I should start, of course, by expressing profound thanks to all those who helped run our SLO Branch during the past year. I think we can take some pride in noting that in this fairly small urban area we consistently maintain a very active ASCE group – drawing good attendance to monthly meetings and to occasional special seminars, month after month issuing a newsletter with pertinent information and always on-time, maintaining a quality, up-to-date web site, and organizing additional events like awards, scholarships, support for Cal Poly student activities, and the adopt-a-highway effort. All this happens because our branch officers pitch in and participate in numerous ways. Many of the group who worked with me last year will be continuing, and some will step down. In either case, I encourage members to find an officer and thank him or her for what they have done on everyone’s behalf. I wish incoming president Jeff Werst and our other new officers the best in the upcoming year, and I have no doubt that with such fine leadership our branch will continue to flourish.

While on this theme, it is worth noting that the benefits of being an ASCE officer flow both ways. While serving the branch, officers gain a lot from being part of a close circle of active professionals, and the personal relationships that grow in this participation are of great value. I know I personally have found being a branch officer for many years to be most rewarding, and enjoyable; and I encourage any readers who haven’t yet tried it to get involved. The easiest way to do that is to express an interest to Kari Wagner, our new president-elect.

It has been interesting having this monthly forum to express ideas that I believed to be of significance to the profession. I’ve never really understood why serving as branch president makes one qualified to pontificate, but it seems to be the ASCE tradition. I’ve attempted to write on some subjects about which, working in academia, I might have a little inside knowledge. So I devoted a number of these columns during the year to trends and challenges related to the education of engineers in an era when (1) U.S. popular culture, while awash in technology, seems largely to ignore the merits of challenging young people to master the inner secrets (math and science) upon which the technology is based; and (2) some other countries, in Europe and Asia, are starting to eat our proverbial lunch with regard to technological capability and scientific innovation. We live in turbulent times, when the fairness and good judgment that are the hallmarks of engineers need to be increasingly heard in public forums. I think one of the most troubling facts, which appeared in my January column, is that in the present Congress 108 representatives have law backgrounds, and 5 are engineers.

I hope that if you read these columns you found some of this information and these perspectives worthwhile.

So thanks again for the opportunity to service as branch president for the past year. My appreciation goes especially to the officers, but thanks also to all the membership for your continuing support for our activities.

by Ed Sullivan, P.E.

A day in the life of Dean Noori: “On any given day I have interactions with a wide range of constituencies: students, faculty, staff, parents, industry, president Baker, and the Provost. Every day is different. I am pulled in many directions all at once and it’s about constant prioritization. Above all, it’s important not to loose sight of the big picture.”… To me, it sounds more difficult than the juggling act where the guy spins 7 plates, then balances a monkey on his head while being shot at with flaming arrows (last seen on Late Night with David Letterman). He seemed to be very cheerful and optimistic about his position with a career goal of “not being Provost”. Dean Noori feels he can take the College of Engineering to new levels and like most of us, has no intention of leaving sunny SLO in the foreseeable future.

Dean Noori’s favorite project was research in the area of testing and analytical modeling of seismic protection for secondary systems. “Sometimes the contents of the building are worth quite a bit more than the building itself. This was pioneering work showing the world that seismic isolation applies to more than just buildings.” On this project, as well as in many other capacities, Dean Noori has learned that you “don’t get too excited about what you think is a wonderful idea. There is a lot more to a good idea than just the engineering. You need to be honest and admit that even a good idea may not work.” ‘Advise for others Dean Noori?’ “Students are your best asset, even freshmen have wonderful ideas. They are less knowledgeable in the material and tend to think outside the box.” Between the lines that means; hire Cal Poly students. Spoken like a true Dean.

I asked Dean Noori about his involvement in ASCE and I could not type fast enough. He is on more committees than I have fingers on my hands, he has chaired (or is chair) of many, he has organized ASCE conferences and continues to work with ASCE on many fronts. That is a little different than most of us who can barely make it to ASCE meetings.