Today began my first annual meeting for the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). I am soooo excited to be part of this organization. The NAE brings together senior researchers from all disciplines of engineering from academia and from industry. I know quite a few people who are in this group and really look forward to using membership as a way of getting some things done which are important to me particularly around STEAM promotion.
‘Diane and I prepared for the day by taking a run in the drizzle down to the national mall.… Things were pretty empty but it was still cool seeing all of that huge buildings of the Smithsonian.
We made our way to the national Academy building and sat in on some meetings about how the Academy runs and what the Academy is doing about getting more diverse membership. Today’s program was for the last three inducted classes 2020, 2021, in 2022. Neither of the previous two years have been able to meet in person because of Covid. So we were a pretty large group. There was plenty of time to mingle and meet the other new inductance. That was pretty exciting.
Later that night we all met up at the national building museum for a formal welcome dinner for our classes. It was a fun venue because the last time I was in the national building museum I was there doing a science show for 1000 kids as part of national engineering week… that must’ve been in the late 1990s.
Tonight’s event was really fun. There must’ve been about 900 people there. That included the new inductees, their significant others, and a group of senior people from the Academy who were there to welcome us. The place was decorated really nicely everybody was all dressed up… Most in Tuxes (but not me)… And it was fancy fun drinks… In a very sciencey theme. It was really great getting to see everyone and meet their partners.… We sat at a table with two new inductees one from UCLA with his daughter, a couple from Rice University and my old friend José with his granddaughter. It was really nice being there with your day and his family but we continue to bump into all weekend. They were really fun !
It was a really fun evening. I’m going to like being part of this group !
nite all, nite sam
-me