pBeseda.com

The structural engineer is a very complex combination of leadership, service, creativity, and technical knowledge. In many ways they are one of the most important engineers in society today. It is their work that is responsible for the constructed world we live in.

The structural engineer must take on a leadership role within their industry and in society. Leading by example, the engineer can offer safer design practices, more sustainable solutions, more aesthetic structures, and more efficient designs. They can be the instigators of positive change in they ways that they work. Simultaneously, the engineer must remember it is the public they serve that is most important. First and foremost the safety and welfare of the people is the engineer’s concern. Every time they sign or stamp a document the engineer takes the lives of the public in their hands. Choosing to design buildings using sustainable materials, efficient structures and easily constructible designs an engineer can lead the way for a more environmentally conscience society. The structural engineer can often be cast into the role of architect in considering the aesthetics of the structure being designed. It is the role of the engineer to determine an appropriate solution that reflects the intent of the architect and the context of the structure.

In conclusion, the role of the structural engineer is varied and complex. Integral in the practice of structural engineering is the blend of creativity and engineering knowledge. They must be reliable, and dilligent in their work, and solid in their engineering acumen, making them the keystone in the creation of the constructed world.

Seniors in engineering at Colorado School of Mines complete, for a graduation requirement, a “capstone” course called Senior Design. It’s an engineering design course in which students undertake a “real life” problem with a “client” who present them with said problem. Students work in “interdisciplinary teams” in order to arrive at a “real, live solution” to the problem they are presented with. There are certain requirements the team must meet, including reports, presentations, client meetings etc. At the end of the two semester course sequence, is a Senior Design Fair in which students present their “solutions” or “designs” to other teams, professors, clients, and the general public.
As a junior in engineering at Colorado School of Mines, I feel like the entire program sounds like a waste of 9 months of my time. I’ve heard both good and bad reviews of the course from both quality and poor students. Anyone in engineering at Mines will know what I mean when they hear the acronym EPICS (Engineering something something Course Sequence). EPICS, at CSM, is a well known and universally disliked duo of classes designed to teach students “how engineering works in real life.” Well, either every engineer ever hates their job (somebody should investigate that possibility) or EPICS is, like I feel about Senior Design (SD), a giant waste of time.
Anyway, as a junior in engineering at Colorado School of Mines, in the Civil Engineering department, I have a few options:

One: Suck it up, register for the course, get on a team, see what happens.

This plan of action has two possible outcomes:
One: It sucks.
Two: It’s OK.

Two: Steel Bridge Competition. The ASCE sponsored university competition. Run by the Civil Eng. department, and student chapter of ASCE. Can take the place of SD graduation requirement.

This plan of action also has a few possible outcomes, as I’ve heard mixed reviews on that course as well (anonymously of course).
One: It sucks.
Two: It’s OK.
Three: It’s awesome, because we win.

The third option, which I’m not really certain of, but would like to know more about, is an independent study option. From what I understand, the student, under guidance of a mentor works on a project of his/her interest, working towards a final design solution or furthering of the field of study. This seems similar to a thesis program at the graduate level.

So, if I’m correct in this, this option has approximately one possible outcome.

One: It’s awesome, because it’s designed that way, by the student.

(Technically, there is a fourth option, which would be not take a SD class and not graduate, but that doesn’t really seem appealing.)

So the first two options are toss ups, the third is a definite (if it exists). Sounds good to me, and sign me up. And that leaves me with finding a mentor, not to mention a topic of interest, or a problem to solve. I’d like to work on this over the summer, so it will be in full swing for when I start the course in August, so I’d need to come up with this idea, find a professor to support me, and get it approved before May. In the off chance that you’re reading this, this is me asking for suggestions, advice or whatever. If you know anyone at Mines working on something I might be remotely interested in, let me know, by all means. I’m a Civil student interested in architecture and structural design (not geotechnical). Call me, I’ll do their research for free, I’ll work on the stuff they don’t want to. Seriously.