October 26, 2011

Four organizations join the E4C coalition

We’re proud to announce today that four leading technical organizations have signed agreements to support us and the growing community of engineers participating in global humanitarian and development outreach efforts.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and The Optical Society (OSA) have signed agreements with us.

The four groups join co-founding organizations ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and Engineers Without Borders-USA in leading the effort to build a community of engineers, technologists, social scientists, non-governmental organizations and local community advocates who are passionate about improving quality of life through E4C’s innovative online platform.

Earlier this year, Engineers Australia (EA) also established a program of cooperation with the E4C co-founders.

“The scope of the global development challenges facing underserved communities is far greater than any one organization can address independently,” said Noha El-Ghobashy, president of Engineering for Change. “By consolidating and coordinating our efforts, we can better address the multidisciplinary nature of these challenges to facilitate the development of appropriate, sustainable and scalable solutions. We’re very pleased to have ASCE, WFEO, SWE, and OSA join in this endeavor.”

American Society of Civil Engineers

Under the terms of the agreement with the 140,000-member civil engineering association, ASCE will assist in creating awareness and interest in E4C within the scope of its publications and explore opportunities with respect to programs and activities that further develop relevant content and community building on the E4C website.

“The common bond between civil engineers is a deep commitment to improving the quality of life and building a sustainable world through engineering. That’s why so many ASCE members are active in humanitarian service through groups like our partner organization, Engineers Without Borders-USA. ASCE is proud to support Engineering for Change. By making it easier for engineers to find and contribute to humanitarian projects, we can make an even greater impact,” said ASCE President, Kathy J. Caldwell, P.E., F.ASCE.

World Federation of Engineering Organizations

The agreement with WFEO, which represents some 15 million engineers around the world, will present opportunities for E4C to participate in future WFEO events, contributions to the E4C website, and the featuring of E4C on the WFEO website.

“Through our support of Engineering for Change, WFEO will broaden its ability to develop and apply engineering to constructively resolve global issues for the benefit of humanity. By collaborating with E4C and the greater international engineering community, WFEO fulfills its mission to represent the engineering profession internationally and to address the most critical issues affecting countries of the world through engineering knowledge, capabilities and experience,” said WFEO President María Prieto Laffargue.

Society of Women Engineers

The terms of the agreement with the Society of Women Engineers calls for SWE to leverage internal communications channels to generate awareness of E4C, which, in turn, will spotlight SWE’s efforts in the humanitarian space on the E4C online platform.

“Engineering for Change is an innovation that will transform how engineering talent addresses global engineering needs,” said Betty Shanahan, Executive Director of SWE. The Society of Women Engineers is honored to join the initiative.”

Optical Society

The agreement with The Optical Society includes OSA being a financial sponsor of E4C while exploring ways to further develop relevant content and community building through its programs and activities, members and online communications.

“Working together with Engineering for Change and the other partners associated with this noble endeavor affords OSA the opportunity to share in the effort to address the world’s most pressing humanitarian needs. Supporting this organization is a natural fit for OSA and we appreciate how important it is to join in this important initiative that aims to make a difference in the lives of thousands,” said Elizabeth A. Rogan, CEO, The Optical Society (OSA).

Engineers Australia

Engineers Australia has established a cooperative framework with E4C to address the challenges faced by the billions of people living in poverty throughout the world. EA will leverage its 85,000 members and its organizational strengths to support the growing E4C community.

As our community knows, E4C provides a forum to connect, collaborate, solve challenges and share knowledge among a growing community of engineers, technologists, social scientists, NGOs, local governments and community advocates, who are dedicated to improving the quality of life all over the world. E4C currently has over 7,000 registered members on the site.

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