Global Engineering Congress 2018

In October 2018, Professor Lord Robert Mair opened the Global Engineering Congress (GEC) at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) headquarters in London.

The congress, organised by ICE in partnership with the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), runs from 22 October to 26 October 2018 and brings together more than 2,000 delegates from 70 countries to help address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The GEC gives engineers a “...real opportunity to galvanise the global community and help improve the lives of millions of people,” ICE President Lord Mair said. “Ultimately, this week’s GEC agenda is about solidarity and cooperation. It’s about how we share our skills and specialities and our economic and natural resources so that we can help to pave the way for economic development that leaves no one behind.”

In his speech, Mair talked about how engineers of the past transformed the health and lives of people living in Victorian London. He talked about how Joseph Bazalgette, chief engineer of the Metropolitan Board, created London’s sewer network, building the pipes much larger than necessary to cater for possible growth in population.

“Bazalgette’s foresight meant that not only did he virtually eliminate cholera and decrease the number of typhus epidemics that plagued London, but his system of sewers accommodated this city for 150 years without need for expansion. He transformed lives in a major way,” President Mair said.

Like engineers of the past, President Mair stressed that today’s engineers still have many problems to solve, and challenges to overcome. And the aim of the GEC is to open up conversations to achieve this.

“There are massive global improvements to be made in so many areas: from hunger to gender equality, global warming to sanitation. And we as a profession have the tools to tackle these challenges.

“This congress fittingly addresses the SDGs relating to water, energy, innovation, sustainable cities and climate change, but we’re also discussing the need for a more diverse profession and education for the engineers of our future. [Today] is our chance to really make a difference. Together.”

This article was originally published here on 22 Oct 2018 by ICE. It was written by Anh Nguyen.

--The Institution of Civil Engineers

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