The Bridge - Issue 3, 2020 - 25

Graduate School Spotlight

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CONTENT

What's next?
Regardless of what engineering field an individual
pursues, automation and robotics will become an
intimate teammate throughout every discipline.
Robotics and technologies that help alleviate human
contact to reduce the spread of disease will become
commonplace. The most familiar applications of
robotics include space exploration or manufacturing,
but we will see more applications of specific
application-based robots in our everyday lives. This
includes disinfecting robots, health monitoring robots
in schools and community spaces, delivery services
and food production.
The pandemic has also renewed the importance for
robust internet security, privacy and access to internet
service. When the pandemic necessitated every
social and educational interaction to move to virtual
platforms, we became aware of just how inadequate
and ill-prepared the world was to move online.
Furthermore, it also highlighted how inequitable the
availability of these services is throughout the world,
despite living in a global economy.

What will be the enduring impact
of the pandemic on graduates?
Just like children of the great depression, who
became very frugal and, reused and saved almost
everything, we will see the behaviors of pandemic
graduates change too. They will not take anything for
granted and always be looking at scenarios of risk and
alternative sources to ensure they have a plan of action
in place when materials, supplies or even jobs are
interrupted and lost.
As engineers, we know we must always keep learning,
but now we must think of ways to execute innovative
ideas when traditional assumptions of manufacturing
and supplies are not readily accessible or cost-effective
to obtain or transport.
This generation will also have more empathy and
champion safety and resources for those individuals
who have been essential to keeping food supplies and
the agricultural pipeline functioning. These individuals
have traditionally been the most underserved and
invisible populations and now are the most vulnerable
to virus exposure. Thus, the new engineers will not
only be the architects of new technology but will be
champions of social change.

Dr. Karen Panetta
Epsilon Delta
Dean of Graduate Education for the
School of Engineering, Tufts University
Professor, Electrical &
Computer Engineering
IEEE Fellow
IEEE-HKN (Eta Kappa Nu)
Honor Society President 2019

Considering Graduate School?
Join our panel session, "Applying to Graduate School: Advice on How, Why and When" during the
IEEE-HKN Experience. A panel of experts will discuss how, why and when to apply to graduate school,
what to look for and how to decide if it is the right fit for you. The discussion will touch on how to pay
for graduate school and the opportunities that come from pursuing an advanced degree. A Q&A session
will follow. Session will be held Monday November 2, 2020 17:00 - 18:00 EST

HKN.ORG

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The Bridge - Issue 3, 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 3, 2020