Wood design course at Virginia Tech on May 21 & 22

Dr. Frank Woeste (who has spoken at SEAoO Conferences in the past) will lead a 2-day wood design course in May at the Virginia Tech campus.  "This course is designed for individuals who are involved in the design, construction, and inspection of wood buildings.  The primary focus and objective of this course are a mastery of wood design basics and understanding of the many factors routinely used and required by the 2018 National Design Specification^® (NDS^®) for Wood Construction."

More info on their website here:  http://www.cpe.vt.edu/sdww/ 

The YM committee would like to thank everyone that has participated in our events and especially the joint trivia night we had on 4/30. We are looking forward to having this event on an annual basis.

Please stay on the look out for more info about our next event at the annual conference!

Licensure in the Crucible

One can make a strong argument that the scientific method is a great advancement for humankind.  The scientific method shifts understanding away from the realms of conjecture and superstition. It subjects assertions to the rigors of experiment and prediction where ideas are continually challenged to verify their veracity.  Arguments must be able to adapt to evidence or face relegation to the past.

This approach has led to some truly astounding findings.  The recently released “photo” of material surrounding what appears to be a black hole helps further verify Einstein’s theoretic models of the universe; well over 100 years after publication the model is still being tested. This concept that ideas must be able to withstand and respond to evidence and testing to become a theory is akin to a metallurgist removing impurities by firing the metal in a crucible.   

Engineering uses the scientific method extensively in developing new ideas or testing long standing ones.  For example, before a new connection type can be added to the AISC Seismic Provisions, it undergoes rigorous testing to verify its performance.  In that light, one can consider recent legislative efforts as tests on the prevailing theory that engineering licensure serves to effectively and efficiently protect the public.

Ohio’s recent legislation subjects licensure to periodic reviews for its effectiveness on addressing public safety in the least restrictive means practical (SEAoO Newsletter - Feb. 2019).  This and similar legislative efforts by neighboring states (SEAoO Newsletter - Mar. 2019) are placing licensure in a crucible for testing against competing approaches.  

Unlike ideas that can be subject to experimentation, it is not practical, or ethical, to set up controlled competing engineering regulatory regimes to test each approach to regulating engineering.  Nonetheless, if the belief that engineering licensure is the best means to serve the public, one would expect that there is evidence to support it. Here is where engineering professionals have an opportunity to take part in the “experiment.”

The thousands of licensed engineers in Ohio are likely to have a much greater exposure to specific examples relating to regulatory effectiveness or deficiency.  Sharing these observations with Ohio’s State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors is one method of providing evidence related to the propositions being tested.  

Whether you are a licensed professional, working toward licensure, or have other professional relationships with the engineering practice, please consider what evidence you might be able to submit.  This “experiment” is just beginning; the more quality evidence is available, the more likely the appropriate finding will be achieved. Without such evidence, decisions related to licensure will be subjected to the pressures of conjecture and unsupported opinion.

Please share your thoughts regarding this topic and the questions raised.  We also welcome your input on any other topic related to engineering licensure.   Please contact us if you would like to contribute to this column.

Thank you.

Newly formed Information Technology Committee

Every worthwhile committee is only as good as its members.  Therefore, we are requesting the assistance of several SEAoO members to contribute to the goals of this newly formed committee that will handle the technology functions of the organization.  These goals will primarily revolve around the following items:

• Establish organizational technology standards and practices
• Manage IT and communication software used within the organization and between various committees
  • Manage application & user setup for organization communication
  • Provide support for organization software
  • Review existing & future software needs of the organization
• Help maintain the SEAoO Website
• Provide a yearly budget to the Board of Directors for IT needs
• Provide quarterly updates to the Board of Directors

It is anticipated that committee meetings will consist of conference calls at least four times each year or more often as needed.

For those with an interest in supporting the Information Technology Committee, please contact the committee chair at:

[email protected].

Thank you!