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SEAs Honored for Outreach Efforts The NCSEA Communications Committee challenged the state SEAs to share their most effective program for achieving NCSEA’s goal that “practicing structural engineers are recognized by clients, media, policymakers, educators, students, and the public for the value of their contributions to society”. Outstanding Efforts in each of the four categories were recognized at the NCSEA Annual Business Meeting, held on January 13, 2021: SEAKM (Kansas-Missouri): Students & Educators Winner SEAW (Washington): Public Outreach Winner SEAW (Washington): Political Advocacy Winner SEAOC (California): Other Winner Each category winner will be receiving several Mola Structural kits to help them further their outreach activities. Click here to learn more about each SEAs winning initiative. Interested in purchasing your own Mola Structural kit? NCSEA has recently secured a special discount for our members, please click here to login to the Member Portal to access this benefit!

Seeking 2021 Summit Abstracts NCSEA is seeking abstracts for the 2021 Structural Engineering Summit. The goal is to host the event both in-person in New York, New York on October 13-15 and virtually throughout the month of October.  Sessions will be 45-60 minutes total, including time for Q&A, and will deliver pertinent information that is specific to the practicing structural engineer, in both technical and non-technical tracks. Presentations are sought for topics that would appeal to seasoned engineers or younger engineers new to their careers (or both). Learn more & submit your abstract here, Submissions are due March 26, 2021.

Upcoming SEA Events February 25-26, 2021 SEAoNY 2021 Annual Conference March 10, 2021 SEAOG Best Practices for Delegating CFS Design March 30-April 6, 2021 SEAOI Communication Skills for Career Success

ABCs of Aluminum Structural Design: From Alloys to Buckling to Connections These three webinars will familiarize attendees with aluminum structural design in accordance with the 2020 Aluminum Design Manual (ADM) published by the Aluminum Association. Compliance with Part I of the ADM is required by the International Building Code and the AWS D1.2 aluminum structural welding code, making it key to the use of aluminum construction applications in the US. Aluminum’s high strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and formability make it the material of choice in many structures such as curtain walls, space frames, hand rails, and solar panel supports. While aluminum structural design is similar to steel design, there are significant differences, such as the reduction in aluminum strength when welded, and the availability of inexpensive custom cross sections through the use of extrusions.

Schedule of Events March 2 - Introduction to Aluminum as a Structural Material March 9 - Designing Aluminum Members March 16 - Designing Aluminum Connections Member: $395 Non-member: $600 Individual webinars can be purchased separately for $150 for members, $250 for nonmembers.

Economic Outlook for Structural Engineering: 2021 & Beyond Wednesday, March 10, 2021 12:00 pm (Central) The pandemic has affected every aspect of our personal lives and altered the way we do business. As structural engineers, understanding how these changes influence the profession and the economy in which our firms operate is critical to such things as short term staffing and long term business planning. What will some of the markets we serve look like this summer and beyond? What does the future hold for the construction and building development markets? NCSEA has invited two experts to help make sense of the current and future economic indicators, and attempt to answer, “What are some of the most current economic predictions affecting structural engineers?” Register Here  The registration fees from this event will benefit the NCSEA Foundation. The minimum required donation is $25.

Andrew Opdyke

John Cross

Bill Bast

Welcome to this installment of Read.Watch.Listen: a monthly forum hosted by the NCSEA SE3 Committee to share and promote conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion within the structural engineering profession. Each month, we will curate a series of articles, audio-visual and digital media to facilitate self-education in matters that affect our professional practice as structural engineers. Whether you choose to read, watch, or listen (or all three!), we hope you will join us in this important conversation.   In this post, we celebrate Black History Month. Historically, Black engineers have been overlooked for their contributions to our industry and our society. The resources below highlight just a few accomplished Black engineers, while also noting the systems of oppression that kept them from being recognized in their time. As we reflect on the 'hidden figures' within our profession, let's also consider ways to increase the diversity of our future engineers! In the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities' 2018 Status Report on Engineering Education, only 4% of all bachelor degrees awarded in engineering went to Black students in 2016. Similarly reported in the Demographics Topic Brief, roughly 1% of respondents in the 2020 SE3 Survey identified as Black. There are many opportunities to improve the representation of Black Americans in the structural engineering profession when they comprise roughly 14% of the US population.  Missed the previous installment? Check out the NCSEA SE3 Committee News and Publication page. Share your thoughts and/or recommended resources for the next issue at [email protected].

READ ASCE Celebrates Black History Month - Notable Black Engineers in History Compiled by the Oregon Section of ASCE, this article provides brief biographies of eight African American engineers who had an impact on the civil engineering industry.  Famous Black Engineers Throughout History Read more about the historical engineers highlighted by ASCE, as well as some more recent Black engineers, in this article compiled by How Stuff Works.

WATCH State Lauds Black Soldiers’ Work on WWII Highway This video from the Associated Press describes the tremendous civil engineering feat performed by Black soldiers during World War II. Segregated from the rest of the military, these men constructed 1,500 miles of the ALCAN Highway over 8 months while enduring harsh conditions, working without proper tools, and without recognition until the recent celebration on the 75th anniversary of the highway’s completion.

LISTEN Inside the Minds of America’s Greatest Black Inventors - The Takeaway In this episode of The Takeaway, Keith Holmes & Sandra Morgan discuss the contributions and struggles of Black engineers and inventors during the early 20th century. Holmes is the author of Black Inventors: Crafting of 200 Years of Success. Morgan shares insight into the personality and perseverance of her grandfather, Garrett A. Morgan-investor of the 3-way traffic signal and holder of several patents.

Bonus: QUIZ: Celebrating African American Engineers and Inventors With this quiz from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, test your knowledge of African American engineers and inventors! Review your results to learn more about these inspiring individuals.

For the Betterment of the Structural Engineering Profession: A Joint CASE, NCSEA & SEI Town Hall Event The leading professional organizations of Structural Engineering–CASE, NCSEA and SEI–continue to work together for the betterment of the profession. In 2019, the leadership from CASE, NCSEA and SEI jointly endorsed a Vision for the Future of Structural Engineering. Building on that Vision, the three organizations issued a joint Call to Action this past year pledging to identify and eradicate behaviors that perpetuate racism and inequality within the structural engineering profession. The leadership from the three organizations will host a virtual Joint Town Hall event to discuss how the three organizations are progressing to fulfill the Vision and Call to Action, specifically highlighting current and future initiatives to advance the profession and enhance member engagement. In addition, the leadership will host an open Q&A session to continue the discussion as we all move toward the future. Tuesday, February 23 from 2:30 to 4 pm CST | Register Here

Now Accepting Submittals for the 2021 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards NCSEA's Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards annually highlights some of the best examples of structural engineering ingenuity throughout the world. Projects are judged on innovative design, engineering achievement, and creativity. Multiple winners are presented in eight categories with an outstanding winner chosen from each category. The winners will be honored at NCSEA's Structural Engineering Summit this October. The awards are presented in the following categories:   New Buildings < $30 Million   New Buildings $30 Million to $80 Million   New Buildings $80 Million to $200 Million   New Buildings Over $200 Million   New Bridges or Transportation Structures   Forensic/Renovation/Retrofit/Rehabilitation Structures < $20 Million   Forensic/Renovation/Retrofit/Rehabilitation Structures > $20 Million   Other Structures Entries are due on July 13, 2021. Click here for more information about the awards and submission instructions.

Start Studying for the Next PE Structural Exam Today The next NCEES PE Structural Exam is coming up on April 22 & 23. Start preparing with NCSEA now! NCSEA’s on-demand course provides the most economical PE Structural Exam Preparation Course available. The course includes 30 hours of instruction, preparation tips and problem-solving skills to pass the exam. All lectures are up-to-date on the most current codes with handouts and quizzes available. PLUS…students have access to a virtual classroom exclusively for course attendees! Ask the instructors directly whenever questions arise. This NCEES PE Structural Exam Preparation Course allows you to study at your pace but with instant access to the material and instructors. Several registration options are available, click here to register yourself or to learn more about special group pricing!

Upcoming Webinars All NCSEA live webinars offer 1.5 hours of continuing education credits. Most NCSEA webinars are Diamond Reviewed and accepted for SE continuing education in all 50 states. To view other upcoming webinars, click here. March 4, 2021 Overview of Changes and Additions in ACI 318-19 Royce Floyd, Ph.D., S.E. March 23, 2021 Practitioner's Guide to Designing Buildings in Flood Zones Kevin Chamberlain, P.E. Recorded Webinars can be purchased here.

Subscribe to education with NCSEA's Live & Recorded Webinar Subscription. Available to NCSEA members only! This exclusive plan includes: At least 30 live webinars per year featuring high-quality speakers. An unlimited number of free CE certificates for each webinar; multiple viewers at the same location can receive credit for every live webinar. Unlimited 24/7/365 access to NCSEA's Recorded Webinar Library Subscribe Now!

Call for Information We'd love to hear about your SEA! Have you hosted an event recently that you'd like to share with the rest of the organization? Are you hosting an upcoming event that you would like featured in Structural Connection or NCSEA News? Please let us know! If you have any news, events, or accomplishments you'd like to share, please reach out to Dana Long at [email protected]. Also, remember to add your upcoming events to NCSEA's Calendar. Just visit this link and fill out the details of your event, it is really that easy!