school of mechanical engineering global engineering professional seminar fall 2010 week 9 1. daniel...

School of Mechanical Engineering

Global Engineering Professional Seminar Fall 2010 Week 9 1. Daniel Reyna—EPICS Call out!

2. Bryce Whitson—Ph.D. Program, Purdue ME

2. Quiz I—Friedman, pages 1-259

3. Picture Assignment, Profiles—due, two weeks.

Global Engineering Professional Seminar 2

Professional Picture› Free!

› Multi-purpose—scholarships, etc. also 5 points for ME 290 point total

› https://engineering.purdue.edu/MECL/Scheduler/Event_Registration/ Then, click "ME 290 Fall Appointments.“

› Professional attire for greatest value, interview attire--suit, polo/sweater, coat/tie

› .jpg file goes to your “Tools” account


Professional Global Profile

› Multi-purpose—

– post on GlobalHUB, http://globalhub.org

– develops interview content,

– cover letter content,

– resume development

– “Statement of Purpose,” graduate schools

– “Personal Statement,” scholarships


Professional Opportunity

› Way to discover what you really have to offer!

– 50% completion of BSME

– Credentials—courses, projects, activities

– Capabilities—illustrated with extended examples, evidence!


The Profile Package

› About 1000 words

› Two pages, single-spaced, formal report format

• Title, headings (3 minimum), subheads, page numbers, etc.

• open line between paragraphs

• Perfection!


What’s inside?

› The answer to the interview question, “Tell me about yourself!”

– Timeline: present, then past and future!

– Begin with present—”Who are you?”

• “context”—an introduction, e.g., current status as a sophomore in the Purdue BSME program


What else….

› The past

•Only those elements that relate to where you are going in the future!

•Examples: reasons why you have chosen the profession of engineering, examples of character or strengths


And, in conclusion….

› Future

– Where are you headed?

– Show literacy!

– Show passion!


Professional engineering—Look back to achievements…

› http://www.greatachievements.org/


Professional engineering--Look forward to challenges…

› Examine the National Academy of Engineering’s

“Grand Challenges”


Visit National Academy of Engineering Website


Define “Professional”?

Lee Shulman, Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation:

“The idea of ‘profession’ describes a special and unique set of circumstances for deep understanding, complex practice, ethical conduct, and higher-order learning.”

Historical professions: medicine, law, engineering


Contrasts with “Professions”

Science and Systems:

Sciences: the science of biochemistry or physics – as applied, becomes the profession of medicine

Systems: reasoning systems such as philosophy or mathematics – as applied, these become tools in the professions of law or engineering.


What is distinctive about professions?(From Shulman)

Historical professions address critical needs for society:

Health, namely, doctors;

Justice, namely, lawyers;

Productivity and safety, namely, engineers.


Steven Brint, In the Age of Experts*

› Two components of professionalism:

Technical: application of broad and complex knowledge [requiring] formal academic study.

Moral: commitment to “important social ends…[and] demanding high levels of self-governance.”

* Princeton University Press


Example of “morality "dimension:

--From the ASME Code: engineers are ethically required to limit their practice to their area of competency, which is usually a small portion of a discipline, which can be a factor in negligence lawsuits.


Professional Codes Evolve

› ASME Code --Continues to evolve, e.g., a recent addition (#8) is the ethical responsibility of professional mechanical engineers to acknowledge environmental impact


Professions evolve collaboratively:

› Knowledge is not enough.

› Community is the core of professionalism.

› In an “age of experts,” professionals are accorded power that is based on knowledge but that is grounded in an ethical community of peers that self-regulate and that enforce on-going learning and collaborating.


Professional Practicea. Examines problems—define problems,

design investigations, set up testing, make inferences.

b. Conveys recommendations—propose possible solutions, address short falls—provide technical leadership.

c. Explains decisions—connect with diverse audiences, unpack issues—deliver professional expertise.


Professional Practice and Communications› About 50% of professional time, on average, goes

into communications:

– Records—calendars, notebooks, data collection

– With peers—discussing complex situations, planning.

– With supervisors—making recommendations, explaining decisions, providing documentation.

– With external regulators—arguing for standards, explaining actions, testifying in court and before policy makers.


Facts are not enough› Roger Boisjoly, project engineer, has spoken widely

about the Morton Thiokol o-rings test data that were provided to NASA prior to the Challenger launch that resulted in the loss of the mission.


Thiokol managers not persuaded…


Needed: Persuasive Communication› The basic components of persuasion:

– Successfully establishing who you are—your credentials, your character—that is, your credibility.

– Successfully understanding the commitments and values of both yourself and your audience/client—the problem space.

– Successfully conveying to your client/audience the shared problem space.


“Professional Profiles” provide:

– Identity—who you are…as a professional engineer in a particular time and place

– Opportunity space—what is held in common with reader/audience/site visitor, what is the transactional/collaborative potential?

– Action—what is a strategic approach to going forward?


The Global Professional Profile

A document that conveys a current identity of a mechanical engineer in training who has particular technical interests and the intention to become a contributing professional in a world that is increasingly interdependent and where major challenges are emerging.


Profile content useful:

1.Cover letters

2. Interviews

3. Scholarship applications

4. “Statement of Purpose” for graduate school

5. Career planning

6. Posted on GlobalHub/ME Tools

school of mechanical engineering global engineering professional seminar fall 2010 week 9 1. daniel...

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