I am honored and proud to follow the steps of past IFEES presidents, GEDC chairs, and executive members of both IFEES and GEDC. Congratulations to the GEDC on its 10th anniversary.
I plan to continue and further the work of my predecessors. For me to do a good job is to work with all IFEES and GEDC members and with new organizations that are concerned with improving engineering education—especially for the good of the planet; “One Planet, One Environment, One Chance.” We all need to collaborate globally for the sustainability of future generations.
We are coming out of a very successful WEEF-GEDC event (www.weef-gedc2018.org) where students, faculty, deans, industry, research laboratories, multi-lateral organizations, and K-12 teachers were energized and embraced the disruptive mindset of Peace Engineering and Diplomacy. During the conference, we celebrated the birth of Big Science in New Mexico, USA, that changed the world, and looked at the future where engineering no longer just encompasses the traditional concept. A sustainable and peaceful future requires a new engineering education mindset that integrates social, humanistic, health, environmental, financial, entrepreneurial, arts and many other disciplines for the good of all living species.
A core group of people passionate about forwarding the Peace Engineering initiative are actively engaging on a regular basis and publishing continuous updates on a new website peace-engineering.org. Please contact me if you are interested in actively engaging.
We are facing challenging times and complex problems that require reengineering of all traditional thinking. We must embrace a new mindset and foster transdisciplinary collaborations globally. We must break away from traditional silos and dive into transdisciplinary, agile, project-based disruptive education, R&D, and entrepreneurial (social and business) activities.
In preparation for the conference, we proposed the definition of Peace Engineering as
The intentional application of systemic-level thinking of science and engineering principles to directly promote and support conditions for peace. Peace Engineering works directly towards a world where prosperity, sustainability, social equity, entrepreneurship, transparency, community voice and engagement, ethics and a culture of quality thrive. Engineers have the power to play a vital role in the creative solutions that can radically transform and improve the well-being of people and other living systems, day to day.
At the core of Peace Engineering is our planet’s sustainable future, which is calling leaders to act in concert from a systems mindset. It is a call to develop solutions differently: that is, collaboratively; integrating transdisciplinary expertise and education programs; simultaneously applying technology solutions while supporting ethics, policy and living systems. And it is a call in the mingled vernacular of civil society, global institutions, and science and technology. Further, beyond addressing today’s challenges, we must cultivate together the development of next generation leaders to continue to drive momentum.
I look forward to collaborating with all of you in defining and performing Peace Engineering. Help us bridge the gap between the haves and have nots. Let’s have fun and make a difference globally.
Respectfully,
Ramiro Jordan
IFEES President, 2018 – 2020
