Engineers: Transforming lives and inspiring communities – The Irish Times

Behind every great feat of engineering are outstanding engineers who use their skills to deliver creative and sustainable solutions for communities in Ireland and overseas.

As the professional membership body for engineers, Engineers Ireland celebrates and showcases the fantastic work produced by Irelands engineers through initiatives such as our Engineering Excellence Digital Series, held in association with ESB.

In addition to recognising the engineering skill required to deliver outstanding projects in the fields of innovation, impact, sustainability, buildings and structures, and infrastructure in 2021, the series also shines a light on the engineers behind these projects and how their work benefits and transforms communities.

This year we are delighted to recognise Aisling Hahessy, a senior structural engineer with Arup, as Engineers Irelands Engineer of the Year, and to showcase her work as part of our six-part video series, which is also supported by Accenture and Geoscience Ireland.

Aisling was chosen by Engineers Ireland in recognition of the impact and contribution of her work on communities in Ireland and overseas. From city-scaping projects for ever-expanding urban populations to vital humanitarian projects, Aisling has utilised her engineering skillset to effect change for many communities across the globe.

Aisling holds a firm belief that engineers have a vital role to play in solving the world's most-pressing challenges, and has worked on projects that help to reduce the inequalities experienced by some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.

From her base in Arups Cork office, she is the lead structural engineer for the design of bamboo play structures in rural Bangladesh and the concept design of a music academy in a refugee camp in Uganda. She is also working as part of a team on the reconstruction and retrofit of 74 schools in Peru following the devastating impact of the 2017 El Nio storm. This project will impact the lives of 47,000 children across Peru in its first year of completion alone.

In addition to supporting international communities through overseas development work and her Irish-based work as the lead structural engineer for the concrete works of a four-storey extension to Mallow General Hospital, Aisling has also been involved in a number of volunteering projects and outreach initiatives. From bridge construction projects in Rwanda to the promotion of STEM(science, technology, engineering, and maths) subjects and careers to secondary students in Ireland, Aislings dedication to her profession has allowed her to transform lives and inspire future generations of engineers.

Much like Aisling, Irelands engineers play a vital role in communities across Ireland by volunteering their time and talents to support learning, development, and STEM outreach initiatives.

At Engineers Ireland, our member-volunteers are the lifeblood of our community. Therefore, as International Volunteer Day approaches on December 5th, we wish to not only applaud the fantastic achievements of our engineering talent, such as our Engineer of the Year, but also encourage and inspire all engineering professionals to become makers of change by becoming volunteers.

One initiative that requires the support of the engineering community annually is Engineers Irelands Stepsprogramme - funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Department of Education and industry leaders Arup, EPA, ESB, Intel and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). A key initiative of the programme, which is the only national STEM outreach programme with a focus on engineering, is Steps Engineers Week. Taking place from March 5th to 11th, 2022, this week-long campaign is held annually to promote engineering and its importance to Ireland.

We are now calling on engineering organisations, local authorities, and third-level institutions nationwide to play an active role in StepsEngineers Week 2022 and inspire Irelands future engineering talent. Through participation in this campaign, volunteers can support and encourage young people to find out more about the profession and how they too can play a pivotal role in transforming lives across the globe, just like Aisling Hahessy.

Find out more about how to get involved in StepsEngineers Week -www.engineersireland.ie

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Engineers: Transforming lives and inspiring communities - The Irish Times

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