This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Global Day of Engineers 2018 - Erm...missed it.

I came across a post on a LinkedIn heralding "Global Day of the Engineer 2018" - something I cannot recall ever encountering before - and missed it this time too as it was 4th April (or so I believe). The post was from Lord Coporation most admirably highlighting their engineers. Thinking its some kind of American-inspired whoop-de-do and with 10 minutes to spare I started searching to find out a little more, and specifically where does the UK fit in it?:


A web search revealed *plenty* of companies marking the day with quotes and comments in support of their engineer's valued contributions, videos of "Engineers" telling of what makes them tick or motivates them, and so on. Great stuff in fact. But the vast majority were of US companies and in fact, I only found one UK organisation mentioning the day here https://www.allaboutstem.co.uk/2017/12/global-day-of-the-engineer-wednesday-4-april-2018/ and that seemed to be calling on organisations to mark the day - it obviously fell on deaf ears.


How come I didn't see anything of this date before, and perhaps more to the point, where was the IET always keen to take an opportunity to promote us, right? Not a sausage as far as I could find and a little disappointing. 


I think we missed a chance here.
  • Hi Mark


    My own investigation shows that this is a relatively new concept primarily marketed by www.discovere.org (whom I'm guessing came up with the idea) in the USA. It's only been running for the last couple of years, so I'm not surprised that it's not gained much momentum 'globally' at the moment. 


    Not taking anything away from them, and I do think it's a worthy idea, but anyone can start marketing a 'Global day' for anything they want hoping to get picked up by the mainstream and do that 'viral' thing. smiley


    .... I decree today, 9th April is 'Global Eat Bacon Sandwiches for Lunch Day'... laugh​ #Mmmbacon


    Needless to say though, I've now made a note of the date and will discuss future opportunities with my colleagues in marketing and communications too. yes


    ... now back to my bacon sandwich... wink


    Lisa

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Happy Eat Bacon Sandwiches for Lunch Day smiley
  • You forgot the hashtag Jonathan Rowen‍ ... Gotta have the hashtag... wink


    #Mmmbacon

    laugh
  • Wikipedia lists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineer%27s_Day various dates and reasons by country, for an Engineers day covering everything from the day their institute was formed or professional certification established to commemorating a reknowned engineer. Ironically none have April 4th as the day - the nearest being France on April 3rd. USA have the day as the week of February 22 (always the week that includes George Washington's birthday as apparently he is regarded as the Nation's first engineer (as a surveyor?)).

  • Lisa, are you having a "taunt a vegetarian" day??? wink I'm one of those nearly vegetarians who really struggles (and too often fails) given the smell of bacon sandwiches.


    Incidentally these intertwined threads make me think of someone we saw on the telly recently, a rather comfortably built gentlemen, who was introduced as "an engineer". My wife asked me if that's what engineers usually looked like. I tried to explain that that was like asking "what does someone who works in health care look like" or "what does a manager look like". So yes, roll on the next GDoE, where we can point out that engineers can be the most diverse professional group there is!


    I am now going to try to stop thinking about bacon sandwiches.


    Cheers,


    Andy
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I think it's a good concept and worth celebrating.

    Here in the US, there is also a "Professional Engineers Day"


     
    First Annual Professional Engineer's Day


    The first annual Professional Engineer's Day took place on August 3, 2016.


    "On August 8, 1907, the first professional engineering license was issued to Charles Bellamy in Wyoming. Since that time, licensure has expanded and professional engineers across the U.S. have made the commitment to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. NSPE is celebrating licensed professional engineers with the second annual Professional Engineers Day on Wednesday, August 2. Join us as we raise awareness about what it means to be a PE, recognize licensed PEs, and show appreciation for the work they do each and every day."


    Now back to my kosher turkey bacon sandwich :-)



  • Andy Millar:

    Lisa, are you having a "taunt a vegetarian" day??? wink I'm one of those nearly vegetarians who really struggles (and too often fails) given the smell of bacon sandwiches.



    I know many a vegetarian that's been 'turned' by a bacon sandwich Andy Millar‍ ... wink But they do 'vegetarian bacon' don't they...? 


    Sorry this is going completely off topic now


    ... #Mmmbacon... laugh

  • Lisa Miles:


     But they do 'vegetarian bacon' don't they...? 


    Trust me, it really isn't the same; my wife quite likes it but I can't get into it (or indeed any "meat substitutes"). Fortunately if I ever get tempted by the smell now - for example when I'm in the Faraday centre early in the morning - I just remember that it won't actually be as nice as the Best Bacon Roll Ever, from the stall in Bessemer Road Cardiff just after I'd dropped off a hire van far too early to be up on a Saturday morning last autumn. devil