[Music] [Applause]
according to a 2014 survey by let’s talk
according to a 2014 survey by let’s talk science Canada’s teens want to solve
science Canada’s teens want to solve
science Canada’s teens want to solve problems help people and make a
problems help people and make a
problems help people and make a contribution but that’s a dated question
contribution but that’s a dated question
contribution but that’s a dated question to ask we live in a world where only 16%
to ask we live in a world where only 16%
to ask we live in a world where only 16% of working Millennials see themselves
of working Millennials see themselves
of working Millennials see themselves with the current employer ten years from
with the current employer ten years from
with the current employer ten years from now sixteen percent that means eighty
now sixteen percent that means eighty
now sixteen percent that means eighty four percent of the young workforce
four percent of the young workforce
four percent of the young workforce doesn’t actively want to be any one
doesn’t actively want to be any one
doesn’t actively want to be any one thing instead they’re spending the
thing instead they’re spending the
thing instead they’re spending the careers hopping around to different
careers hopping around to different
careers hopping around to different opportunities to solve problems help
opportunities to solve problems help
opportunities to solve problems help people and make a contribution but
people and make a contribution but
people and make a contribution but that’s not what our industry or our
that’s not what our industry or our
that’s not what our industry or our education system is set up for we are
education system is set up for we are
education system is set up for we are living in the midst of a professional
living in the midst of a professional
living in the midst of a professional revolution scrambling to prepare the
revolution scrambling to prepare the
revolution scrambling to prepare the up-and-coming generation for jobs that
up-and-coming generation for jobs that
up-and-coming generation for jobs that don’t exist yet and the grand challenges
don’t exist yet and the grand challenges
don’t exist yet and the grand challenges we’re leaving behind for them to solve
we’re leaving behind for them to solve
we’re leaving behind for them to solve challenges like making solar energy
challenges like making solar energy
challenges like making solar energy economic engineering smarter medicines
economic engineering smarter medicines
economic engineering smarter medicines and preventing nuclear terror the tasks
and preventing nuclear terror the tasks
and preventing nuclear terror the tasks I’ve just listed are three of the 14
I’ve just listed are three of the 14
I’ve just listed are three of the 14 grand challenges for engineering in the
grand challenges for engineering in the
grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century challenges that like it or
21st century challenges that like it or
21st century challenges that like it or not we as a population are going to have
not we as a population are going to have
not we as a population are going to have to solve if we want to continue our life
to solve if we want to continue our life
to solve if we want to continue our life on this planet in the next hundred years
on this planet in the next hundred years
on this planet in the next hundred years let’s take a look at how these
let’s take a look at how these
let’s take a look at how these challenges map to student interests
challenges map to student interests
challenges map to student interests students could solve problems by helping
students could solve problems by helping
students could solve problems by helping make solar energy economic students
make solar energy economic students
make solar energy economic students could help people by engineering smarter
could help people by engineering smarter
could help people by engineering smarter medicines and students could make a
medicines and students could make a
medicines and students could make a contribution by helping prevent nuclear
contribution by helping prevent nuclear
contribution by helping prevent nuclear terror
terror
terror much a perfect match right we can all go
much a perfect match right we can all go
much a perfect match right we can all go home I hope you enjoyed my talk today
home I hope you enjoyed my talk today
home I hope you enjoyed my talk today I’ll be here all week
I’ll be here all week
I’ll be here all week no the problem is not quite solved
no the problem is not quite solved
no the problem is not quite solved according to research in fact these
according to research in fact these
according to research in fact these students are facing a barrier to entry
students are facing a barrier to entry
students are facing a barrier to entry and engineering that is almost
and engineering that is almost
and engineering that is almost impossible for them to tackle alone that
impossible for them to tackle alone that
impossible for them to tackle alone that being the complete lack of education in
being the complete lack of education in
being the complete lack of education in the role that engineering plays in
the role that engineering plays in
the role that engineering plays in society and this starts young if you
society and this starts young if you
society and this starts young if you look in the literature you’ll find facts
look in the literature you’ll find facts
look in the literature you’ll find facts like an experiment in 2006 a classroom
like an experiment in 2006 a classroom
like an experiment in 2006 a classroom of first graders were asked to identify
of first graders were asked to identify
of first graders were asked to identify examples of engineered technologies the
examples of engineered technologies the
examples of engineered technologies the result was that the first graders were
result was that the first graders were
result was that the first graders were equally likely to choose their classroom
equally likely to choose their classroom
equally likely to choose their classroom parrot as an example of an engineered
parrot as an example of an engineered
parrot as an example of an engineered technology as a manufactured cup and
technology as a manufactured cup and
technology as a manufactured cup and that’s a pretty cute example but the
that’s a pretty cute example but the
that’s a pretty cute example but the older the students get the scarier the
older the students get the scarier the
older the students get the scarier the facts become and you end up with things
facts become and you end up with things
facts become and you end up with things like high school students are more
like high school students are more
like high school students are more likely to associate engineering with
likely to associate engineering with
likely to associate engineering with machinery than problem-solving the k-12
machinery than problem-solving the k-12
machinery than problem-solving the k-12 educators have a poor understanding of
educators have a poor understanding of
educators have a poor understanding of what engineers do and this one I find
what engineers do and this one I find
what engineers do and this one I find the scariest the teens and adults
the scariest the teens and adults
the scariest the teens and adults strongly associate engineering with
strongly associate engineering with
strongly associate engineering with skills in mathematics and science but
skills in mathematics and science but
skills in mathematics and science but much more rarely with creativity
much more rarely with creativity
much more rarely with creativity problem-solving and a positive effect on
problem-solving and a positive effect on
problem-solving and a positive effect on the world it seems no one is truly
the world it seems no one is truly
the world it seems no one is truly innocent in ignoring engineering and
innocent in ignoring engineering and
innocent in ignoring engineering and today we’re gonna talk about why that is
today we’re gonna talk about why that is
today we’re gonna talk about why that is but before we get into the why I’d like
but before we get into the why I’d like
but before we get into the why I’d like to spend a little bit of time on the
to spend a little bit of time on the
to spend a little bit of time on the what specifically what engineering is
what specifically what engineering is
what specifically what engineering is all about if you consult a textbook for
all about if you consult a textbook for
all about if you consult a textbook for a definition you will end up with
a definition you will end up with
a definition you will end up with something like this a definition that I
something like this a definition that I
something like this a definition that I haven’t even bothered to memorize
haven’t even bothered to memorize
haven’t even bothered to memorize because in the 30 seconds it’ll take me
because in the 30 seconds it’ll take me
because in the 30 seconds it’ll take me to read it out to you I’ll have already
to read it out to you I’ll have already
to read it out to you I’ll have already lost your attention so instead we’re
lost your attention so instead we’re
lost your attention so instead we’re gonna call this the brick definition and
gonna call this the brick definition and
gonna call this the brick definition and I’m gonna read you one that I like
I’m gonna read you one that I like
I’m gonna read you one that I like better that being engineering is about
better that being engineering is about
better that being engineering is about the process
the process
the process of designing the human-made world that
of designing the human-made world that
of designing the human-made world that makes a lot of sense if you look at the
makes a lot of sense if you look at the
makes a lot of sense if you look at the linguistics the word engineer evolved
linguistics the word engineer evolved
linguistics the word engineer evolved from the latin word engineer which means
from the latin word engineer which means
from the latin word engineer which means to design our devise the words science
to design our devise the words science
to design our devise the words science evolved from the latin word ciencia
evolved from the latin word ciencia
evolved from the latin word ciencia which means the study of the natural
which means the study of the natural
which means the study of the natural world so in context and scientists will
world so in context and scientists will
world so in context and scientists will ask a research question for the purpose
ask a research question for the purpose
ask a research question for the purpose of furthering our understanding of the
of furthering our understanding of the
of furthering our understanding of the natural world physics chemistry biology
natural world physics chemistry biology
natural world physics chemistry biology the earth the Sun the sky but an
the earth the Sun the sky but an
the earth the Sun the sky but an engineer will ask a research question
engineer will ask a research question
engineer will ask a research question for the purpose of bending the Natural
for the purpose of bending the Natural
for the purpose of bending the Natural Sciences to satisfy someone’s needs and
Sciences to satisfy someone’s needs and
Sciences to satisfy someone’s needs and to let that idea settle with you I’m
to let that idea settle with you I’m
to let that idea settle with you I’m gonna take you through a few examples of
gonna take you through a few examples of
gonna take you through a few examples of famous fictional engineers that have
famous fictional engineers that have
famous fictional engineers that have bent the world to satisfy their needs
bent the world to satisfy their needs
bent the world to satisfy their needs the first example being Wiley coyote so
the first example being Wiley coyote so
the first example being Wiley coyote so he’s not the best example of a good
he’s not the best example of a good
he’s not the best example of a good engineer but you gotta give him points
engineer but you gotta give him points
engineer but you gotta give him points for creativity here you can see him
for creativity here you can see him
for creativity here you can see him bending the world to satisfy his needs
bending the world to satisfy his needs
bending the world to satisfy his needs by wearing a snow maker as he skis down
by wearing a snow maker as he skis down
by wearing a snow maker as he skis down the hill to catch the roadrunner so he
the hill to catch the roadrunner so he
the hill to catch the roadrunner so he can travel at the same speed gotta give
can travel at the same speed gotta give
can travel at the same speed gotta give him points for inventiveness next is
him points for inventiveness next is
him points for inventiveness next is Tinker Bell she is a tinker fairy by
Tinker Bell she is a tinker fairy by
Tinker Bell she is a tinker fairy by definition which is basically Disney
definition which is basically Disney
definition which is basically Disney speak for mechanical engineer so in her
speak for mechanical engineer so in her
speak for mechanical engineer so in her most recent reboot she’s more often seen
most recent reboot she’s more often seen
most recent reboot she’s more often seen with blueprints than in battle and is
with blueprints than in battle and is
with blueprints than in battle and is famous for getting her friends out of a
famous for getting her friends out of a
famous for getting her friends out of a tight jam by manipulating the objects
tight jam by manipulating the objects
tight jam by manipulating the objects around her and the last example I want
around her and the last example I want
around her and the last example I want to talk about is Willy Wonka from
to talk about is Willy Wonka from
to talk about is Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now this man would be a six sigma black belt
this man would be a six sigma black belt
this man would be a six sigma black belt in real life he has got incredibly tight
in real life he has got incredibly tight
in real life he has got incredibly tight production lines an amazing supply chain
production lines an amazing supply chain
production lines an amazing supply chain and an incredible research and
and an incredible research and
and an incredible research and development facility and food
development facility and food
development facility and food engineering and teleportation I’d like
engineering and teleportation I’d like
engineering and teleportation I’d like to see Google even try to compete so now
to see Google even try to compete so now
to see Google even try to compete so now that you guys have a better idea of what
that you guys have a better idea of what
that you guys have a better idea of what engineering means in the fictional world
engineering means in the fictional world
engineering means in the fictional world let’s take that into the real
let’s take that into the real
let’s take that into the real and see what kind of engineering careers
and see what kind of engineering careers
and see what kind of engineering careers are available to real people who take
are available to real people who take
are available to real people who take engineering so I could sit here all day
engineering so I could sit here all day
engineering so I could sit here all day and tell you about every single possible
and tell you about every single possible
and tell you about every single possible job someone with an engineering degree
job someone with an engineering degree
job someone with an engineering degree could pursue but then we’d probably be
could pursue but then we’d probably be
could pursue but then we’d probably be here until like 9:00 p.m. and you’d kind
here until like 9:00 p.m. and you’d kind
here until like 9:00 p.m. and you’d kind of hate me because you’d miss the
of hate me because you’d miss the
of hate me because you’d miss the after-party and so instead I’m gonna
after-party and so instead I’m gonna
after-party and so instead I’m gonna take you through a mosaic of examples of
take you through a mosaic of examples of
take you through a mosaic of examples of industries people with engineering
industries people with engineering
industries people with engineering degrees end up in the message I want you
degrees end up in the message I want you
degrees end up in the message I want you to take away though is that an
to take away though is that an
to take away though is that an engineering degree is like a master key
engineering degree is like a master key
engineering degree is like a master key you can use it to open most doors doors
you can use it to open most doors doors
you can use it to open most doors doors like aerospace think about how people
like aerospace think about how people
like aerospace think about how people become astronauts biomedical engineering
become astronauts biomedical engineering
become astronauts biomedical engineering everything from engineering smarter
everything from engineering smarter
everything from engineering smarter medicines to designing robots to perform
medicines to designing robots to perform
medicines to designing robots to perform laparoscopic surgery safely business and
laparoscopic surgery safely business and
laparoscopic surgery safely business and entrepreneurship how do we actually
entrepreneurship how do we actually
entrepreneurship how do we actually commercialize these ideas to change the
commercialize these ideas to change the
commercialize these ideas to change the world mining and metallurgy seeking the
world mining and metallurgy seeking the
world mining and metallurgy seeking the materials that we need to create safety
materials that we need to create safety
materials that we need to create safety quality engineering my own profession
quality engineering my own profession
quality engineering my own profession how do we ensure that the things we’re
how do we ensure that the things we’re
how do we ensure that the things we’re putting at the door are actually going
putting at the door are actually going
putting at the door are actually going to work
to work
to work social media think about how many
social media think about how many
social media think about how many engineers are sitting in the basement of
engineers are sitting in the basement of
engineers are sitting in the basement of Facebook finance anything to intersect
Facebook finance anything to intersect
Facebook finance anything to intersect technology in the world of money law and
technology in the world of money law and
technology in the world of money law and intellectual property what kind of
intellectual property what kind of
intellectual property what kind of skills do you actually need to write a
skills do you actually need to write a
skills do you actually need to write a patent technology and software creating
patent technology and software creating
patent technology and software creating algorithms to save the world and most
algorithms to save the world and most
algorithms to save the world and most interesting lean urban planning and
interesting lean urban planning and
interesting lean urban planning and civil engineering how do we actually
civil engineering how do we actually
civil engineering how do we actually create the infrastructure that we live
create the infrastructure that we live
create the infrastructure that we live in so you might have noticed that I
in so you might have noticed that I
in so you might have noticed that I haven’t mentioned the two edge cases on
haven’t mentioned the two edge cases on
haven’t mentioned the two edge cases on the side of my diagram that being TV
the side of my diagram that being TV
the side of my diagram that being TV stars and opera singers so these are not
stars and opera singers so these are not
stars and opera singers so these are not the most conventional engineering paths
the most conventional engineering paths
the most conventional engineering paths but I like to use the examples of Bill
but I like to use the examples of Bill
but I like to use the examples of Bill Nye the Science Guy and Rowan Atkinson
Nye the Science Guy and Rowan Atkinson
Nye the Science Guy and Rowan Atkinson Mr Bean who both have engineering
Mr Bean who both have engineering
Mr Bean who both have engineering degrees and later pursued a successful
degrees and later pursued a successful
degrees and later pursued a successful career in media
lastly opera singers Isabelle Barak
lastly opera singers Isabelle Barak Darian graduated in 1994 from U of T
Darian graduated in 1994 from U of T
Darian graduated in 1994 from U of T engineering and has since gone on to
engineering and has since gone on to
engineering and has since gone on to pursue an incredibly successful career
pursue an incredibly successful career
pursue an incredibly successful career in the operatic arts engineering degree
in the operatic arts engineering degree
in the operatic arts engineering degree math
math
math key so despite all of these
key so despite all of these
key so despite all of these opportunities for students to solve
opportunities for students to solve
opportunities for students to solve problems help people and make a
problems help people and make a
problems help people and make a contribution why is it that students are
contribution why is it that students are
contribution why is it that students are able to successfully associate science
able to successfully associate science
able to successfully associate science careers with things like discovering new
careers with things like discovering new
careers with things like discovering new facts analyzing data and saving lives
facts analyzing data and saving lives
facts analyzing data and saving lives but not engineering careers instead
but not engineering careers instead
but not engineering careers instead these same students associate
these same students associate
these same students associate engineering careers with things like
engineering careers with things like
engineering careers with things like repairing cars driving machines and
repairing cars driving machines and
repairing cars driving machines and setting up factories why maybe because
setting up factories why maybe because
setting up factories why maybe because we keep engineering buried behind
we keep engineering buried behind
we keep engineering buried behind definitions like this one we engineers
definitions like this one we engineers
definitions like this one we engineers have a talent for satisfying the needs
have a talent for satisfying the needs
have a talent for satisfying the needs of others but we struggle with our own
of others but we struggle with our own
of others but we struggle with our own very evident need to better represent
very evident need to better represent
very evident need to better represent ourselves as a profession and it’s not
ourselves as a profession and it’s not
ourselves as a profession and it’s not like we haven’t tried outreach before in
like we haven’t tried outreach before in
like we haven’t tried outreach before in fact if you look at the literature
fact if you look at the literature
fact if you look at the literature governments have been funneling hundreds
governments have been funneling hundreds
governments have been funneling hundreds of millions of dollars on an annual
of millions of dollars on an annual
of millions of dollars on an annual basis to try to improve the public
basis to try to improve the public
basis to try to improve the public perceptions of stem and engineering for
perceptions of stem and engineering for
perceptions of stem and engineering for the most part unsuccessfully again why
the most part unsuccessfully again why
the most part unsuccessfully again why why spend all this effort the problem is
why spend all this effort the problem is
why spend all this effort the problem is that we keep treating the symptoms of
that we keep treating the symptoms of
that we keep treating the symptoms of this with our outreach as inspirational
this with our outreach as inspirational
this with our outreach as inspirational band-aids but not the cause the cause
band-aids but not the cause the cause
band-aids but not the cause the cause being the k-12 education system is
being the k-12 education system is
being the k-12 education system is missing the e word in stem so the longer
missing the e word in stem so the longer
missing the e word in stem so the longer we continue to funnel our students into
we continue to funnel our students into
we continue to funnel our students into this tract this system that hasn’t
this tract this system that hasn’t
this tract this system that hasn’t changed the harder it’s going to be to
changed the harder it’s going to be to
changed the harder it’s going to be to get out an accurate perception of
get out an accurate perception of
get out an accurate perception of engineering this brings me to the last
engineering this brings me to the last
engineering this brings me to the last part of my talk about being what can we
part of my talk about being what can we
part of my talk about being what can we do and when I say we I don’t mean the
do and when I say we I don’t mean the
do and when I say we I don’t mean the government I don’t mean the ministry I
government I don’t mean the ministry I
government I don’t mean the ministry I mean you and me what
mean you and me what
mean you and me what all of the people in this room do to
all of the people in this room do to
all of the people in this room do to take a part of this problem into their
take a part of this problem into their
take a part of this problem into their own lives and to answer that question
own lives and to answer that question
own lives and to answer that question I’ve prepared a call to action for each
I’ve prepared a call to action for each
I’ve prepared a call to action for each of you as homework to parents and k-12
of you as homework to parents and k-12
of you as homework to parents and k-12 educators I challenge you to say the e
educators I challenge you to say the e
educators I challenge you to say the e word parents 94% of students consider
word parents 94% of students consider
word parents 94% of students consider you a valuable resource in career
you a valuable resource in career
you a valuable resource in career decisions but only 23% of you take the
decisions but only 23% of you take the
decisions but only 23% of you take the time to talk to your kids about course
time to talk to your kids about course
time to talk to your kids about course selection but that number goes up to 89%
selection but that number goes up to 89%
selection but that number goes up to 89% if you knew that math and science
if you knew that math and science
if you knew that math and science courses were not mandatory until grade
courses were not mandatory until grade
courses were not mandatory until grade 12 and that dropping them closes doors
12 and that dropping them closes doors
12 and that dropping them closes doors to careers such as engineering say the e
to careers such as engineering say the e
to careers such as engineering say the e word K to 12 educators it is the
word K to 12 educators it is the
word K to 12 educators it is the responsibility of a teacher to raise the
responsibility of a teacher to raise the
responsibility of a teacher to raise the next generation of global citizens you
next generation of global citizens you
next generation of global citizens you are arguably the second most powerful
are arguably the second most powerful
are arguably the second most powerful link influence and later the only link
link influence and later the only link
link influence and later the only link between a group of minds and an
between a group of minds and an
between a group of minds and an experience that can change their world
experience that can change their world
experience that can change their world research opportunities outside of your
research opportunities outside of your
research opportunities outside of your profession share that with your students
profession share that with your students
profession share that with your students and don’t you dare let those stereotypes
and don’t you dare let those stereotypes
and don’t you dare let those stereotypes slip out of your mouth never take that
slip out of your mouth never take that
slip out of your mouth never take that responsibility lightly to other
responsibility lightly to other
responsibility lightly to other engineers I challenge you to share your
engineers I challenge you to share your
engineers I challenge you to share your story we are the ambassador’s of the
story we are the ambassador’s of the
story we are the ambassador’s of the profession and the only ones who
profession and the only ones who
profession and the only ones who actually know the answer to the question
actually know the answer to the question
actually know the answer to the question what do engineers do that is your
what do engineers do that is your
what do engineers do that is your responsibility my friends and take every
responsibility my friends and take every
responsibility my friends and take every opportunity you can to share that with
opportunity you can to share that with
opportunity you can to share that with others to fellow students I challenge
others to fellow students I challenge
others to fellow students I challenge you to be proactive in your own
you to be proactive in your own
you to be proactive in your own education take every opportunity offered
education take every opportunity offered
education take every opportunity offered by your school for a conference talk or
by your school for a conference talk or
by your school for a conference talk or stem outreach event leverage the
stem outreach event leverage the
stem outreach event leverage the internet research career paths that are
internet research career paths that are
internet research career paths that are interesting to you and most importantly
interesting to you and most importantly
interesting to you and most importantly never stop challenging the status quo if
never stop challenging the status quo if
never stop challenging the status quo if you see a better way to solve a problem
you see a better way to solve a problem
you see a better way to solve a problem just solve it and don’t let anyone stop
just solve it and don’t let anyone stop
just solve it and don’t let anyone stop you
you
you and lastly to everybody else I challenge
and lastly to everybody else I challenge
and lastly to everybody else I challenge you to learn how engineering affects
you to learn how engineering affects
you to learn how engineering affects your life and share it talk to the
your life and share it talk to the
your life and share it talk to the engineers you know find out how they got
engineers you know find out how they got
engineers you know find out how they got into the profession and how it’s changed
into the profession and how it’s changed
into the profession and how it’s changed their perception of the world the next
their perception of the world the next
their perception of the world the next time you buy something try and think
time you buy something try and think
time you buy something try and think about why you’re buying it how was it
about why you’re buying it how was it
about why you’re buying it how was it made who decided to make it that way and
made who decided to make it that way and
made who decided to make it that way and why most importantly talk about it
why most importantly talk about it
why most importantly talk about it because you never know whose future you
because you never know whose future you
because you never know whose future you might inspire thank you
might inspire thank you
might inspire thank you [Applause]
you
you [Music]
”
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