(Note: this is taken from our April newsletter )
In the last few months, I have had the privilege of having several people with technical careers explain what they do.
I suddenly put it altogether. Many of the things we take for granted, and that keep our life safe and easy, happen because of well educated and trained people applying a lot of brain power to their jobs. They do it so well, we almost think things happen by accident.
At a YLSET interviewing session, Luther Martin, an electrical engineer at the Entergy Sabine Power Station was explaining the balancing act he supervising between bringing up steam in a massive boiler and the folks that run the electrical grid calling for power, and then changing their estimate of the power needed maybe because things didn’t get as hot as they thought because thunderstorm developed rapidly. A lot of costly steam can go to waste very quickly.
Another time, I was helping Dr. Bothel with training session at the Neches River Salt Water Barrier and was just totally amazed at the complexity of keeping water demands, river levels and pumping stations all working together. Just a few inches in how high those massive steel barriers are lowered or raised could mean not enough water to flush the salt downstream that flows up from the Gulf. Or not enough water up stream to feed the needs of farmers, industrial plants and cities. Or, leaving to much water upstream and threatening properties along the river system.
All the while, you have to be cognizant that the lakes upstream are suffering from a serious drought and need every drop of water they can retain.
Did I mention that if you don’t get the calculations right, it will take you three days to correct it? That’s how long it takes water to get downstream from the dam to the Saltwater barrier.
I could go on.
The point is, that this is a complex world and its getting more complex every day. We need more and better trained workers to keep things humming along.We need fewer people with just the basic skills they can get from graduating from college. Our job is to communicate that message to those coming up the pipeline into the workforce.
WordPress | Designed by