Reaching Above the Low-Hanging Fruit

Now is the time to move forward. We've spent five years regearing; now we must focus on the pressing issues facing our profession and the global society we serve. What are we doing in energy? What are we doing in water? What are we doing to prepare a workforce that is innovative and responsive to global challenges? Although these, and others, are complex and daunting challenges, the resources ASME can marshal are impressive. If we work together, I'm convinced that we can make substantial contributions to addressing the issues that will shape our future.

Richard E. (Gene) Feigel

Traditionally, we look for low-hanging fruit, but the sustainability challenges facing us demand that we climb higher in the tree. While the engineering and science communities must be part of the solution, we must recognize that there are not only competing technologies being championed, but we exist in complex political and social arenas. To be effective, we must engage not only our colleagues seeking technical solutions, but we must become more effective in articulating our positions to the public.

We are making strides in the right direction. We are focusing on industry- and issue-specific concerns, a step I strongly believe is necessary for ASME to be effective. Energy and water management are part of ASME Solutions' focus on issues and industry. Supporting this initiative, this fall ASME will hold its first water quality conference (Oct. 18–20, Las Vegas), featuring remediation technology and policy discussions. Conferences on fuel cell and waste-to-energy technology and applications are also scheduled.

This week's Fourth Annual Engineering R&D Symposium (May 17–18, in Washington, D.C.) will bring together more than 18 engineering organizations as well as government agencies to look at R&D priorities focusing on energy and water. This event is important since the effectiveness of the engineering community requires collaboration and consensus building.

Early career engineers' interests will also addressed tomorrow, the day before the R&D symposium, when ASME's Committee on Early Career Development convenes a forum on "Public Policy and the Future of Engineering." Consistent with the Board of Governors' globalization strategy, ASME is addressing global issues in worldwide venues. This year's Turbo Expo in Barcelona, the ASME/ATI (Italian Thermotechnical Association) Conference on Energy in Milan, bioprocessing seminars in Switzerland, conferences on nanotechnology in Ireland, offshore mechanics conference in Germany, and manufacturing frontiers conference in China all focus on building relationships across organizations, industries and around the world to provide opportunities to share knowledge and concerns.

In making fundamental, grand changes, ASME can reach higher on the tree, beyond easy-to-reach achievements. We are shaping strong alliances and broadening our scope of influence. We must move on from focusing on the internal business of ASME to knowledge sharing, community building, and advocacy that will build a legacy of which we can all be proud to have contributed. There are opportunities for all of us to participate and contribute — so grab your ladders and climb the tree.

— Gene Feigel
ASME President, 2005–2006

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