Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural Areas

Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural Areas Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural Areas Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural AreasI spent two years in a rural Tanzanian village learning how to collaborate while developing water distribution and kogas infrastructure projects. The process welches tedious, nonlinear, and I encountered a major learning curve. But the motivation to create tools that others could use and to provide them with the guidance they need when developing their own projects made the whole experience worthwhile. During that time I saw firsthand that engineering in low-resource environments requires deeper planning and a greater understanding of how to use locally available resources.The first tool I worked on related to the planning and development of a water distribution system. The community I was in had access to piped water from a catchment built in the mountains adjacent to the village. This access was extremely beneficial in terms of reducing time and energy for water collection, compared to toting buckets long distances.Join ASME and Leading Industry Experts for Offshore Wind Turbine Webinar seriesRead More on Sustainability Engineers Know Their OystersThe water distribution system was constantly expanding to provide central taps to more neighborhoods. But the capacity of the system was unclear, making it difficult to predict how much the catchment could expand before it would no longer meet the demand of all of its users.This question led to the development of a planning and expansion tool programmed on open source software (EPANET) that allowed users to evaluate the flow and pressure in a system. And it only required available tools such as a bucket, a stopwatch, a measuring tape, access to a GPS, and a computer.Construction of a biogas plant in Tanzania. Photo Micah MacAllen (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)By creating a low-resource tool that could be used by people of varied backgroundselend merely technical professionalsmore would be able to help plan for the continued expansion of tapped water throughout a community.The development of the second tool stemmed from an understanding that firewood, the areas most prevalent cooking fuel, was not the most effective or reliable fuel to use when cooking meals at the local schools. School administrators eventually decided that biogas would be a viable alternative fuel. It was clear that the administration needed a tool to evaluate what type and scale of biogas digester would be appropriate for the setting.Read ASMEs Top Story Air Taxi Aces Test FlightWe employed a solution that combined simple calculations based on the number of users and the proportion of their time spent at school. We also included a design matrix to rate the effectiveness of each digester type against design and environmental parameters, to ultimately evaluate which type would be the most suitable solution at the school.Like the water system planning tool, this bi ogas solution was a synthesized and simplified resource that practitioners of diverse backgrounds could use. It created transparency in the design process to allow users to compare the major costs of a biogas plant with the expected yields. It also gave the user the resources they needed to make an informed decision about a large infrastructure project.Listen to the latest episode of ASME TechCast Breakthrough Could Bring New Cancer TreatmentUltimately behauptung tools were not novel research but rather a culmination of existing resources, made accessible to a wider audience and demonstrated as effective when used in a community case-study example. And these types of tools are important because they help to break down the barriers of engineering projects in low-resource environments.Just as engineers dont all come from one background, engineering projects dont need to occur in one setting. And to continue to broaden these settings, we have the opportunity to further enhance access b y developing tools that enable open source sharing and can be utilized in low-resource environments.Megan Richardson is a global development expert. I saw firsthand that engineering in low-resource environments requires deeper planning and a greater understanding of how to use locally available resources.Megan Richardson

Top 7 Reasons Not to Apply for a Job

Top 7 Reasons leid to Apply for a JobTop 7 Reasons Not to Apply for a JobEmployers list job requirements when they advertise open positions for a reason. They want to hire the person who is the best-qualified applicant for the job. For most jobs, hiring managers have a good selection of qualified candidates and arent interested in those who dont have the qualifications. The employer has determined that those skills are necessary for success on the job. In addition, the employer wants to reduce the applicant pool so they can review the credentials of only the most qualified applicants for the job. So, sometimes it can make sense to save your time and not apply to a job. Heres when to consider other options. Top 7 Reasons Not to Apply for a Job Short on Skills If you dont have the skills and qualifications the employer is seeking, think twice about submitting an application. Many job postings list the skill set required for the position, and if you dont have at least most of them y ou wont be considered.Dont Have the Experience Most employers require a certain amount of experience when seeking applicants. That information should be clearly listed in the posting. For example, these employers require a minimum number of years of experience5 years experience with SQL.2 - 3 years experience in an office environment.4 - 5 years or mora of proven experience.10 years of sales experience, preferably within the high tech industry.If youre close you might be considered but if you fall significantly short you wont be. Short on Educational Requirements In some cases, employers list educational requirements. Youll need to meet those requirements in bestellung to be chosen for an interview.Here are some examplesBachelors Degree in a related field (i.e., English, Math, Chemistry).Masters degree in Student Personnel Administration, Counseling, or another appropriate field.High School Diploma required.As with experience, if youre close you might be considered. If you have the degree, but a different major and appropriate work experience its worth applying. The Job or Company Isnt a Fit Sometimes, the job or the company simply isnt a match for what you want for your next job. It could be that you dont have the job requirements or that you have a different concept of fun than the company does.Looking for someone with a progressive career and would have some good tenure at each employer (spent at least 5 years with each).You like the idea of coming to work in jeans.We try to do a team activity every week, often friendly video games, basketball games or yoga.With these types of requirements, the employer is looking for a certain type of person who will be the best fit for the job and the organization. These arent always as definitive as some of the other job requirements. However, do be aya that the requirements and the company culture make you feel like youd love to work there rather than making youcringe at the thought of having to do some of the on-the-jo b and extra-curricular activities. Live in the Wrong Place Because there are three applicants for every job it can be hard to get hired for a job in a different location. Its easier for employers to hire locally than it is to relocate a new hire. However, it can be worth applying if you have the flexibility to interview and relocate on short notice. For higher level positions, there are even more opportunities to get hired because the expectation is that the top level candidates may not be local.Cant Work the Schedule. If the job says that travel is required or that you need to be available for flexible hours that is what youll be expected to do. Here are some examplesMust be able to work the scheduled/assigned times and required overtime for the position.Ability to travel greater than 50% or as required.Must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.Expect shift work, including weekends and holidays, on rotation.Dont expect an employer to change those requirements for you. In most cases, it wont happen. Be sure that you have the flexibility to work the job schedule before you apply. Short on Connections For some jobs, especially sales, youll be expected to have a network of contacts and clients that you can tap. Be sure that you have the client base or connections youll need for success on the job. More Reasons Not to Apply for a Job Avoid Job Search RejectionSome of the toughest things about job searching are getting rejected or being ignored and not hearing back. That can happen anyway, but its much more likely when youre applying for jobs that arent a good fit. From a personal perspective as well as a professional one, youll minimize rejection if you apply for the jobs you are the most qualified for. When Youre Not QualifiedWhen you apply for jobs that are a stretch, at best, youre not only wasting the employers time youre also wasting your own. For example, one job seeker I know really wanted to work for Microsoft. He applied for every job he co uld find online and there are many, of course. He was rejected from all of them. There are ways to get hired by your dream company, but thats not one of them. Heres more on how to decide what jobs to apply for and how to decode a job advertisement so youknow what the employer is looking for. When Its a Close CallIf its borderline and you have most of the qualifications, its different.In that case, all you have to lose is your time. If the applicant pool is small, you may have a chance of getting an interview. Here are some guidelines on when not to apply for a job More Factors to Consider When Applying There are other factors involved in determining whether to apply for a job. These are more flexible, and it can be easier to tailor your application materials to enhance your credentials. You can mix and match your qualifications for the job. Equivalent Experience and Educational RequirementsIn some cases, having experience equivalent to the degree requirements is acceptable. For example BA required. In lieu of degree, 5 years of relevant experience.Will also consider three years of progressive experience in the specialty in lieu of every year of education. These requirements offer some leeway, so if youre not sure apply and let the employer decide. Heres how to mention equivalent experience in a cover letter. When Requirements Are Preferred but Not RequiredWhen employers list preferred requirements, youll have a better chance of getting hired even if youre not a perfect match. Do be sure to list your closest qualifications in your resume and cover letter. A High School Diploma or GED is preferred but not required.Minimum four (4) year college degree strongly preferred.Must have High School Diploma or GED. Paid Work Experience vs. Other ExperienceOne thing to remember when youre deciding whether to apply is that your experience doesnt have to all be paid work experience. Internships and summer jobs count. So does volunteer experience and other activities. Be sure to include them when youre making the case for getting selected to interview. Match Your Qualifications to the Job Description Even when you have all the right stuff, its essential to match your strongest qualifications to the job. You need to show the hiring manager that youre qualified. They arent going to figure it out for themselves.

New book Michelle Obamas fashion journey was a turbulent one

New book Michelle Obamas fashion journey welches a turbulent oneNew book Michelle Obamas fashion journey was a turbulent oneAmong otzu sich accolades, Michelle Obama is a fashion icon. She has graced Vogues cover several times. On newsstands across the country, her face is a familiar fixture.But even Obama, who literally inspired a Harvard geschftliches miteinander Review articleabouthow her fashion choices influence markets, has faced backlash for her style. In her new book Becoming, which has sold more than 2 million copies in North America, Obama writes about how superficial criticism informed her behavior as one of the worlds most prominent women.It seemed that my clothes mattered more to people than anything I had to say, Obama writes.This stuff got me down, but I tried to reframe it as an opportunity to learn, to use what power I could find inside a situation Id never have chosen for myself.Going into her tenure at the White House, Obama understood she would face expectations a nd burdens other first ladies had avoided by virtue of their skin color. If there was a presumed grace assigned to my white predecessors, I knew it wasnt likely to be the same for me, Obama writes. I was humbled and excited to be First Lady, but not for one second did I think Id be sliding into some glamorous, easy role.She also was no designer expert I knew a little about fashion, but not a lot. As a working mother, Id really been too busy to put much thought into what I wore, she wrote.And yet, much like a 21st-century Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - arguably the most glamorous first lady - Obama became known for her style. Part of her popularity reflected the fact that she wore recognizable brands J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Target. She was not a movie star, and she didnt behave as such. But when an event called for pomp and circumstance, she was able to rise to the occasion - in Gucci, Versace, Givenchy or Alexander McQueen.And so Obamas style was both attainable and aspirational, offe ring guidance for women who wanted to look professional and put together. Of course, Obama had an army of stylists helping to ensure she did not commit a faux pas - a luxury most women cannot afford.In Becoming, Obama almost mocks the attention her clothing received, trumping more important topics that she might have rather championed.When I wore flats instead of heels, it got reported in the news, she writes. My pearls, my belts, my cardigans, my off-the-rack dresses from J. Crew, my apparently brave choice of white for an inaugural gown - all seemed to trigger a slew of opinions and instant feedback.In London, she continues, Id stepped offstage after having been moved to tears while speaking to the girls at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, only to learn that the first question directed to one of my staffers by a reporter covering the event had been Who made her dress?Though Obama writes about how she was judged for her fashion, and how that judgment put her in a difficult situation, not everything about being in the spotlight was bad. She explores how she derived strength and energy from her White House wardrobe her dress at the first inaugural balls even revived her after a whirlwind day.In my life so far, Id worn very few gowns, but Jason Wus creation performed a potent little miracle, making me feel soft and beautiful and open again, just as I began to think I had nothing of myself left to show, Obama writes. The dress resurrected the dreaminess of my familys metamorphosis, the promise of this entire experience, transforming me if not into a full-blown ballroom princess, then at least into a woman capable of climbing on another stage.Though Obamas fashion journey has not always been a smooth one, it has culminated in what most would consider a success story. It is a shame she felt her looks mattered more to people than what she said, but perhaps thats changing as millions of Americans read her words in Becoming. After all, she has proven to be muc h more than the well-dressed ornament who showed up at parties and ribbon cuttings she knew she never wanted to become.