By A. Christopher Cerino, PE
The structural engineering profession continues to face many challenges. What is fueling the pipeline of the future workforce? How do structural engineers navigate evolving environmental hazards and even more tangible physical hazards like Panamax shipping vessels near busy ports? How will the structural engineering profession remain relevant as AI continues to rapidly advance? How will structural engineers continue to push for heightened licensure laws while some jurisdictions are attempting to weaken current ones?
NCSEA’s mission centers around support of and for the practicing structural engineer, and our greatest strength is the ability to pivot as needed to address the most pressing issues. NCSEA turns 30 this year, and the challenges to the profession are not the same as in 1994. Part of the reason that NCSEA has such an amazing and active history is because we have continued to evolve with the needs of a changing profession.
While there can be great comfort in riding the wave of good times, this year, like every year, NCSEA will continue to listen to our Member Organizations (state structural engineers’ associations, or SEAs) and look to advance initiatives that support our mission and vision through today’s lens. Change can be hard and some of the challenges facing the profession come with difficult realizations and conversations. But true growth requires us to step outside of our comfort zone to stretch as individuals and together as a profession. Complacency and the phrase “this is how we always do it” are complete demotivators to me and the amazing NCSEA staff and Board of Directors that will be serving you in the upcoming year.
In our 30th year, many longer-term initiatives are starting to bear fruit. The We See Above and Beyond advocacy campaign has gone through a full cycle of its initial push and we are taking the learning from this effort and finalizing the next phase. The NCSEA Foundation, which started almost a decade ago as a small Member Organization grant program, now has a separate Board of Directors that is steering their vision around the pillars of Innovation and Research, Awareness and Advocacy, and People. And… we launched our new website! The website, and the back-end platform and database, is a critical baseline for NCSEA to be able to provide next generational support for our initiatives, staff, committees, linked groups, and Member Organizations.
A possibly lesser-known initiative is the media spokesperson program. In the aftermath of the Surfside collapse, many of our Member Organizations were contacted by media outlets hunting for structural engineering sound bites. NCSEA helped to serve as a central point of connection for the requests, but it was obvious that we needed to be more coordinated and prepared for future events. NCSEA contracted a media specialist firm and at the Summit last November, 10 individuals from Member Organizations across the country graduated in the first class of media spokesperson training. Early in the morning of March 26, our new system was tested with the tragic events in Baltimore. NCSEA and our media specialist mobilized the appropriate spokespeople, coordinated a set of unified talking points, and successfully delivered almost a dozen interviews across television, radio, streaming, and written platforms. While we all are deeply saddened by the events that transpire to bring forth media interview requests, we are proud to deliver a strong and cohesive message from the structural engineering profession that advocates for use and enforcement of appropriate codes, standards, and regulations, and that brings attention to the unique knowledge and expertise of structural engineers, our critical role throughout all phases of the design and construction process, and our opportunity to contribute to the safety, sustainability, and resilience of our communities.
So how will NCSEA address the current challenges in the profession? For the question of pipeline: Can we continue to exponentially grow diversity and other scholarships for college students in need and host them at the Summit? Can we support a national “Pathways” to the SE profession program or partner with Member Organization to grow theirs? Can we challenge universities and the antiquated ABET structural engineering education model where many potential engineers are “weeded out” and driven from the profession by classes, class sizes, instructors, and subjects that are not really needed for success?
In the area of evolving hazards: Can engineers actively develop, adopt, and advocate for the use of the Future Conditions chapter of ASCE/SEI 7 that is being developed? Can we continue to inform our members about the evolving standard of care with respect to climate and provide interim design recommendations while standards are being developed? Can we continue to refine hazard performance expectations and promote concepts of functional recovery and community resilience over just basic life safety? Can we work with regulators to draft a uniform vessel impact, pier protection, and operating procedure guidance for our critical ports that support mega-shipping fleets?
With respect to AI: Can we provide clear and truthful guidance to our members on the risks and opportunities to the profession? Can we provide education that explains the over-saturated buzzwords that appear throughout the media? Can we provide targeted education for individuals and firms of all sizes on how to effectively navigate entering or advancing your use of AI?
In terms of licensure: Can structural engineering media attention surrounding events fuel positive legislative change? Can the joint leadership of CASE, NCSEA, and SEI provide a strong, unified voice in state and national arenas advocating for the advancement of public safety that comes through adequate licensing and continuing education requirements?
Structural engineers are uniquely suited to be expert leaders for owners, agencies, and developers on multi-disciplinary teams throughout the entire design, construction, and project lifecycle. We must continue to challenge our current daily practice to secure this role and to inspire and elevate the future of the profession. ■