately 60 percent assigned it a grade of D or F. S Science/Technology Execs Fear America’s Potential Global Leadership Loss nology firms to address three STEM work force aspects: current U.S. STEM work force needs in the face of rising international competition; the need for a more diverse U.S. STEM pipeline to address these needs; and recruitment and workplace realities in achieving a diverse STEM workplace. Survey results show that 95 percent of executives surveyed are concerned that the United States is in danger of losing its global leadership position in science and technology due to a shortage of STEM talent. Results show that 55 percent are already experiencing shortages at their own companies. Results also show that 68 percent are concerned that other countries’ increasing access to STEM talent is giving rival companies in these countries a competitive advantage, with 20 percent listed as “very concerned.” Diversifying the STEM talent pool is seen as part of the solution. Ninety percent of respondents say bringing more women and minorities into STEM fields is a step in the right direction. enior executives at some of the nation’s largest chemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, semiconductor and other technology companies say the United States is set to lose its position as the global technology leader if recruitment of students into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) does not increase. These are among the findings of a new survey commissioned by Bayer Corporation as part of its Making Science Make Sense initiative. The survey asked 100 executives from prominent tech- 4 ENGINEERING INC. NovEmbER / DECEmbER 2008

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Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008 Contents From ACEC to You News & Notes Market Watch Legislative Action Engineering Goes Back to School Winning the Talent War Mastering A Hard-Luck Economy Education Makes the Grade in Green Construction 2008 Young Professionals of the Year 2008 Fall Conference Highlights Technology Members in the News One On One

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2008

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