Engineers Rule The World

[the architect]

As you may have guessed, I am an engineer. A civil engineer be specific. My name is Graham and I am currently studying environmental civil engineering at The University of British Columbia. While I am supposed to be working on homework, I tend to get distracted by the designs and ideas that pop into my head on a frequent basis. Of course, I have to put pen to paper before my idea disappears. I don't have a website portfolio yet, although I was just chosen as runner up for the e107.org logo contest, and will be receiving a domain and hosting for a year, which I will use to create one. Aside from graphic design, I am also an avid photographer, and an aspiring architect (hence my name). While I would like to play football and rugby as I did in highschool, time constraints have limited my physical activity to playing my national sport (Im from Canada remember), underwater. That's right, I play Underwater Hockey once a week. Other interests include the environment, and good ol' times with good ol' friends. I am currently in the process of starting a student club at my school, UBC Students for a Sustainable Future. I'll post a link to the website once It's up and running. I guess I'll post a link to my website if I ever get that off the ground as well. I'll keep you all posted.

Cheers,
Graham

PS. Engineers really DO rule the world.

[rtbenson]

Sounds awesome!

What does a environmental civil engineer do? (I get an image of somebody designing places to put plants in buildings. )

Thanks,
Brendan Benson

[kpeatt]

How I miss British Columbia... Are you a Vancouver native or just there for school? How does it feel to know Coke owns 90% of your education .

Remember - Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets.

[rtbenson]

Remember - Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets.

Interesting way to put it....

[barrywh]

Canadian underwater hockey? Is this for real? I just can't picture this in my mind without either laughing or scratching my head. I'd love to hear a brief description from you before I go to Google and look it up.

Good luck with your new site and welcome to DC.

[the architect]

Wow, lot's of interest. This is quite a surprise. I guess I'll answer questions in the same order they were asked.

1) An Environmental civil engineer is the same as a normal civil engineer, with a bit more specialization for environmental integration. This means I have to take a few more courses than my friends in normal civ eng, butat the end I'll have a better understanding of natural systems, their relationships with human systems, and how to build with as little negative (and possibly some positive) impact on the natural site.

2) No, I'm definitely a Vancouver Native. I've lived in Coquitlam (suburb) my entire life. This is my beautiful city. Where are you that you have to miss it? Also, remember that those mechanical engineers would be building their weapons in the cold and wet if we weren't here to build them a place to work in. And for the coke thing, that really isn't true. There is just as much of other brands on campus as there is coke. Besides, the government pays for something like 75% of our fees (although I'd like to know where all that money goes, since 120 students paying $500 per course is a LOT more than needed to pay the prof for that one course).

3) Underwater hockey is definitely a sport. It is actually a very intense sport. We wear snorkels, a mask, flippers, and a protective glove with a short wooden stick to play with a brass or lead puck 8 - 12 ft below the surface. You should check it out. There must be a group in your town. Afterall, there have been world championships every year since the 80's.

I think thats it. I'd be glad to answer any more inquiries. It's nice to see so much interaction here.
Cheers,
Graham

[kpeatt]

I'm in Calgary now, and while I don't particularily love Vancouver - I certainly miss it. My hometown is Penticton, BC, and you pretty much can not beat the climate there.