Electronic communities foster communication among engineers

Using ASME.ORG as a springboard for participation from engineers, the Communities of Practice was launched in July 2004.

COP takes advantage of the far-reaching Internet and provides a worldwide forum for engineers to discuss topics ranging from aerospace to off-road recreational vehicles to entrepreneurs.

Consisting of approximately 100 communities and more than 2,500 registered users, COP is essentially created by and for the community members. Anyone who registers can suggest a community. Usually, the creator of a community becomes its facilitator, generating ideas for online conversation.

All Communities of Practice are open to nonmembers of ASME.

ASME has made a strong effort to reach out to engineers under 40 and those who have been in the work force less than 10 years. The COP-featured Young Engineer Correspondents community boasts 137 members, and is the ideal place for engineers who want to be more connected to their field to seek technical knowledge resources and support online.

Registrants can participate in an open exchange of information and polls that enable them to voice their opinions. The individual community page provides news, links, event information and community resources; a user's personal home page can be customized to show personal events, links and community memberships.

Registrants choose the communities in which they participate. Engineers who haven't yet explored this ASME.ORG feature can visit http://cop.asme.org.

 

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