Engineering effective solutions to some of the worlds biggest problems

I am excited to present this second issue of USD Engineer, which brings
together stories that illustrate what is so special about the University of
San Diego approach to engineering: graduates emerge from our programs not only as engineers of the first order, but also as complete engineers who are thoughtful, informed and engaged participants in the global community.

(To view virtual magazine click the image to the left. Click here for PDF)

To USD engineering students, “Be Blue, Go Green” isn’t just USD’s environmental mantra; it’s an everyday pledge. In fact, for many of our seniors, sustainability became a key design element for their 2011 capstone projects. Students rose to the challenge and created their own collaborative solutions to the challenge of providing renewable energy and water
to environments as close as Loma Hall and as far away as
Africa and South America. These multidisciplinary teams worked together to integrate their engineering knowledge
to develop sustainable solutions, accomplishing more than they could have with the perspective of just one discipline.
Engineering effective solutions to global problems requires engineers to tackle many economic, societal and global
challenges as part of their design process. One of this year’s most compelling stories of USD engineers making things work in the real world is the subject of an article in this
magazine: “Light Bringers” explores how a team of four
senior electrical and mechanical engineers are
determined to “engineer a brighter Sudan” and bring power to a school in the village of Theou, in the south of that
turbulent country. The yearlong capstone design experience for these young men illustrates that technology can be life changing for those who are served by engineering solutions.
As our engineering students prepare to solve these global challenges, they are eager to participate in international study and research experiences. I am very pleased by the
increasing opportunities students have to explore the world and experience different cultures while studying engineering at USD. Read more about their engineering study abroad journeys in the story “Up, Up and Away.”
But it isn’t just our students who are having a global impact. Our latest alumni and faculty news touches on international experiences in countries all over the world: Australia, China, Germany, France, Korea, Kuwait, New Zealand, Nicaragua,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and beyond. USD engineering alumni are working to improve energy efficiency, develop renewable sources of power and manage water resources on a truly global scale.
I’m proud of the important work that is being done by all of our alumni, students and faculty and look forward to hearing about even greater accomplishments in the future.

Kathleen Kramer, PhD
Director of Engineering Programs