Each week the Sector Spotlight Series will showcase and celebrate the achievements of our regions, divisions and societies. This week we are proud to unveil the series by showcasing the Young Engineers Society, led by chairperson Jeffrey Roe.
The Young Engineers Society (YES) supports the professional and personal development of young engineering professionals and students. YES hosts and co-hosts a number of events throughout the year across the full spectrum of engineering disciplines and also operates in the Thomond and Cork region.
For the past two years, YES has been led by chairperson Jeffrey Roe, who also holds a seat on Engineers Ireland’s Council. Roe has a background in electronic engineering and currently works in transportation software with a focus on public bike schemes and port management for Irish SME TelClic. In his spare time, he actively promotes maker culture with the festival Dublin Maker.
Commenting on his experience as chairperson of the Young Engineers Society, Roe said: “It has been a real honour to lead YES over these past two years. We are a unique society within Engineers Ireland.
"We have an eclectic mix of engineers from all disciples which allows us to put on unique events. Our remit is to support engineers in the early stage of their careers, so we help develop skills they need to learn and also help engineers expand their network with a range of social events at a key stage of their career.”
Achievements
YES has delivered a number of key events in Engineers Ireland’s calendar, including a panel discussion on Interdisciplinary Solutions: Addressing future environmental infrastructure challenges in Ireland.
Chaired by Engineers Ireland president Marguerite Sayers, panellists included Catherine Sheridan (Ervia), Conall Boland (RPS) and Ian Lumley (An Taisce).
Panellists addressed the role engineers should play in both addressing technical challenges and communicating these solutions to the public.
Topics such as carbon capture and storage, lessons learned from the North-South Interconnector and other large infrastructure projects were discussed, as well as the need to ensure all new projects meet the goals of the National Climate Action Plan.
This discussion had a lively Q&A session and provided a number of thought-provoking perspectives on the environmental challenges we face as a society.
YES also co-hosted an event with TOG for Science Week in November 2019, which included a variety of topics ranging from pathogens in well water to biopharmaceuticals to advanced radio equipment.
Key highlights in the YES Calendar
Every year Engineers Ireland Toastmasters deliver a number of workshops on behalf of YES, focusing on improving communication skills for young engineers. Three different courses were available this year and will likely run again over the course of the coming committee year:
- Public Speaking Made Easy
- Assertiveness
- Managing Meetings
These events prove popular every year and quickly fill up, so be sure to check the events section to avoid disappointment.
Site visits are a core part of events that the YES offer. For early-stage engineers it is key to be exposed to a wide range of industries and practices. In the last year, we have visited many companies.
Some of our highlights included our visit to the Red Cow Luas depot. We gained valuable insights into the works, including how significant planning is needed to keep an essential transport system running.
AGM
The YES AGM will take place virtually on May 12, 2020, at 6.30pm. Any young engineers who have an interest in getting involved with YES or Engineers Ireland are welcome (third-level members also welcome). No prior experience is required, just an enthusiasm for engineering. More details can be found here.
For more information about events, visit: https://www.engineersireland.ie/Professionals/Communities-Groups/Societies/Young-engineers
Or follow the Young Engineers Society on social media: https://twitter.com/engirelandyes and https://www.facebook.com/groups/EIYES