SWE - Winter 2009 - (Page 9) E D I TO R ’ S PAG E DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATIONS: Anne M. Perusek ASSOCIATE EDITOR Carol Polakowski CONTRIBUTORS: Sandra Guy Charlotte Thomas EDITORIAL BOARD: Linda A. Reed, Chair Northrop Grumman Space Technology Barbara Bogue Pennsylvania State University Neveia Chappell Agilent Technologies Kristine McCaffrey, P.E. Calleguas Municipal Water District Bianca McCartt GE - Aviation Walter McFall WDM Associates Deb O’Bannon, Ph.D., P.E. University of Missouri-Kansas City Betty Preece Engineering Education Consultant Marilyn Reeder Westinghouse Electric Company Sandra Wood University of Alabama Interested in Advertising in SWE? For advertising rates and information, call John Goodrich at 434-244-9776. For other information, phone SWE at: 312/596-5223. Interested in Writing for SWE? SWE welcomes submissions of original articles of general interest to a broad technical readership. Topics of interest may include: career development issues; emerging technologies; unusual applications of engineering; innovative career guidance techniques; family issues; diversity issues; history of women engineers and scientists; profiles of prominent women engineers, and many other topics. SWE also welcomes submissions for regularly published columns in the following departments: Book Reviews; Point of View; Career Toolbox. All articles are subject to review by the SWE Editorial Board. Submission of an article does not guarantee publication. Unsolicited articles are sent on the basis of speculation. Such articles will be accepted based on fit with themes and appropriateness of subject, as well as quality of writing. Complete author guidelines available on the SWE Web site, shown below, or by calling Society of Women Engineers at the above phone number. Article submissions may be sent via e-mail or regular mail to the editor at the above address. Interested in Engineering World? News items for this section should be sent directly to Anne Perusek, editor in text or word format. Photos are desired but should be limited to two per item and submitted electronically at 300dpi. News items are welcome covering new developments in engineering technology, news from engineering schools, professional societies, general news and statistics on women’s issues, engineering-related events of major significance, and awards, promotions, and other high profile honors received by women engineers. Taking on the Grand Challenges I n view of the problems facing humanity, the National Academy of Engineering set about defining 14 grand challenges for the engineering community to resolve in the 21st century. Taking a pragmatic approach, these challenges fit into four broad categories: sustainability, vulnerability, health, and joy of living. The 2008 conference issue of SWE introduced these challenges and the process that defined them in the feature story, “Engineering’s Grand Challenges — What’s Your Pick?” [see 2008 conference issue, page 32]. Writer Charlotte Thomas follows up in this issue by interviewing SWE members working on the grand challenges. She asked them about their work; how they viewed it in the larger context expressed by the NAE; future advances in their field; and their message to fellow engineers and SWE members. To read “SWE Members Engineer the Grand Challenges,” turn to page 22. As anyone who has experienced it can attest, dealing with a bully at work presents a host of difficulties. In the vernacular of the grand challenges, a hostile work environment can undermine one’s health and erode the “joy of living.” Sandra Guy’s feature article, “A New Look at Hostile Workplaces,” examines the research on workplace bullies and the mounting evidence for more effective solutions. See page 30. W e honor Black History Month in Carol Polakowski’s article, “Commemorating Black History in Stamps.” The U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage series of commemorative stamps has proved to be highly popular and educational. Learn more about the series and the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which recommends commemorative stamps each year, beginning on page 38. Also in February, the engineering discipline is celebrated across the globe during Engineers Week, which runs from February 15-21. The New Faces of Engineering has become a key part of EWeek activities, and SWE’s nominees to this program are profiled on page 16. Finally, we offer a recap of the SWE national conference, held in Baltimore last November. From the conference overview to the inspiring remarks of Achievement Award recipient Melanie Cole, Ph.D.; to the individual, region, section, and collegiate awards, we summarize the conference experience in nine pages of text and photos starting on page 42. For the nearly 6,000 attendees, it was a valuable time to take stock, recharge, and be enriched. Borrowing from the language of the grand challenges, the conference, along with other SWE programs and initiatives, reinforces the ways engineers make the world a better place. Such activities increase our ability to contribute, to take on the grand challenges — whether mundane or lofty — and by doing so, experience the “joy of living.” Produced with Adobe Design SWE thanks Adobe Systems for donating the Adobe Design Collection Software utilized in the production of SWE Magazine. Visit our Web site at http://www.swe.org Copyright 2009 by the Society of Women Engineers. Director of Editorial & Publications anne.perusek@swe.org SWE WINTER 2009 9 http://www.swe.org
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