Making the world a better, greener place

Simon Crowther, who was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2016, was quoted in the article, saying, “There has been a move within the civil engineering sector to work with nature and the environment rather than battling it with concrete.

“Financial incentives, consumer consciences and an awareness of climate change will lead to far more engineering jobs related to environmental engineering. Lean manufacturing will become more commonplace, reducing waste, and thus, our impact on the environment. It is becoming fashionable to be ‘green’.”

Dr Tang is of similar thought regarding the job market for Malaysian graduates. “There is a push towards sustainability, which is incorporated in many aspects from design to completion of civil engineering projects. There is greater awareness of aspects such as carbon footprints, green buildings and water-sensitive urban design.”

“Sustainability should, and will, be given more focus in the future. Sustainability could be incorporated in all aspects of civil engineering, from design and planning to materials and construction techniques.”

All in all, the field of engineering is meant to advance human capabilities and make lives easier. In whichever field you choose to specialise in, it is important to take note of the potential environmental impact of a project to create a better world for future generations.