ASME TechCast
By Mechanical Engineering Mag
ASME TechCastJun 10, 2021
Young Professional Engineers
Mechanical engineer, author, speaker, and trainer, the executive vice president of RMF Engineering in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., discusses how firms can recruit, retain, and train young professionals.
Space Exploration and the Engineering Workforce
Mars has been a longstanding target for exploration, but for nearly 50 years, we've been sending robots to examine the Martian surface. Elizabeth Jens of Jet Propulsion Laboratory is one of the engineers working on systems used by the Perseverance rover and other missions. In this podcast, she talks about her work and the importance of encouraging young women to consider science and engineering careers.
Behind the New Faces of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering magazine's June/July cover story delves into the minds of early career engineers to hear their diverse stories, from humble beginnings to great achievements, and how they're paving the way forward for future engineering generations.
In this sneak preview, we hear from Amy Elliott about her work in 3D printing and robotics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as her public outreach initiatives representing women in STEM and helping kids find their passion in engineering.
Diversity and the Engineering Pipeline
Identifying, training, and retaining talent continues to be a challenge for all fields of engineering. At the same time, diversifying the mix of engineering graduates to include more underrepresented groups is critical.
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), minority serving institutions (MSIs), tribal colleges and universities, and others are making significant strides in growing the number of underrepresented groups entering engineering through a variety of strategies.
In this episode, Craig Scott shares insights into engineering workforce challenges and some possible solutions. Scott is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore. He is also president of the Inclusive Engineering Consortium (IEC)—a non-profit organization comprised of historically minority serving institutions working to produce a larger and better prepared pool of African-American, Hispanic, and Native American engineering graduates.
Women Working in Engineering
Lauren Neal talks about her experience as a working engineer in a male-dominated field. She covers strategies for recruitment, retention, DEI, and leadership.
How AI Could Impact Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence isn’t just for faking voices or generating images. The technology can also sift through mountains of data and extract actionable insights. Humberto Moreira, principal solutions engineer at the software development services company Gigster, explains how these insights can assist manufacturers become more flexible and be more attuned to consumers.
Taking Innovations from Lab to Market
When it comes to research and development, engineers lead the way across a wide range of industries. But when it’s time to translate cutting-edge research and prototypes into commercial applications and technologies, the process can be quite complex.
Paul Cherukuri helps shed some light on that process, from strategies to challenges to real-world examples. Cherukuri is Rice University’s vice president for innovation and he also serves as Chief Innovation Officer, Adjunct Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, and Associate Research Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Podcast: Selling Engineering Services
Risk-adverse, technical professionals find securing new business takes understanding a new generation of buyers and how they build relationships, assess services, and ultimately purchase products.
Engineering Policy Outlook: 2024
While it may be an election year, there is plenty of opportunity for science and engineering policy to be passed and implemented in Washington. ASME's Paul Fakes previews the potential areas for bipartisan agreement.
Top Engineering Stories of 2023
In a year that started to feel like “normal,” technology and the engineers behind it were a big part of the story. Listen as the staff of Mechanical Engineering magazine discuss their picks for the top engineering stories of 2023 in this special year-end edition of ASME TechCast.
Space Workforce 2030
A program called Space Workforce 2030 is seeking to bring in a new generation of engineers that is more diverse and talented than ever. It will significantly increase the number of women and underrepresented groups not only in the workforce, but also across aerospace engineering programs and senior company leadership.
Via Van Liew, principal director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Aerospace Corporation, one of the many companies that has committed to the Space Workforce 2030 pledge, shares more about the program and how it's making its mark.
3D Printers for Housing
Alquist 3D CEO Zachary Mannheimer talks about 3D printing affordable housing and building a workforce.
3D Printing Houses
Alquist 3D CEO Zachary Mannheimer talks about using 3D printers to build affordable housing and stand up a workforce.
Engineering Retention and Recruitment
Jorge Puente, vice president of engineering with Kelly’s Science, Engineering, Tech, and Telecom unit talks about busy engineering firms that are enjoying low turnover rates, but still report that recruitment remains a challenge.
Monitoring Indoor Air Quality
An often-overlooked source of air pollution is the household kitchen, especially those that use gas ranges and ovens. The environmental advocacy group WEACT for Environmental Justice recently conducted a study to look at the impact of switching out gas stoves for induction cooktops in New York City public housing. Jennifer Ventrella, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering who helped conduct the study, joins ASME TechCast to discuss the results and the steps that can be taken to mitigate reduce indoor air pollution.
Podcast: Leadership and Mechanical Engineering
Moving from a technical role into a management position is difficult to navigate. Engineers find themselves in uncharted waters. Jeff Perry, founder of More Than Engineering is a software, mechanical, and manufacturing engineer. For years he has been working with engineers and helping them map out the necessary skills for becoming a quality leader in the field.
Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings
In New York City, Local Law 97 is pushing owners of large buildings to take steps to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. Tristan Schwartzman, principal and director of energy services at Goldman Copeland, a New York-based engineering firm, discusses the impact of the law and the steps being taken to prepare buildings in the city for a low-carbon future.
Behind the Webb
Mechanical Engineering magazine’s October/November cover story dives into the engineering feats and solutions that brought NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to its current home, orbiting the sun about 1 million miles away from Earth. Author Lina Zeldovich shares some insights behind the story, how it came together, and pieces that didn't make the story's final cut.
Seller-Doers and Mechanical Engineers
A proven way to secure billable hours, the seller-doer business development model allows firms a way to offer engineers a clear career development path.
Solving Urban Heat Islands
Virginia Tech's Theo Lim looks for solutions to urban heat islands.
Harvesting Energy Through the Window
Photovoltaic solar panels are becoming increasingly inexpensive, but there are many sunny surfaces where adding them is not feasible. Veeral Hardev, vice president for corporate strategy at Ubiquitous Energy, talks about his company’s quest to make transparent PV cells that can be applied to window glass.
Project Management and Mechanical Engineers
Being a project manager is more than getting tasks done and ensuring your team does the same. Learn the skills needed and the steps necessary to move from engineer on a project to PM of the team.
Engineering Geothermal Heat Pumps
Heat pumps, which use the outside as a source—or sink—for heat, are a familiar environmental control technology in many homes. Kathy Hannun, founder and president of Dandelion Energy, a company that makes household geothermal heat pump systems, discusses the efficiency advantages and engineering challenges of drawing heat from the ground.
Technology Readiness Levels in Undergrad Engineering
As advanced manufacturing continues to thrive, the ties among academia, industry, and government must be fostered to ensure the next generation of engineering students enter the workforce fully prepared to tackle the technologies awaiting them.
In this episode of ASME TechCast, Kathryn Jablokow, a professor at Penn State, and Tom Kurfess, a professor at Georgia Tech, discuss technology readiness levels and strategies for educators and industry in partnering to prepare engineers for the future.
Jablokow and Kurfess are both members of ASME's board of governors and members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Study Committee. Both helped author “Infusing Advanced Manufacturing into Undergraduate Engineering Education,” a report that examines advanced manufacturing techniques for the defense industry and explores how undergraduate engineering programs can better develop advanced manufacturing capabilities in the workforce.
Cybersecurity for Manufacturing
Kyle Saleeby and Gabriela Ciocarlie of the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute talk about standing up cyber protection throughout the manufacturing supply chain.
Job Suitability Assessments for Engineers
ASME sat down to talk with Reid Tolley, founding partner of Talent Matters, an assessment, analytics, and leadership development firm. In this episode he covered how the behavioral assessment, job suitability tool Harrison Assessments differs from personality testing.
Tolley explained that the tool can accurately measures how well suited a person is with a specific job and if they score a 75 percent or better, people are three times more likely to enjoy the job, excel at it, and try to excel at it.
Since 2012, Tolley has helped leaders of engineering firms and other organizations with talent acquisition and retention, company culture, succession planning, onboarding new talent, and more. Find him at Talent Matters.
Small Manufacturers Embrace Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is a suite of digitally enabled technologies that combine embedded sensors, new kinds of materials, models as digital twins, and cutting edge computing to change the way that companies think about their product and facilities and even their customers. The idea of adopting these advanced manufacturing technologies can be daunting to small companies that have had success with traditional processes. Pavan Muzumdar, chief operating officer at Automation Alley, a nonprofit Industry 4.0 knowledge center based in Troy, Mich., discusses how 3D printing and other Industry 4.0 technologies are transforming small manufacturers.
ASME Techcast: What Engineering Students Need to Know to Succeed
Matt Ishler, associate director of career counseling at Penn State University, talks about what engineering students need outside of their core classes.
Lean Six Sigma and Mechanical Engineers
Engineer, consultant, and author Joshua Plenert talks about Lean Six Sigma and what makes the problem-solving mindset of mechanical engineers uniquely suited for Lean Six Sigma.
Advanced Manufacturing Tech and Undergrad Engineering
Manufacturing has seen a resurgence over the last decade, and the adoption of digital technologies has transformed the industry. But now, engineering education must also adapt and find a way to ensure that the workforce of tomorrow has the right skills and can take full advantage of advanced manufacturing platforms. Tom Kurfess, professor at Georgia Tech and member of ASME's board of governors, discusses the challenges that today's educators and industry face, what some of these technologies are and their applications, and possible solutions.
Burnout and Mechanical Engineers
Engineer, consultant and author Peter Atherton talks about burnout and what makes mechanical engineers susceptible to this medical syndrome newly recognized by the World Health Organization.
Geothermal in Texas
The Earth's core provides a tremendous amount of heat. Tapping that heat to produce electric power or to use directly in industrial processes could be a way to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Jamie Beard, founder and executive director of Project InnerSpace, a geothermal advocacy group, discusses a recent report on the prospects for geothermal energy in Texas and elsewhere.
Tapping Solar Power in Space
Caltech research scientist Austin Fikes talks about capturing solar energy in space with a satellite that would relay the power to Earth.
Ethics in Engineering Education
Sara Hendren, associate professor of arts, humanities and design at Olin College of Engineering discusses the importance of keeping engineering students engaged in social and ethical issues throughout their education.
ASME Techcast: ASME's Paul Fakes Talks on Engineering Policy and the New Congress
Paul Fakes, director of ASME's government relations education and outreach programs, talks about engineering and science policy in a new Congress.
The Top Engineering Stories of 2022
It’s been quite a year, and technology has been part of the headlines all 12 months. Listen as Mechanical Engineering magazine’s Jeffrey Winters and John Kosowatz discuss their top engineering stories on 2022 in this special edition of ASME TechCast.
Building Infrastructure for Offshore Wind Power
An electrical grid reliant on renewable power will require building new transmission, distribution, and storage capability, often in places that have layers of existing infrastructure. Nabil Hitti, the vice president of U.S. Offshore Wind for National Grid Ventures, talks about the enormous promise of offshore wind power in the New York region and the challenge of building the energy infrastructure to support it.
Slinging Satellites into Space
David Wrenn, the SpinLaunch's head of engineering, talks about the novel kinetic system developed to hurl satellites into space.
Beyond Precision Agriculture
Beyond Precision Agriculture
Making Aviation Climate-Friendly
The climate impact of long-distance air travel is more substantial than most people realize. But the power requirements of jetliners are difficult—if not impossible—to meet without resorting to kerosene-based jet fuel. Writer Michael Abrams discusses the paths that researchers and entrepreneurs are exploring to develop a greener form of aviation and describes some fixes that could reduce the warming potential of flying.
Urban Heat Islands
As more people around the world move from the countryside to cities, the climate effects of urbanization become increasingly important. One of these is the urban heat island effect, where unshaded concrete and asphalt absorb sunlight and radiate heat, warming the surrounding areas by several degrees. Moncef Krarti, a professor at the University of Colorado and an expert on urban heat islands, discusses steps that cities can take to turn down the heat on their microclimates.
What Electric Vehicles Still Need as They Take to the Roads
Rockwell Automation’s John Miles talks about electric vehicles and how to charge them, along with upskilling the current workforce.
TVA's Nuclear Future
Greg Boerschig heads TVA’s Clinch River nuclear project. He talks about TVA’s nuclear options and the development of small modular nuclear reactors.
Rosie and Other Household Robots
The Jetsons promised viewers from the 1960s and beyond that the future would see robots that could cook, clean, and basically run the household. However, developing those sorts of multi-capable robots for real households has been a challenge. Writer Kayt Sukel discusses the promise and future direction of this field.
The Strategic Importance of U.S. Gas Exports
In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European nations declared their intention to find alternatives to Russian natural gas. One nation that could become a strategically important supplier of gas to Europe is the United States, which has more gas than it can use thanks to the exploitation of its shale gas reserves. Energy economist Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy and professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines explains the implications and limitations of U.S. gas exports.
Carbon Capture Is Poised for Fast Growth
Battelle’s Neeraj Gupta talks about the state of carbon capture and sequestration.
Space Stations After ISS
The International Space Station has been the main site of human exploration in orbit for the past 20 years. Crews have been shuttling back and forth for missions as short as a couple of weeks or as long as a year. But the ISS can't last forever. Matt Ondler, chief technology officer and director of spacecraft development at Axiom Space, a space hardware and services company in Houston, discusses the challenges and opportunities in developing a one of a number of commercial projects vying to become humanity’s next outpost in orbit.
Small Firm Digitally Transforms
Doug Gudenburr, COO of DMI Companies, talks about the manufacturer's digital transformation.
Offshore Wind Power in New York
In North America, wind power has been developed almost entirely on land, often 1,000 miles or more from the power-hungry Atlantic coast. But it turns out that there’s an even better, even windier place that’s much closer to the New York City–the waters off of Long Island. Listen as Georges Sassine, vice president for large-scale renewables at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, discusses the state’s plans for harnessing offshore wind.
Hydro and the Electric Grid
NREL’s Greg Stark talks about hydropower’s impact on the evolving electric grid.