Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 2023 Lake Buena Vista
White G. Jee
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
These quotes about education from people of various interests (government leaders, activists, scholars, etc.) emphasizes the importance of assuring future workforce generation (Millennials, Gen-X, Gen-Y, Gen-Z) are prepared to support the continuous growth and improvement of our plastic piping industry. As one of the many Baby Boomers that is approaching retirement in this industry, it is of utmost importance that we communicate our experiences and mentor the next workforce generation to continue the vibrant growth of our industry that has blessed all of us in our careers and livelihood.
Demographic studies relative to a trained sustainable workforce have indicated an urgent need to assure the knowledge and skills of our industry are growing by an increased emphasis in training and education of relevant topics to the next generation of available workers. As engineering, polymer chemistry and material science courses are developed and taught by university professors, do you know if the topic of plastics piping systems is being covered as an introduction to the students? This paper/presentation highlights the efforts that have been taken to develop such an introduction at a university highly recognized for its engineering and science curriculum. In addition, resources that are available through industry associations that can be supplied and donated to support the initiative are identified. This paper/presentation will also cover some of the topics available in these various resources that can be supplied to universities as well as the ongoing journey experiences in being an invited special alumni guest speaker in 2022 and subsequent invitation to be a guest speaker on plastic piping systems as a lecture to the students in 2023.
“Education is only a ladder to gather fruit from the tree of knowledge, not the fruit itself.”
“Example isn’t another way to teach, it is the only way to teach.”
Related papers
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