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Read a New Book Month: A Time to Explore, Learn, and Connect

Read a New Book Month is celebrated each September with the goal of encouraging people to expand their knowledge through reading. This observance promotes the benefits of reading new material, especially from different genres and subjects, as a way to gain fresh insights and broaden personal perspectives.

Books offer a unique opportunity for authors to share stories, ideas, and experiences. Through this exchange, readers are able to connect with people, cultures, and viewpoints that may be very different from their own. Exploring new genres, whether fiction, history, science, or technical subjects, can deepen understanding and stimulate critical thinking.

Participating in Read a New Book Month can be simple and rewarding. Joining book clubs, becoming a member of a local library, or even starting a reading group with friends are great ways to celebrate and encourage reading within a community.

For those interested in expanding their knowledge in engineering, several noteworthy books provide a strong foundation in key areas:
• Steel Structures – Design and Behaviour by Charles G. Salmon and John E. Johnson
• Environmental Engineering by Howard S. Peavy, Donald R. Rowe, and George Tchobanoglous
• Building Construction by B.C. Punmia
• Construction Project Management by Frederick Gould and Nancy Joyce
• Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down by J.E. Gordon

Whether for professional development or personal interest, diving into a new book this September is a meaningful way to engage with the world of knowledge and ideas.

 

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Happy National Professional Engineers Day

Did you know that the first person to ever earn a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in the United States was Charles Bellamy on August 8, 1907? Now, more than a century later, we celebrate Professional Engineers Day around the world.

This year, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, mark the tenth annual Professional Engineers Day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about what engineers do, what it takes to become a P.E., and how professional engineers stay current with rapidly evolving technologies.

Thanks to the visibility this celebration brings, the U.S. now has more than 900,000 licensed professional engineers, with over 25,000 engineers taking the P.E. exam each year, according to the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

A P.E. license is awarded to engineers who meet specific qualifications and pass examinations administered by NCEES. To obtain a P.E. license, candidates must first pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, followed by the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Because licenses are issued by individual states, engineers can hold multiple P.E. licenses across different jurisdictions.

The P.E. exams are discipline-specific, and passing rates vary by field. While some disciplines are more challenging than others, the overall pass rate across all disciplines is approximately 65%. The most commonly taken P.E. exam is in civil engineering, which has an estimated 49% pass rate for first-time test takers, according to NCEES.

 

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Moon Landing Anniversary

Sunday, July 20th, 2025, will mark the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission, which was successfully fulfilled by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The astronauts took off on July 16th, 1969, out of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Kennedy Space Center in Florida and set foot on the moon on July 20th, 1969. To successfully achieve the Apollo 11 mission, it took hundreds of people working behind the scenes for years to fully execute this perfect mission, including NASA’s mechanical engineers crew, who also made it easier for other successful missions to take place later on. NASA’s mechanical engineers’ abilities to solve problems, design, and build were vital components that helped NASA organize, piece together, and successfully execute these missions. The mechanical engineer crew worked long hours and around the clock developing new technologies in addition to perfecting old ones. NASA’s mechanical engineers developed and worked on typical technology systems such as spacecraft, satellites, and engines. In order to be part of NASA’s mechanical engineer crew, one must have a range of knowledge and skills in disciplines such as aerospace, computers, and electronics to be able to work on various tasks and meet NASA’s strict criteria.

Since the first mission, NASA has had several successful moon landings. Aside from Apollo 11, NASA launched Apollo 12 with astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad and Alan Bean; Apollo 14 with astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Edgar D. Mitchell; Apollo 15 with astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin; Apollo 16 with astronauts Charles M. Duke and John W. Young, who was also part of the Apollo 10 orbital; and Apollo 17 with astronauts Harrison H. Schmitt and Eugene Cernan, who was also part of the Apollo 10 orbital.

NASA also had difficult missions, one happening during the third moon landing mission called Apollo 13. After launching the Apollo 13 spacecraft, the astronauts never made it to the moon because they experienced malfunction issues that caused them to lose oxygen. One of the oxygen tanks exploded and almost caused a near disaster, but luckily the astronauts were able to loop around the moon and make a safe re-entry and landing in the Earth’s atmosphere. After studying what caused the failures on the Apollo 13 mission, NASA made multiple changes to the design of the spacecraft for increased safety, which allowed Apollo 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions to be successful.

If you are interested in NASA’s missions and mechanical engineering and would like more information, please visit https://www.nasa.gov/.

 

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Design Your Future

This week we are celebrating Engineer’s Week, and this year’s theme is “Design Your Future.” This annual event is a special celebration to bring awareness to the difference engineers make in our world.

Each year, DiscoverE, an organization focused on supporting and promoting the growth of the engineering and technology communities, encourages the youth to explore the STEM community through interactive lessons, child-friendly activities, and involvement with their own local engineering communities. Additionally, across the nation, DiscoverE hosts a series of workshops and presentations to promote the importance of engineering. The youth are able to meet and speak with veteran engineers, participate in fun, educational activities, and learn about the global scale of engineered contributions. Whether you wish to join in the celebration by using social media hashtags to raise awareness or just encouraging your students to do so, this year's topic is in line with the quickly evolving technologies and offers a range of methods to get engaged and learn about how to get involved.

For more information on upcoming STEM events sponsored by DiscoverE, visit https://discovere.org/engage/engineers-week/
#Eweek2025 #DesignYourFuture

 

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What is NanoDay?

NanoDay is a scientific event that takes place from the last week of March through the first weekend in April. This year, it will be held from March 30 to April 7. During NanoDay, we gather to recognize scientists who are significantly advancing the area of nanotechnology. We also applaud innovators who are utilizing study results to create products and services that enhance human existence.

One of the main objectives of NanoDay is to raise awareness about the potential of nanotechnology to enhance our everyday lives. Nanotechnology is a field that deals with the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. It has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including medicine, electronics, and energy. NanoDays serve as a platform to educate the public about nanotechnology and how it is being used in various technologies. It is an opportunity to showcase the advancements made in this field and highlight the obstacles and potential it holds for the future. During NanoDay, various events and activities are organized to engage the public and foster their interest in nanotechnology. These events include interactive exhibits, workshops, and presentations by experts in the field. The goal is to make nanotechnology accessible and understandable to people from all walks of life.

One of the key aspects of NanoDay is the recognition of researchers who have made significant contributions to the field. These researchers have dedicated their time and efforts to pushing the boundaries of nanotechnology and exploring its potential applications. Their work is crucial to advancing our understanding and utilization of nanotechnology. In addition to honoring researchers, NanoDay also celebrates innovators who have successfully translated research findings into tangible goods and services. These innovators play a vital role in bridging the gap between research and practical applications. Their work not only benefits society but also inspires others to explore the possibilities of nanotechnology.

By raising knowledge and awareness about nanotechnology, NanoDay contributes to the growth and development of this field. It encourages collaboration, innovation, and the exploration of new possibilities. Through this event, we hope to inspire future generations of scientists and innovators to continue pushing the boundaries of nanotechnology.