Volunteers /
Corporate Sponsors
February 2005
Dear Engineering Students,
Among all professions, engineering is perhaps the most responsible for continually elevating society’s living standards. Although engineers have been quite successful in their work, they are often not very visible to the public. “National Engineers Week” is an occasion to remind everyone of the indispensable contributions engineers make to everyone's lives, especially in our increasingly technological society. This technological society is in transition - a transition in which engineers will play a strong pivotal role. For the last 150 years, society has moved forward through mechanical/structural investments that amplified productivity. With the information age, there is little doubt that intellectual investment of individuals will further dominate the growth of our society. The recent past has demonstrated that one individual's intellectual capacity in technology can alter the path of society through explosive developments of entirely new industries and change how most of us live.
As students at UIC, you have exceptional educational opportunities to develop your technical capabilities, critical evaluation skills, and cultural awareness of the society in which we live. Engineers must become more involved in tempering the technical aspects of our world with a broader social conscience and concern for our fellow citizens. One of the truest definitions of engineering was given by Thomas Jefferson: "The ultimate goal of both science and engineering is the improvement of human society." Technology has enabled society to live in a manner unimaginable to those who lived as recently as three decades ago. Technology is also developing in the world at large. The rapidly expanding pace promises more achievements. We must, however, be careful to avoid both technologically and socially undesirable effects. Furthermore, we ensure that what we do will impact the broadest segment of society; our actions will elevate it rather than stratify it. Without integrating technology and our cultural backgrounds, potentially only a decreasing percentage of society will benefit and/or other segments will be adversely affected. It is the challenge of engineers to take technology beyond the workplace and ensure its contribution to society. We cannot change the past, but we do create the future.
The College of Engineering encourages all students to increase your participation in activities that enhance the basic curriculum. The goal is to provide additional avenues for developing one's talents. This is done through such mechanisms as the professional societies' inter-university competitions, undergraduate research participation, involvement in student sections of the professional societies, and being an active volunteer in the College's orientation and recruitment programs. All these activities enhance group efforts, communication skills, technical depth, and social awareness that will make you more productive engineers and members of society.
During “National Engineers Week” I strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to make new friends, renew acquaintances , and participate in the scheduled events which can help you become aware of the impact of your chosen degree and profession.
Best regards,
Prith Banerjee
Dean
Page last updated on 02/13/05.