Newswise — The ASME Foundation has announced a fund-raising campaign to support the Society's Federal Fellows program.
The campaign, named Engineering the Greater Good and officially launched at the 2008 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition held Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 in Boston, will reach out to corporate and individual donors in an effort to generate funding to expand one of the Society's most successful government relations programs.
ASME federal fellows provide valuable engineering and technical expertise to policy makers in the U.S. Congress, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and key government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Over the past few decades, ASME federal fellows have advised government leaders on environmental risk analysis, the security of the nation's critical infrastructure, engineering education, codes and standards, energy, and many other subjects affecting public policy.
"ASME federal fellows are engineering the greater good by contributing their experience on critical security issues, national competitiveness issues and on 21st century workforce preparedness," said Gov. John H. Sununu, the 85th governor of the state of New Hampshire, former White House chief of staff, and co-chair of the Engineering the Greater Good campaign.
The ASME Federal Fellows program provides reciprocal benefits. Fellows gain valuable insight into the legislative and regulatory process and experience firsthand the many factors involved in governmental decision-making. Government officials receive quality, unbiased, science-based advice and input that are key to good legislation.
"It has long been my view that if we want good public policy, it has to be made by those who understand the issues," stated Sununu during his video address to ASME Congress participants on Nov. 2.
Recognizing the value of quality technical input to sound policy decision making, government officials have begun requesting the assistance of ASME federal fellows at a rate exceeding the program's current capacity and available resources. Contributions to Engineering the Greater Good will enable the 35-year program to grow into the future.
"Support of the Engineering the Greater Good campaign will ensure that the knowledge gap in Washington, D.C., continues to be filled by pragmatic, problem-solving engineers," added Sununu.
Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences. ASME develops codes and standards that enhance public safety, and provides lifelong learning and technical exchange opportunities benefiting the global engineering and technology community.
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