Welcome to Engineering Culture, a semi-monthly conversation about the most important values, motivations and assumptions we hold. All are welcome to the conversation as we explore the culture of engineering students, practicing engineers, organizations and institutions. Part of the Big Beacon New Media Network, this show kicks off on January 14th 2015, live from the Engineers Without Borders Canada…
The Big Beacon team is reorganizing the content, format, media, and approach to out regular #BigBeacon Twitter Chat. As such, there will be an extended break through Thanksgiving and Christmas as we make these changes. The new, improved programming will restart on Wednesday, 7 January. Keep an eye on Big Beacon blog for further information. New features, format, and content are…
What's in it for me? A non-engineer's perspective on the call for change within engineering. This week's chat will be co-hosted by me, Erica Lee Garcia @engineeryrlife, and Alan Ham from the Engineers without Canada venture Engineers of Tomorrow @eotewb. We will discuss the implications of a healthy, diverse, whole-minded engineering profession, full of Whole New Engineers, and the specific benefits…
Guest blog written by Scott Nichols Greetings Big Beacon community members and Twitter followers interested in reforming engineering education: Come join me, Scott Nichols, to discuss how student-centered vs. teacher-centered instruction may influence the quality of engineering programs. We will get started on Wednesday, October 8th at 8:00 pm, Eastern Time. As the global economy rapidly grows, more and more…
Hello Twitter enthusiasts and Big Beacon community members, Come join me, Erica Lee Garcia, for this week’s twitter chat about student-powered movements, collaboration and community-building. We get started Wednesday September 24th at 8 pm ET, on #BigBeacon. Recycling: A tale of student-powered change When municipal leaders and engineers in Ontario, Canada developed the technology and infrastructure to make…
Big Beacon is entering into an exciting period of growth, and we are eager to kickoff this new season with our weekly #BigBeacon twitter chat on Wednesday, August 27 at 8 PM EST. Join us as we consider the meaning, vision, and direction of Big Beacon, with the conversation facilitated by our leaders: Founder Dave Goldberg, Erica Lee-Garcia, and Meagan…
At this time of year, thousands of post-secondary students around the world are enjoying the fruits of their many many hours of hard work and attending their graduation ceremonies. It's a fun time, a celebratory time, and a time for families to show their pride in their graduate's accomplishments. It's a time for students to emerge from the fog of…
Jeff Borisko, M.Sc., Director-Owner of Learning Lab of Polymath Productions, Inc. will be hosting this week's Twitter Chat with Big Beacon. Our subject is: "The Environment Challenge for the Whole Engineer". Below is a post from Jeff Borisko our guest host: I am not an engineer. There, it’s out. I feel better, you? I know my (pretend) concern is unwarranted…
I've spent the last several years of my engineering career thinking very carefully about what engineers can and can't do. So far my conclusions are that engineers can have tremendous impact in areas that you might not expect - ending poverty, fighting injustice, creating jobs, saving lives. The engineering profession's scope is well beyond the boundaries of the purely technical.…
Post written by Marc E. Chelala: In today’s global community, issues we commonly face have remained the same, while our understanding of them has broadened thereby increasing their complexity. Undoubtedly, it begs to question the role of the engineer in today’s society and how it needs to change along with our understanding of the world. Engineers may need to adapt their…