GUEST COMMENT BY PETER J. LAUGHTON
Peter Laughton addressing an annual luncheon of the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers.
Reflections on engineering excellence in the 21st Century
neers, I would like to share the following excerpts from my 1997 address, which I believe are still sound and relevant today: “Some qualities may never be part of future course work material and may not be the subject of direct examination n June 1997, I delivered a convocation need for sustainability. grade as you move on in life. I am speakaddress to engineering graduates of • Stress the need to hone analytical ing about dedication, integrity and hard all disciplines at Ryerson Polytechnic skills to meet the challenges of complex work. These are the basic ingredients for University (now Ryerson University), problem solving. your professional reputation, and hence, titled: Towards Engineering Excellence in • Address the issue of climate change your status in the engineering community. the 21st Century. and the necessity for graduates to partic“As you enter the business world, the Given that some 20 years have passed, ipate in this area. They need to bring immediate challenge will be to apply I took this anniversary as an opportunity about a concrete resolution, with fore- your acquired skills. However, it must be to review and reflect on the relevance seeable tangible results. Thus, they will recognized that the next millennium will of the convocation address in today’s leave a constructive legacy for our time belong to those engineers who are willsetting. I concluded that I would deliver and for future millennia. ing to embrace and accept rapid change, a similar address today to young gradu- • Emphasize the need to actively support who know where they are going, who are ating engineers, with text reference to the and become involved in associations extremely competent and knowledgeable current millennium. However, in doing and societies related to one’s engineering in their area of expertise, and, as well, to those who strive for a high standard of so, the following would be included: discipline. • Expand, emphasize and stress today’s For those of you who are in the early excellence. “As a leader and a strategic thinker, environmental issues before us. throes of your engineering careers and • Expand, emphasize and stress the for those who are mentoring young engicontinued overleaf...
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6 | June 2017
Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine