It was a complicated – but remarkably productive – 2021 for ASCE and the civil engineering industry. Here are some highlights:
Infrastructure advocacy produces big results
Dennis Truax ASCE released its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure in March, grading the country’s overall infrastructure a C-.
Eight months after the report card launch, ASCE members celebrated the passage of a bipartisan infrastructure law, marking the largest ($1.2 trillion) federal investment in infrastructure ever. ASCE 2022 President Dennis Truax was invited to the White House for the signing into law by President Biden.
Read more:
- “2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure grades reveal widening investment gap”
- “Buttigieg rallies ASCE members to summon energy for infrastructure solutions”
- “ASCE members celebrate Senate infrastructure bill as ‘giant leap forward’”
- “Decades of ASCE advocacy work culminate in $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act”
- “ASCE’s seat at the table moves to the White House for signing of historic infrastructure bill into law”
The return of concrete canoe
University of Florida After the Society-wide concrete canoe competition was canceled in 2020 because of COVID, ASCE students were thrilled to get back to work on their vessels in 2021 for a full series of virtual competitions. The University of Florida concrete canoe team won the 2021 Society-wide competition in June.
Read more:
- “Two years later, University of Florida repeats concrete canoe championship”
- “First all-female concrete canoe team ready for Society-level competition”
- “‘Resilient’ University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez student teams win two ASCE championships”
Special gift
Janet and Jean-Louis Briaud ASCE thrived in 2021 under the guidance of President Jean-Louis Briaud. Briaud’s Student Presidential Group continued to be a tremendous success, and in related news, Briaud and his wife, Janet, generously gave a $1 million gift to the ASCE Foundation to support student activities.
Read more:
- “Record-breaking donation to fund student activities for generations to come”
- “ASCE student members find their voice with presidential group”
Virtual events thrive
The new year did not bring with it a return to in-person events. But ASCE members continued to make the best of things with a full array of engaging online events, including technical conferences, student conferences, the first annual Tech Talks, the OPAL Gala, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s talk at the ASCE 2021 Convention.
New Faces 2021
Announced in February, the 2021 class of New Faces of Civil Engineering – 10 exceptional young professionals and 10 accomplished college students – was as impressive as ever.
Read more:
- “ASCE recognizes 2021 New Faces of Civil Engineering – Professionals”
- “Meet the 2021 ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering – College honorees”
ASCE prioritizes sustainability
It was a big year for ASCE’s sustainability efforts, highlighted by the Society’s presence at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November, the issuing of a climate change communique, and the ASCE 2021 International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure, which featured a talk from Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Read more:
- “ICSI 2021 kicks off with urgency for action”
- “Leverage sustainable infrastructure for a resilient future”
- “ASCE issues climate change statement urging UN action”
The standard of all standards
ASCE released the latest version of ASCE 7 in December. ASCE/SEI 7-22 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures features several key updates, including first-ever criteria for tornado-resistant design.
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