ASCE Metropolitan Section

Craig Ruyle, P.E., M.ASCE

Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to attend several National ASCE events, Met Section events, and other national engineering conferences. A common theme to these events is the need for the engineering community to take a more active role to promote itself.

At the ASCE National Conference, outgoing President Wayne Klotz, encouraged us to define the value of our work — the value of clean water to public health and the value of transportation to economic health. Dr. Richard Thorsen, Vice President of Polytechnic Institute of NYU, noted at the Metropolitan Engineering Societies Council Dinner that the average life expectancy of Americans has increased about thirty years over the last century. Twenty years is a result of the availability of clean drinking water, which is an engineering accomplishment.

My challenge to Met Section members is to promote the work that we do. Participate in a Met Section event. Attend a career day at a local high school. Visit a local elementary school and help to get kids interested in engineering. Check out the ASCE website and read the pdf Body of Knowledge, pdf Vision 2025, and pdf Policy 465 for ASCE's position on education needs and licensing requirements. While you are there, be sure to visit the page for the Committee on Critical Infrastructure. Finally, become a Key Contact and help to spread the word about the value of engineering to your elected officials.

Given the current economic climate throughout the United States, many engineers have been placing an emphasis on working internationally or looking at new emerging markets overseas. To provide further insight into this issue, the Younger Member Forum selected "International Work" as the topic for its Ninth Annual Executive Forum; which was held at the new academic building (41 Cooper Square) at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art¹ on February 26, 2010.

The Met Section's Nominating Committee is currently accepting nominations for the positions of Vice-President, Treasurer and Director. The Vice-President serves a one-year term; the Treasurer serves a two-year term; there are three openings for the position of Director, each of which serves a two-year term. To nominate a person for an office, please forward a brief bio of the candidate to Mike Lorczak at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by Friday, March 26th.

Dr. Lars Andresen Speaks at First Annual GZA Lecture

Dr. Lars Andresen (left) receiving a golden apple from Geotechnical Group Chair Walter Papp at the end of the GZA Lecture.

The First GZA Lecture was delivered by Dr. Lars Andresen of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute at the CUNY Graduate Center on Thursday, February 18, 2010. This was the inaugural lecture of a new annual series sponsored by GZA Geoenvironmental, Inc. The lecture was on "Finite Element Analyses Applied to Design of Offshore Foundations and Anchors."

On February 15, 2010 (President's Day), the ASCE Met Section celebrated National Engineers Week at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing, Queens. Each of the interactive activities was set up in the upper rotunda of main entrance of the museum. As in past years, hundreds of visitors came to the Hall of Science that day and a large majority of children and their parents made an effort to stop at each of the hands-on activities.

Anthony Puntin, P.E., M.ASCE Here are some quick notes regarding events and happenings in ASCE Region 1. Please be sure to visit the ASCE Region 1 website. If your Section or Branch has an event that you would like to post on the website, please contact Regional Governor and Webmaster Shawn Kelly. Contact information for all of the Governors and myself are located on the Region 1 website.
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Apply Now for 2010 Met Section Civil Engineering Scholarships

Each year the Met Section awards scholarships to civil engineering students attending colleges and universities in New York City, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley or the children of Met Section members that are enrolled in a civil engineering curriculum. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2010 Met Section and Lower Hudson Valley Branch scholarship awards.
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