SWE - Winter 2008 - (Page 36)

environmental engineering jumped to 214 in fall 2007 from 73 in 2002; the number in mechanical and aerospace engineering soared to 306 in fall 2007 from 193 in 2002; the number in nuclear engineering increased to 42 in fall 2007 from 17 in 2002; and the number in chemical and biomolecular doubled, to 88 in fall 2007 from 44 in 2002, according to Mick Kulikowski, assistant director of the university’s news services. K.C. Ting, Ph.D., professor and head of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s department of agricultural and biological engineering, said engineering studies are emphasizing more work in biological sciences than before, primarily because of the need for efficient waste-treatment and plant and animal production. “On the other side of the coin, we are starting to learn from biological processes how to make engineering design procedures better,” Dr. Ting said. “Students at UI-UC weigh the human, political, and economic consequences of their research and work,” Dr. Ting said. “It’s no longer just chemistry, biology, physics,” he explained. “Students want to know how they can address important issues such as using biomass and other renewable forms of energy.” Students and professionals blogging at WorldChanging.com, a Seattle-based webzine, recommend undertaking such studies as a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University’s Atmosphere and Energy Department, or a double major from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in mechanical engineering and a humanities program called Design, Innovation, and Society. More growth is on the way in environmental engineering, according to Mark Montesi, utilities have supported the state’s effort to regulate automotive carbon emissions, and the oil industry is not opposing it. The state continues to sue the Bush administration in an effort to make car manufacturers produce cars that release lower levels of carbon dioxide and other emissions contributing to global warming. California also passed legislation requiring the state EPA to impose a cap on greenhouse-gas emissions across all segments of the state’s economy and develop mandatory reporting rules for significant sources of greenhouse gas. Oakland’s AC Transit fills its prototype fuel cell vehicles at its onsite hydrogen fueling facility, which was developed by Chevron. FILMSIGHT PRODUCTIONS Engineers with eight to 15 years of experience are in particular demand because the hot market when they were in school was information technology, Montesi said. “We’re starting to see salaries go up for this group. My clients are saying, ‘I need environmental engineers with eight to 15 years’ experience to help me get through this project,’” Mayor Michael Bloomberg has set a goal of making all of the city’s 13,000 taxicabs fuel-efficient by 2012, and he wants to reduce the city’s greenhouse-gas emissions 30 percent by 2030. His program calls for 127 initiatives, including clean air and water, efficient land-use practices, a park within a 10-minute walk of city dwellers, and 1 million new trees. The city aims to change its building code to address the impact of climate change. COPYRIGHT JEFF GREENBERG New York City New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission is phasing in new standards to lower gas emissions from the city’s taxicabs by 50 percent within the next decade. In California senior vice president of the Hudson Engineering Practice Group. The Dallas-based company is a division of the Hudson Highland Group, a search and staffingsolution firm based in New York. Environmental engineering is expected to grow at more than a 27 percent average rate from 2004 to 2014, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics cited by Montesi. Montesi said, noting that new graduates have inadequate experience and the more experienced engineers are retiring. The emphasis on going green is attracting young professionals across the career spectrum, too. Job Web site MonsterTRAK.com found that 80 percent of young professionals expressed interest in a job that had a positive impact on the environment. And 82.4 percent of the 441 respondents to a poll published in EE Times magazine agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “Green or environmental science presents promising opportunities for engineers.’ ” Gordon Holness, treasurer and 2009 president-elect of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, based in Atlanta, said the confluence of climate change and rising energy demand from developing countries will have a “huge impact on how we live our lives.” Holness foresees gasoline spiking to $5 a gallon in five years and believes that will open the way for even more research and development of new, sustainable technologies. “I think we’ll see a major change in American culture,” he said. “I see a strong movement led by young people for sustainability.” I 36 SWE WINTER 2008 http://www.MonsterTRAK.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Winter 2008

SWE - Winter 2008 Heritage Club President’s Note View from the Executive Suite Editor’s Page Readers’ Forum EWeek 2008 New Faces of Engineering The Leaky Science and Engineering Pipeline Why Do Women Leave the Engineering Work Force? A Greener America = New Growth Fields for Engineers The Off-On Ramp Revolution Recognizing the Historic Contributions of African-Americans Membership Information & Calendar A&B Women in Tune with Technology: SWE 2007 Conference Overview Keynote Address Achievement Award Region, Section, and Collegiate Awards SME Bowl and SWE Anniversaries Engineering World: Point of View: Why I Blog Career Toolbox Book Review SWE Smiles Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook

SWE - Winter 2008

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