For National Engineers Week 2004, we took our first steps to becoming global. 2004 chairs Fluor Corporation and IEEE/IEEE-USA launched “Connecting the World to Engineering.” “Connecting” is one part Internet forum targeted to college students and second part live teleconferences between undergraduates and corporate leaders in engineering. The forums have been publicized globally, with topics ranging from engineering in health industries to women in engineering: construction failure analysis and consulting.

On February 24, EWeek Honorary Chairman Alan Boeckmann, Chairman and CEO of Fluor, and EWeek Chair Joe Lillie of IEEE/USA participated in a teleconference entitled “Engineering in the 21st Century.” As the chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Engineering & Construction Task Force, Boeckmann was able to share some special insights. Additional teleconference participants were engineering students from the University of Pretoria, South Africa; University of Surrey, England; Texas A&M University, USA; and University of Calgary, Canada. A transcript, including prepared remarks and the Q&A, is available online to thousands of college and pre-college students. This was the first in a series of teleconferences initiated by EWeek for students and engineering leaders.

The second “New Faces of Engineering” campaign went global as well. Engineering societies nominated young engineers with five years or less of professional experience for special recognition. These young engineers represent the profession’s vitality and diversity and put a face on the profession. Societies that are part of the Engineers Week Steering Committee recommended up to five nominees, with at least one from outside the United States, to a special review panel. The top dozen were recognized in a full-page ad in USA TODAY during Engineers Week. The program was also recognized in The International Herald Tribune. “New Faces” are engaged as moderators and experts in the “Connecting the World to Engineering” forums and are available to college and pre-college students online.