November 2008

The ASME Foundation Launches Engineering the Greater Good: A campaign to Ensure the Future of the ASME Federal Fellows Program
 
“It has long been my view that if we want good public policy, it has to be made by those who understand the issues. We need to apply the problem-solving approach used by engineers to understand the realm of solutions, as well as the law of unintended consequences, in the public policy arena. Sadly, few elected officials have technical or scientific backgrounds. We often find ourselves in the position of having to rely on others to provide independent, nonpartisan review and analysis of the scientific and technological implications of legislation.”
John H. Sununu, Honorary Chair
Engineering the Greater Good Campaign

The ASME Foundation announces the public launch of a capital campaign, Engineering the Greater Good, to provide operating and endowment funds for the ASME Federal Fellows program. Co-chaired by Governor John H. Sununu and J. William (Bill) Jones, Engineering the Greater Good is a three-year endeavor to ensure that ASME Federal Fellows continue to provide pragmatic, problem-solving advice on technical and scientific aspects of public policy.
 
Public policy matters. It affects all aspects of our lives, including the quality of our environment, the safety of our food, the operation of our businesses, and the education of our children. Yet, as Governor Sununu observes, few elected officials have technical or scientific backgrounds. As public policy deals with technological issues of increasing complexity, decision makers find themselves in the position of having to rely on others to provide independent, non-partisan review and analysis of the scientific and technological implications of legislation.

ASME’s Federal Fellows Program has filled that knowledge gap since its inception in 1973. ASME Federal Fellows bring the same pragmatic, problem-solving approach to discussions of policy that they are trained to apply in the physical world. Their experience and understanding of the subject matter can often counter partisan rhetoric or special-interest bias on scientific and technical issues, and that can form a firmer foundation for society. In short, they are engineering the greater good.

ASME members selected as Federal Fellows spend one year in Washington, DC and are placed in a Congressional office or committee, federal agency or in the White House Office of Science and Technology  Policy. All applicants to the ASME Federal Fellows program must possess solid technical credentials and excellent communications skills. U.S. citizenship is required. Preference is given to candidates who have a minimum of five years of professional experience, an advanced engineering degree, professional engineer registration, and public policy experience. Additional information about the program is available at http://www.asmefederalfellows.org/. 

At no time in history have our nation and our world been confronted with more technologically complex challenges requiring engineering solutions than at present. ASME Federal Fellows have a unique opportunity to engineer the greater good by contributing their engineering counsel and knowledge to help policy makers make better-informed decisions on issues that will have long-term and world-wide ramifications: sustainable energy development; sophisticated national and homeland security strategies; climate change alternatives; education standards to prepare tomorrow’s workforce to compete in a global economy; innovation to maintain America’s competitive strength -- these and a myriad of other issues.

This decade may indeed be the one in which engineering exerts the most significant influence on world history since the beginning of the industrial revolution.  By applying the problem-solving approach used by engineers to understand the realm of solutions to the challenges our nation and our world face, ASME Federal Fellows can continue to engineer the greater good for all mankind one public policy issue at a time.

The ASME Foundation invites you to join with others in industry, academia and government who are committed to sound public policy by supporting the Engineering the Greater Good Campaign. Your gift will enable the ASME Federal Fellows Program to continue to provide public policy makers with the technical and scientific knowledge they need in order to make sound decisions affecting our future.  Click here to donate to the Engineering the Greater Good campaign now.