ASCE Plot Points Podcast

By American Society of Civil EngineersBusiness Careers Non-Profit

ASCE Plot Points Podcast episodes

January 25, 2022 Episode 102: Natalie Palmquist, on faith and civil engineering
Natalie Palmquist is unique.
She has had a plan for her life’s work since she was a teenager. And she’s living out that plan.
She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in civil engineering, got her master’s in international development studies at the University of Grenoble Alpes in France, and recently started a position with Samaritan’s Purse.
The driving force behind all of this? Her faith as a Christian.
In episode 102 of the ASCE Plot Points podcast, Palmquist talks about how faith and civil engineering intersect.
14 min
January 18, 2022 Episode 101: Aimee Corn, on what’s next for dam engineering
Aimee Corn wasn't sure where her career would lead, even after she fell in love with civil engineering.
But she's happy with the way it worked out: dams.
Corn, P.E., M.ASCE, is a civil structural engineer for Gannett Fleming in Denver, Colorado. She's also in her fourth term on the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute Board of Governors.
In episode 101 of the ASCE Plot Points podcast, she talks about her career, why she loves dams, and where she sees the industry going.
17 min
January 11, 2022 Episode 100: Monique Head, on how to secure research funding
Applied research is one of the most exciting topics in all of civil engineering. It also can be very complicated to secure the necessary funding.
In episode 100 of the ASCE Plot Points podcast, Monique Head, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE, associate professor and associate chair in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Delaware, talks about what the funding landscape looks like in light of the recent bipartisan infrastructure law.
16 min
January 04, 2022 Episode 99: Del Shannon, on how the bipartisan infrastructure law will change work for the civil engineer
It's one thing to acknowledge that the recent bipartisan infrastructure law will change the civil engineering industry. But, looking deeper, what do those changes mean for the everyday work of civil engineers? How will their lives and careers change?
In episode 99 of ASCE Plot Points, Del Shannon, P.E., M.ASCE, principal and senior vice president for Schnabel Engineering, discusses those potential changes as well as the skills civil engineers may need to further develop to better align themselves with the new work that will be coming from the law's infrastructure investment.
11 min
December 14, 2021 Episode 98: Kristina Swallow, on how the bipartisan infrastructure law will change the civil engineering industry
Kristina Swallow, P.E., Pres.18.ASCE, worked for years to advocate with ASCE for infrastructure investment. Now, as director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, she is excited about the opportunity presented by the recent bipartisan infrastructure law to improve her home state.
In episode 98 of ASCE Plot Points, Swallow discusses the various ways the new law will reshape the civil engineering profession. And the student ambassadors discuss their favorite engineers in civil engineering history.
17 min
December 07, 2021 What would Robert Moses do? Part 3: Doing right by the community
It's an enticing question to ponder. What would Robert Moses do? How would he navigate the infrastructure landscape of 2022?
John Williams, the CEO of Autocase and board chair for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, discusses in today's finale of a three-part series.
Williams is speaking at the 2021 ASCE International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure, Dec. 7, in a session called "Post-Black-Swan-Event Infrastructure: Lessons Learned and Plans for the Future."
22 min
November 30, 2021 What would Robert Moses do? Part 2: The business case for anti-fragile infrastructure
What is anti-fragile infrastructure? And what's the business case for its design?
John Williams, the CEO of Autocase and board chair for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, answers both questions in today's second part of a three-part series.
Williams is speaking at the 2021 ASCE International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure, Dec. 7, in a session called "Post-Black-Swan-Event Infrastructure: Lessons Learned and Plans for the Future."
17 min
November 23, 2021 What would Robert Moses do? Part 1: The need to design for black-swan events
John Williams is speaking at the 2021 ASCE International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure, Dec. 7, in a session called "Post-Black-Swan-Event Infrastructure: Lessons Learned and Plans for the Future."
So, today kicks off a special three-part series, Williams, the CEO of Autocase and board chair for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, talks about some of the key ideas from the session. But the conversation also becomes almost a roadmap toward a new civil engineering philosophy for 2022, from Robert Moses to modern ideas of sustainable infrastructure.
17 min
November 16, 2021 A podcast about a podcast with a podcaster
The holiday season is a great time to catch up on podcasts, and bridge engineer Luis Duque, P.E., M.ASCE, has a great podcast for your queue.

It's called Engineering Our Future, and he talks about the show on Episode 94 of ASCE Plot Points.
16 min
November 09, 2021 A smarter way to find a job
Mel Butcher is someone who believes that, as she says, "Everyone has something to offer this world to make it a better place."
It's the driving philosophy behind Underdog Engineers, her new community-based learning space for early career engineers.
A group lead in Carollo Engineers' Private Sector Group, Butcher talks today on Episode 93 of ASCE Plot Points about Underdog and what young civil engineers should be doing to find the right job for them.
20 min