Friday, 26 October 2007
Minding the Gap
In early October, I attended an induction ceremony, where Ray Krizek, a 1961 master's degree graduate in civil engineering was inducted into Innovation Hall of Fame at the University of Maryland. Krizek, who is currently a professor emeritus at Northwestern University, was inducted for his contributions to geotechnical engineering and the field of slurry mechanics. Only 23 engineers have received this distinguished honor, which recognizes engineers for their technological accomplishments and recognizes innovation at the concept, design or working levels of engineering.
I was surprised to hear that Ray is the first civil engineer to be inducted into this Hall of Fame. I wonder why this is and whether or not much of the clever innovative work of civil engineers has been accomplished. And if it has, why hasn't it been more recognized? Civil engineering has been around for 200 years and an amazing amount of progress has been made in that time. We've become good at doing what we do, but as we look to the future, the area that is bright for innovation is found in the borders of civil engineering and other fields, such as biology, chemistry, banking and finance, public policy, etc. Many young people might come into the field with a B.A. in biology and an M.S. in engineering, or a B.S. in engineering and an M.S. in public policy. These combinations can prove to be extremely important as the role of civil engineers evolves. What's important to note is that the gap between these areas needs to be filled, and I believe that research and innovation can accomplish this. These are the areas where civil engineers should take on a more creative role for the benefit of the profession.
How do you work to bring innovative thinking and technology to your job?