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continued from page 34 Engineering and Public Policy. I considered a number of topics, but the subject of balancing the standards development process in legislation was one that my ASHRAE sponsors brought up, and I felt it was a great challenge to do it. The standard-developing societies have been using a set process to create standards for many years, and some legislation in the works had been putting that process at risk. Unfortunately, those developing that legislation most likely are unaware they are posing this risk, so the end result of the internship was a paper that could, I hope, bridge the gap and help policymakers understand the side effects of their policies. Although it’s not the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering Every summer, 12 to 15 engineering students participate in the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE), one of the country’s premier engineering internship programs. The discipline-specific internships are open to engineering students entering their final year of undergraduate studies. Applicants must be citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States. The students spend nine weeks in Washington, D.C., working with leaders in Congress and the administration, as well as members of industry and nongovernmental organizations, to learn how the legislative and regulatory policymaking process works. As part of the program, students must research and present an extensive paper on an engineering-related public policy issue at the end of the internship. The papers are published online in the annual WISE Journal of Engineering and Public Policy. The following organizations serve as sponsors of the WISE program: American Association of Engineering Societies; American Institute of Chemical Engineers; American Nuclear Society; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; ASTM International; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and Society of Automotive Engineers. To learn more about WISE, visit the organization’s Web site at www.wise-intern.org. most exciting or high-importance issue, those dealing with it have told me how thankful they are that someone has addressed it. Significantly, I learned that policymakers are real people. They can be incredibly intimidating at first, much like the CEO at your company. However, one thing all policymakers have in common is a love and desire for serving America — for serving us. I learned that policymakers are not out-of-reach after all, and that it is important for us to express our opinions and expertise to let them understand what we want for America. I Pamela Androff graduated from the University of Central Florida in December 2008 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and is currently a mechanical engineer at Newcomb & Boyd in Atlanta. Androff was offered the position after the company read about her WISE internship in one of the ASHRAE publications. She has been active in SWE since 2004, and currently serves as the Region D collegiate membership coordinator. She previously served as the Region D collegiate representative. Androff is also active in ASHRAE and ASME. T&D Electric Utility Design Courses Online! Gonzaga University’ s T&D Engineering Certificate Fully Online!! Spring 2009 Courses*: Transmission Line Design-Advanced Project Development & Construction Methods *Registration due by March 13, 2009 Flexible schedule, 3-credit, 8-week graduate courses Designed by industry experts; $2130 per course MAKE OURand the environment – MISSION – to protect people YOURS. Recently named #1 overall in large agency rankings in the “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” 2007 Survey*, and ranked first by African Americans and People Under 40, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is looking for highly motivated engineers seeking a challenging and rewarding opportunity to join our team! Our mission at the NRC is to regulate the civilian use of nuclear power and nuclear materials in order to protect the health and safety of our people, our environment, and our nation. Join a diverse group of experienced professionals in a variety of engineering fields — all sharing a keen interest in public service and in the interplay between science, technology, and policy making. We invite you to explore a future at our Headquarters near Washington, DC, or at any of our Regional Offices. We offer extensive training opportunities, great benefits, and more! Visit our Web site today at: http://www.nrc.gov/aboutnrc/employment.html for additional information and to apply online. An equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V. U.S. citizenship is required. The NRC is consistently ranked as one of “The Best Places To Work In The Federal Government.”* *According to the Partnership for Public Service and American University’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation (ISPPI). www.bestplacestowork.org Ph: 509-313-5701 Email: tandd@gonzaga.edu www.eng.gonzaga.edu/tandd 70 SWE SPRING 2009 An equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V. U.S. citizenship is required. http://www.wise-intern.org http://www.nrc.gov/about http://www.bestplacestowork.org http://www.nrc.gov/about http://www.eng.gonzaga.edu/tandd http://www.eng.gonzaga.edu/tandd

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Spring 2009

SWE - Spring 2009 Heritage Club Contents President's Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Honoring Women’s History Public Policy Update First Lady: The “Second-Hardest Job in America” Bringing Science and Engineering into Public Policy At the Intersection of Engineering and Public Policy From Research to Reality Coffee Table Dialogues Membership Information & Calendar A&B Winning Essays from the Lava Lounge Engineering World: Issues • Events • Technology • People Point of View: Your Role in Public Policy Career Toolbox: Communicating with Congress; Finding Your Voice Corporate Partnership Council Media Shelf: Women’s History Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook: Dressed for Success

SWE - Spring 2009

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