Students' Voice: On Becoming WISE

by Jeremy Tunnell

Each year, thousands of college freshmen enter into engineering programs around the country. For the next four or five years, they will complete a rigorous curriculum in math and science and then graduate as design engineers. Some may even participate in co-op programs that will allow them to get real-world experience in a design environment. What they will not get during those years is an introduction to how our government operates or experience what engineers can contribute to the process.

The days of engineers working in isolation are quickly fading into the past. Increasingly, we have to deal with government regulations, standards bodies, international treaties, and laws passed by Congress. Engineers designing the next generation of products will be greatly aided or limited by these governmental constraints. So, it’s critical that those in the engineering profession be educated about the process and properly represented in our nation’s capital.

The IEEE’s Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) program is a tremendous opportunity for engineering students to get this education. This internship allows students to spend 10 weeks in Washington, D.C., meeting people in government agencies such as NASA, the FCC, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and think-tanks such as the Brookings Institution. I participated in the summer of 2004. We didn’t meet with low-level staff either. In fact, one of our most enjoyable meetings was an hour spent with Joe Bordogna, deputy director of the National Science Foundation.

This internship offers something for everyone. I walked away with a greater appreciation for and a greater understanding of the policymaking process on Capitol Hill. Those who may be considering a career in public service will find that they learn more about jobs that might interest them, and make important connections for the future.

I attempted a weblog of my experiences this past summer. Check it out at www.tunnell.org/blog. I also urge anyone who may be interested to explore the WISE website at www.wise-intern.org.

Jeremy Tunnell is IEEE-USA’s PACE Editor, and a senior at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Comments may be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org. Opinions expressed are the author's.