Engineers are challenged by poor public perception. According to multiple surveys conducted by the American Society for Engineering Education, engineering falls far below professions in fields such as medicine and academics in terms of prestige. The common public understanding is that engineers simply build or fix things.

These viewpoints do not line up with the perception engineers have of themselves. In a recent survey of 190 first-year Engineering students at UBC conducted by the teaching assistants of Applied Science 150, 83 per cent of students considered engineering to be a “helping profession.” When ranking the role of engineering in society, 72 per cent of students polled chose “to address societal problems and needs” in the top three of six choices. “Getting drunk and throwing people in ponds” was not included as a choice in the survey.

There is a crucial need for engineers to understand the societal context that their work takes place in: policy-making, economics, and the environment are among related disciplines affected by the work they do. This has been recognized by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), which has started placing higher importance on professional ethics and the understanding of the role of engineers within society. In order to solve global problems, engineers need to understand the correlations between social and technical issues so as not to accelerate problems such as climate change or extreme poverty.

Whether it’s the Women in Engineering program addressing issues of gender empowerment, the Electric Car Club fighting for renewable energy or Engineers Without Borders reaching out to high school students on a weekly basis, there are hundreds of Engineers at UBC that are promoting a healthy, sustainable world.

Engineers Without Borders

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Canada is a national, student-driven organization dedicated to promoting and supporting human development by empowering Canadians to look at the root causes of poverty and engage in innovative solutions. With an emphasis on global human connections, EWB advocates for a variety of issues including agricultural development, fair trade and clean water infrastructure.

In collaboration with engineering faculties across the country, EWB is building the concept of the “global engineer.”

This type of engineer will need to be able to create innovative solutions to the complex issues facing our new global society. Superior communication skills, cultural understanding, interdisciplinary teamwork, entrepreneurial skill and the ability to understand complex and interlocking systems define the global engineer.

As university education continues to improve to meet evolving demands from industries and professional organizations, many engineering students hope that UBC will live up to the EWB’s global engineering mandate to “increase the focus on social issues and sustainability, [and] train engineers as leaders with the knowledge and skills to be successful in helping solve the issues of today.”
Dan Boland, a Mechanical Engineering student, feels that engineering influences society in many ways, including “the water we drink, the food we eat, the appliances and technologies that we use, the way we communicate and receive information.”

Boland, along with many other engineering students at UBC, is already embracing and acting on the principles of the global engineer.

The UBC chapter of EWB is the second-largest in the country, with 40 core members who are supported by more than 200 volunteers from across the university. They are global citizens and strong advocates for positive social change not only in Africa, but also in Canada.

Their annual Bridging the Gap Conference, the largest of its kind in Vancouver, addresses important questions about international development and global poverty, such as the way that the economy, education and health of developing nations are linked. Every March, EWB volunteers take to the streets in an attempt to engage Canadians to support the poorest in the world by distributing information about how local action—such as buying fair trade goods or donating to a cause—can have far-reaching impacts. They are also highly involved with high school outreach and local education programs.

In Africa, EWB volunteers from UBC have worked hand-in-hand with local organizations in everything from coffee farming to earth-dam maintenance. Every year, EWB sends “Junior Fellows,”

Engineering undergraduate students with the drive to learn firsthand about development, to African nations to work directly with local organizations on local development projects. Overseas volunteers are currently working in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Zambia.

UBC Electric Car Club

Photo courtesy of Ricky Gu

The UBC Electric Car Club has an ambitious goal—to compete in the upcoming Zero-Emissions Race and have their electric car race around the world in 80 days. They are currently the only team representing North America in this competition. Their team is comprised of UBC students from various engineering faculties who have come together for the common goal of promoting sustainability and finding innovative ways to break fossil fuel dependence.

Women in Engineering

Women in Engineering (WIE) at UBC is a program developed to help female engineering students with personal development and networking—allowing them to “be a leading force both on campus and in the community” according to current WIE student coordinator Kerry Black. Their vision is “to create a safe and inclusive environment that allows female students to participate fully and equitably in the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC.” This is achieved through formal leadership and career development seminars.

Emerging Green Builders

The UBC Emerging Green Builders (EGB) are an interdisciplinary network of students and young professionals concentrating on the environmental impact of our buildings and infrastructure. Founded in 2008 by a group of UBC Engineering students, EGB has provided seminars and workshops on green building design and sustainability. “We intend to accelerate a sustainable transformation of our buildings, neighbourhoods and communities,” said student participant Stefan Storey.

EGB has members coordinating with the SUB Renew sustainability committee, the Centre for Interactive Research in Sustainability and the Bright Green Builders Project. The organization recently received recognition in the UBC Alternative Energy X-Contest.

Super milage

Photo courtesy of Morgan Lok

A team of UBC Engineers won the 2006 SAE Supermilage race, a yearly fuel efficiency competition held in Detroit, Michigan. Using standard fuel, a highly efficient engine and a futuristic design that required the driver to operate the vehicle lying down, the UBC students’ entry was able to travel over 5000 kilometres on less than four litres of gas. This UBC Engineering Team’s design was featured as one of TIME Magazine’s Inventions of the Year in 2006.

The Landing Pad

During his third year of studies at UBC, Integrated Engineering (IGEN) student Aaron Coret broke his neck in a snowboarding accident on the Whistler Blackcomb Glacier terrain park. Coret now spends his time completing his studies at UBC and working on his business, Katal Innovations. His main product is an inflatable “Landing Pad,” designed to provide a safe training mechanism for freestyle snowboarders. “This project is directly inspired by my desire to give something back to the sport I love so much,” said Coret.

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