collaboration

TSEC 04: Mass Timber in Structural Engineering – It’s Not as Boring as It Sounds

July 11, 2019 By Anthony Fasano

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In episode 04 of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, we talk with Mikhail Gershfeld, S.E, a Professional Practice Professor at Cal Poly, Pomona, CA. We talk about mass timber in structural engineering and some of the new and innovative things happening with this material that has been around for a very long time.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions Asked in this Episode:

Tell us about how wood has been evolving in the last 20 years?
The panels are new to the US but have been used in Europe extensively. Why is it taking longer for US to use them?
How do these new panels offer aesthetic benefits?
Can you talk about the environmental benefits of wood?
How did the testing go with mass timber in regard to fire resistance, and is this a concern?
What organizations can provide assistance with using Mass Timber on projects?
Tell us about the new code changes that will take effect in 2021 with mass timber?
Can you talk about manufacturing facilities for mass timber?
What does the collaboration between the architect and engineer look like in regard to CLT?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Mass Timber:

How Engineers Can Develop Necessary Soft Skills to Excel in Their Careers

August 27, 2018 By Anthony Fasano

How Engineers Can Develop Necessary Soft Skills to Excel in Their Careers is a guest post by Tiffany Rowe

The five years of an engineer’s bachelor’s degree program are filled with complex math and science. Indeed, almost all of an engineer’s training pertains to the hard skills they will directly apply to problems in their field during the course of their career. Yet, what most new engineering grads discover as they enter the workforce is that they are woefully under prepared to function in the workplace because they have failed to develop their soft skills.

Hiring managers are always looking for well-developed soft skills, even in engineers. The ability to communicate, to work in teams, to think creatively and adapt swiftly to new situations are mandatory in the modern workplace, and it is unlikely that an engineer will find success without cultivating such skills. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to enhance one’s soft skills, both inside and outside an educational environment. Here are a few ways engineers can build the skills they need to excel in their careers.

Looking Beyond the Tasks: Interpersonal Skills every Engineer should have

February 27, 2017 By Anthony Fasano

This is a guest blog post by Carol Evenson

Engineers play a vital role in their workplaces. They are the people that keep things going, that make the company work, and that do the work behind the scenes that keep profits coming in. While some engineers think their contributions should be kept within their department, the truth is that engineers bear as much weight on the interpersonal dynamics of a company as any other employee. If you are an engineer who wishes to improve his or her career prospects or who wants to figure out how to contribute more to the workplace, you should consider brushing up on the interpersonal skills discussed below.