President Kotb Discusses Megacities and Global Initiatives at the ASME Metropolitan Section Meetin

President Kotb Discusses Megacities and Global Initiatives at the ASME Metropolitan Section Meetin President Kotb Discusses Megacities and Global Initiatives at the ASME Metropolitan Section Meetin President Kotb Discusses Megacities & Global Initiatives at the ASME Metropolitan Section MeetingThe ASME Metropolitan Section invited Society President Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb to speak at its special Presidents Night Meeting on March 20 in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photos by Wil Haywood, ASME Public Information) ASME President Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb welches the guest of honor for the ASME Metropolitan Sections Presidents Night Meeting, which was held March 20 at the National Grid building in Brooklyn, N.Y. More than 70 ASME members, the majority of whom were student members from nearby universities, attended the meeting to hear Kotb speak on several topics including the continuing growth in the population of cities throughout the world and choosing geographic diversity as one of her personal goal s for her term as ASME president, which began last June.Because the expected growth of cities and so-called megacities such as New York, Kotb said that the 21st century has been dubbed the Century of Cities, as more than half the worlds population currently live in cities and that 60 percent are expected to live in metropolitan areas by 2030. As new cities emerge and existing cities reach high density, integralrechnung into smart grids, merging all systems for transportation, energy, water, sewage, etc., is essential, she said. Thats how we live and thats how engineers design. Preparing for the integration of future technologies is a great challenge for existing cities. Nearly 70 ASME members, including student members from three local universities, attended the event. On the subject of geographic diversity, President Kotb said that as an engineer who was born and raised in Egypt, currently lives in Canada, and is considered to be ASMEs first president from outside the U nited States, encouraging diversity within ASMEs membership was a natural choice to be one of her personal objectives as leader of ASME. Building geographic diversity is achievable through opening in aller herren lnder access to ASME activities and also by building better interaction among Sectors, Kotb said, pointing to ASMEs work providing global access to its standards-setting process as an example of an activity that encourages greater international participation. ASME is also engaged in such global initiatives as forming international working groups and partnerships with organizations such as the World Federation of Engineering of Organizations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization signing Memorandums of Understanding with international governmental and nongovernmental organizations and providing translations of ASME standards and courses in languages including Spanish, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. Other important Society efforts to encourage global participation include the multi-society Engineering for Change (E4C) partnership for solving global development problems, and ASME.org, which enables engineers around the world to make new connections, share information, collaborate in ASME Groups, and remain informed and up-to-date with advances within the profession, Kotb said.In addition to officers and members of the ASME Metropolitan Senior Section, the special meeting was also attended by nearly 60 student members from three local universities the City College of New York, New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering, and New York City College of Technology.

Are You Ready for an Internship or a Full-Time Job

Are You Ready for an Internship or a Full-Time JobAre You Ready for an Internship or a Full-Time JobEarly in your career is a great time to take risks and learn. Its expected that you ask questions because interns are encouraged to explore their interests tosupplement classroom knowledge. It is an opportunity not just for career development, but also for personal development. You can cultivate skills necessary in many roles and understand what your passions are.But how do you know when enough is enough? How do you know when youve maximized the benefits from internships and are prepared for a full-time position? As a recent graduate, my personal experience transitioning from internships to a full-time position helped shape my thoughts onwhen a recent graduate is ready for his or her first full-time role. Here are five factors to consider when deciding whether you should pursue another internship or a full-time role.1. You Know Exactly What You Want to DoChoose the internshipIf the que stions, what occupation are you interested in pursuing or what is your idea role, strike fear in the pit of your stomach, consider exploring internship opportunities. Most college students just spent four years taking classes supposedly related to the career they hope to pursue. But, lets be honest, maybe you dont really know what you want to do. Choosing to accept an internship after college provides the perfect time to explore and try out new skills and projects. If you relish the opportunity to work on projects not directly related to your role or to converse with people in other departments to see what piques your interest, internships are a great opportunity. Choose the full-time position If you have exhausted your desire to jump from small project to small project and had previous intern experience during your summer years of college to find your passion, you may be beyond your intern days and prepared to devote yourself to your niche. If youve already tried out different role s in your chosen field and have a well-defined sense of your likes and dislikes, youre ready to commit to a role designed to allow you to specialize and experience a greater depth in your projects.2. Youre Ready to Put Down RootsChoose the internshipWith an internship offer in another city, you can use the opportunity as a trial ansturm to experience life in a new location youd like to explore. My internship in Seattle provided not only a trial run with my chosen career path, but also allowed me the ability to explore the surrounding area and see if I could picture myself there long-term. You may work forty hours a week, but youll also want to immerse yourself in a surrounding that is interesting. Choose the full-time positionIf you know the state or city where you would like to live and are ready to put down some roots, this is one sign that youre beyond the days of short-term planning and prepared to accept a full-time offer.3. You Found The Perfect CompanyChoose the internshipDo you enjoy working in smaller companies or larger companies? What is it you liked working at a smaller company as opposed to one that is larger? What about working at the company made you the happiest? If you cant answer these questions, an internship is a chance to try out a company and experience different company cultures. (And if you are in the generous San Francisco Bay Area, a chance to sample different snacks)Choose the full-time positionIf youve been able to experience various companies and youve found the perfect match, then it is time to settle down with a full-time offer. Wherever you choose to work, ensure that you can envision yourself as a part of that team and are surrounded by people you would want to work with. In order for choosing the full-time position to be the best option, you should be confident in understanding what it is about this company that best meets your needs and leads to a fit. 4. Youre Ready for ResponsibilityChoose the internshipMany internships do not give you the responsibility or the sense of belonging associated with a full-time position. If you still feel in the stage of in-between, not yet ready to relinquish college and accept the responsibility associated with adulthood, an internship is a chance for you to have mora supervision and receive more frequent feedback during each stage of your work. Choose the full-time positionThose prepared for the responsibility that is associated uniquely with a full-time position, deciding on benefits, and establishing a sense of belonging, should look for full-time positions. If you are prepared to accept the consequences and take ownership of both your triumphs and your mistakes, without such a close supervisory relationship, your next step is the full-time role. If you relish the thought of staying the course to revise and follow-up on the results of your project, as opposed to an internship where you may end before the long-term results and benefits of the project are visible, a fu ll-time role is the right fit. 5. You Hate UncertaintyChoose the internshipIf the idea of continuously meeting new people and changing situations excite you, and you havent yet resolved the factors mentioned above, another internship might be the right next step. Choose the full-time positionIf the possibility of searching for another internship every couple of months keeps you awake at night, your goal should probably be to secure full-time employment. Uncertainty is daunting. While a full-time position can provide more security, an internship has a definite end point, which means you will re-enter the job search. Even if youve enjoyed the change, new projects, new people, and excitement of your past internships, dont worry. Youll still have the opportunity to continue to learn, grow, and meet new people in your full-time job.Once youve established your passions, what makes you happy and your goals, your first full-time position creates a foundation on which to build your future. I f these indicators are present, its time for life after internships now to conquer the world

More employees would pick natural light over childcare as a perk

More employees would pick natural light over childcare as a perkMore employees would pick natural light over childcare as a perkIf you have ever worked in a space without a window, you already know how artificial light can play games on your head. Science has concluded that our bodies crave natural light, like plants to the sun. Without access to the outside world, you lose a sense of time and you may even abflug to lose a sense of yourself.One Cornell study found that employees who did not have access to natural light were drowsier at work and reported bigger eyestrain. The artificial space also messes with our memory. We set our internal clocks to natural light without it, it becomes harder for us to remember tasks, as one study found.Thats why it is not surprising that a new study found we rank it highest in our hierarchy of needs - above fun perks or helpful benefits like onsite childcare. In a poll of 1,614 North American employees by human resources firm Future Workplace, the researchers found that natural lightwith a view of the outdoors was the top desire employees wanted fulfilled, outranking swanky onsite cafeterias, fitness centers, and onsite childcare.Why we need natural light at workAlmost half - 47% - of employees surveyed said they felt tired from not having natural light or a window at their office. Those with a window reported being happy (78%), satisfied with their work (73%), and feeling a higher level of commitment to the role (54%) because of the natural light.The study demonstrates that natural light is mora of a basic need, less of a fun perk. You cannot worry about getting fit and eating healthy at your office if your brain is too tired to focus. You cannot ask for better childcare benefits if your workplace makes it hard to first take care of yourself.