| 
India and China are evolving as superpowers whose
economic ascents have caught world attention. Developed nations
are quick to point out the political problems and infrastructure
needs that beset both rising powers. Yet if India’s progress
is restrained because it can’t build highways, power plants
and airports fast enough, what of our own infrastructure? Prism’s
cover story, “Danger
Zone,” investigates the condition of U.S. infrastructure,
an issue thrust into the headlines by the Minneapolis bridge collapse
in August. With everything from roads to power grids decaying, the
total repair bill is estimated at $1.6 trillion. But money isn’t
the only requirement. Government needs to change its approach to
maintenance so that problems are corrected before disaster occurs.
Fortunately, research engineers are devising new ways to make this
task easier with technologies that can detect hidden damage and
new materials to prolong infrastructure life. Still, while technologies
emerging from academic labs will provide future answers, shoring
up America’s aging infrastructure remains a monumental challenge
for today.
If roads are becoming hazardous, so is the condition of America’s
auto manufacturers. “GM Shifts
Gears” reports on the efforts of the biggest, General
Motors, to get ahead of the curve. Realizing it has a worldwide
pool of technical talent, GM has partnered with the University of
Michigan to develop a master’s degree program in engineering
that uses the Internet to link instructors in Michigan with students
at GM facilities around the globe. Besides online learning, the
program fosters online design collaboration.
“Knowledge Builders” reports
on another program worth examining in engineering education—that
of sending undergraduate and graduate-level university students
into middle and high schools to offer badly needed exposure to engineering.
Judging from anecdotal evidence, these college students appear to
be making an impact.
I hope you enjoy these and the many other articles in this month’s
Prism. The goal, as always, is to provide members with articles
that are topical as well as informative. We are fortunate to have
a new managing editor at Prism who brings considerable expertise
and experience to the table. Mark
Matthews has served as Washington news editor and diplomatic
and Middle East correspondent for the Baltimore Sun, and his book,
Lost Years: Bush, Sharon and Failure in the Middle East, was just
published. I know that Mark, as well as I, would welcome any comments
or suggestions you may have.
Frank L. Huband
Executive Director and Publisher
f.huband@asee.org
TOPˆ
|
