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A: FROM STUDENT MEMBER KELLY B. IN PA
It would be great if scientists could come up with
something to take all of the impact out of a hurricane. (Stop
it
before it hits land). I think that engineers in New Orleans
have a lot of
work ahead of them redesigning levees that will take the impact
of huge
storms.
To all of the people affected by the hurricane-those of us
in PA think
of you everyday.
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A: FROM STUDENT MEMBER TAJKIA H. IN TX
People in Science, Engineering, and Technology careers can
help with
the current situation and prevent future hurricanes from having
such a
tragic impact in different ways.
For example: people in engineering careers can come up with
ideas
that would pump the water and keep it out by building strong
dams (like in
the Netherlands) and other barriers so the incidence of Louisiana
doesn't happen again. They can also design and construct more
reinforced concrete structures instead of wooden and weak
ones (mainly
residential constructions). People in the technology careers
can help
build the things engineers come up with, reconstruct roads,
bridges,
telephone and electric facilities, find out more advanced
technologies
for weather forecasting, ways for effective and rapid evacuation
for
each an every warning. And people in the science related careers
can
help get rid of the bacteria and other harmful elements that
are
currently in Louisiana and other affected areas, make the
environment
pollution free, etc.
People in science, engineering, and technology all have to
ensure that
facilities like shelters, food, water, sanitation, and rapid
transportation systems are ready at different strategic points
of each
state of the hurricane/tornado zone in America. And for better
understanding, informative videos should be made and broadcast
to
everyone to show how to evacuate quickly, what to have (food,
safe water,
emergency kit, etc.) in case of emergency, and where to take
shelter.
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A: FROM STUDENT MEMBER ALEXIS K. IN GERMANY
I keep coming back to dam fundamentals, and, no, I'm not swearing.
I mean the design and building of structures that separate
water from land, animals, and man-made structures. Ok, not
really dams so much as levies, as in the desperate situation
we're seeing with some of the Gulf Coast states. The levies
broke and so did the lives of tens of thousands of people.
I am seriously pained to think about it. Dam. If only public
servants had done a more effective job of demonstrating to
other public officials and the public the need to address
decrepit water barriers and spend more tax money on these
projects.
Building or rebuilding a community isn't limited to a few
science, engineering or technological fields, but instead
is related and relevant to all science, engieering and technological
fields. Some are obvious, such as structural engineering,
civil engineering, marine engineering, meteorology, statistics,
actuarial science, physical sciences, medical sciences, and
the like, but the real truth is that experts in science, math,
engineering and technological careers don't get too far publically
if public officials won't heed expert warnings (I understand
that the SET commuinities have been warning for decades about
New Orleans being a bull's eye waiting to be struck) nor if
the public lacks the will to priorititze mundane expenditures
for such things as properly building land and water separation
structures.
Clearly I am avoiding direct answers to the monthly question
because in my sense of things, science, engineering and technology
as fields of study and careers are involved in everything,
always. Science is, "in everything." Technology
is an attempt to order and control the science of everything,
and engineering is found in all that humans have made throughout
time. The gulf coastal states are inseperable from science,
engineering and technology (SET). For me the more fundamental
question is why our society devalues SET to the point of creating
and maintaining what could be avoidable vulnerabilities either
from man-made or natural causes. The remedy is for SET careerists
to be aware enough about the greater good of community to
prioritize the importance of learning effective public relations
and business skills so they can better advocate for science,
engineering and technology decisions that are multigenerationally
and globally sound.
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A: FROM STUDENT MEMBER FRANCISCA L. IN CA
People in science, engineering, and technology careers can
help prevent hurricanes from having such a tragic impact by
using their knowledge from their respective careers. A scientist
can come up with a better way to detect hurricane movement.
An engineer is able to come up with methods for building strictures
or dams that can aide people survice if a hurricane were to
hit. They can safegard homes and buildings from washing away
or completely flooding. Technology can assist to get information
out to the people, to leave their homes and evacuate the city
and what direction the water is coming from, the safest route.
A big problem is that all the electricity is gone no one quite
knows what is going on. Communication between the survivors
or stranded is vital to get the operations running smoothly.By
working together and using the knowledge from each of their
careers it can make the process of rebuilding or preventing
such chaos.
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