NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2007 – Bernard Amadei, Ph.D., the founding president of the humanitarian group Engineers Without Borders-USA, will be the keynote speaker at the 2007 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress this November in Seattle.
Amadei, who currently serves as professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will speak on the topic of engineering innovation, particularly as it relates to building a better world for needy populations in developing and underdeveloped countries of the world.
Engineers Without Borders-USA partners with disadvantaged communities to improve quality of life through the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineering professionals and students. Amadei wants to create a new mindset among young people about service toward humanity. “It’s not only about doing well in what you do, it’s about going good,” he said.
In his lecture on Nov. 12, Amadei will challenge the engineering community to embrace the cause of goodwill and apply their special skills to foster a more sustainable, stable and equitable world.
In the next two decades, almost two billion additional people are expected to populate the Earth, 95 percent of them in developing or underdeveloped countries, according to Amadei. This growth will create unprecedented demand for energy, food, water, waste disposal, transportation, healthcare and environmental care. The mission of engineering, according to Amadei, is to develop sustainable technologies to help meet this critical world demand.
Amadei believes one of the greatest challenges facing the profession today is educating engineers to become facilitators of sustainable development. He is pioneering a shift in engineering education and practice called Earth Systems Engineering, which is aimed at creating interaction between engineering applications and the Earth’s natural systems. At UC-Boulder, Amadei directs a new program called Engineering for Developing Communities, which is designed to educate both engineering students and professionals on the importance of being globally responsible through the application of sustainable solutions.
Amadei is the co-author of two books and 150 technical papers on engineering geology, sustainability, and other subjects. He also has provided consulting services to a number of engineering companies and organizations worldwide.
In addition to the keynote address, the 2007 ASME Congress, held Nov. 11-15 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Seattle, will include presentations on new advances in engineering. Experts will speak on aerospace technology, transportation, bioengineering, energy and the environment, and fluid mechanics, among other topics. The conference also will include an exhibit showcasing the latest in technological innovation.
Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences. ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the engineering and technology community.
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