Civil Engineering Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker's journey in civil engineering at Imperial for three years.
• Excitement about graduating and the responsibility of designing safe structures.

Personal Experience

• Initial excitement about learning and personal growth.
• Reflecting on challenges and feelings of being out of place.
• Background: Franco-Australian, attended an international school in Paris.

Transition to University

• Enthusiasm at Freshers' Fair, signing up for multiple clubs and activities.
• Realization that peers had different priorities and perceptions.
• Struggled with feelings of isolation due to varied interests compared to classmates.

Engineering Responsibility

• Emphasis on the significant responsibility of engineers.
• Comparison to surgeons: mistakes can lead to severe consequences.
• Internal conflict about balancing diverse interests with engineering focus.

Life-Changing Experience

• Attended One Young World summit in Pittsburgh.
• Engaged with young leaders and speakers, including President Clinton.
• Realized the importance of passion for people and the environment in engineering.

Shifting Perspectives on Engineering

• Engineers' roles should extend beyond technical skills; need to be communicative and social.
• Society's perception of engineering often viewed as isolated from other fields.
• Importance of breaking down silos between disciplines.

Change in Educational Approach

• Need for universities to adapt and assess practical implementation skills alongside academic performance.
• Engineers should be encouraged to engage with broader societal issues.
• Importance of communication and collaboration among engineers and other fields.

Conclusion

• Encouragement for students to include engineers in various discussions and initiatives.
• Need for society and companies to recognize the diverse skills of engineers.
• Call for a shift in perception and practice around engineering education and collaboration.