Want to have an impact on the future?

Abstract

Where would we be without the generation of people between 25 and 40 years of age? Who would design buildings, research codes and materials, maintain standards in the future? What would the future be like? It would be chaos. Innovation and progress would drastically regress, and we would experience a huge set back with regards to developments in our field of work for decades. What is the status in the fib and its national members’ groups with regards to age distribution? Under 15% of the registered fib members belong to the category “students” or “young members”. Who will be working with/for/in the fib/industry in 10–30 years? Answer: The current concrete/structural students, newly-employed and young engineers/materialists. As a seasoned designer/professor/professional, in what ways do you encourage younger engineers and students to participate in events and further their knowledge? What is your country doing to engage, connect and let the young generation rise in its professional life? Some countries have seen the challenge of the association work of their national member groups. The international community and other countries can use their experience and knowledge to see how it is possible to change the future. In 2012, the Norwegian fib national member group, Norwegian Concrete Association (NCA), observed that nearly every commissions and task groups mostly consisted of experienced people volunteering. They saw this as a challenge for the future of the industry. At the same time, some young people that attended some of the conferences and association meetings felt a need to connect with other young people in the industry. That was the start of the Young Members Group in Norway, which was established in 2013 with great success. Six years later, close to 25 new young people participate in commissions and task group work. Every working group has young representatives. The Norwegian YMG gets more and more members, with around 100–150 active participants per year. The fib has also seen and risen to this challenge, and in 2016, Tor Ole Olsen (President of the fib) and David Fernández-Ordóñez (Secretary General of the fib) highlighted the importance of young people within the fib. Their conversation was the start of the international YMG. The Spanish and Norwegian YMG met in 2016 to discuss cooperation and the idea of developing an international YMG. A year later, the fib YMG was established in Madrid, with several countries represented as board members. It was officially acknowledged as a working group within the fib the same year. I would urge everyone to spread the information about YMG and encourage young people to get involved. This network is helpful to young people, the company/institution they work/study for, and their national concrete association, as well as the international fib community. The young students and engineers are the future. We need more research, better ideas, new ways of working, and quicker ways to implement good innovations. I would encourage you to expect the best from the young generation. Nurture them, but also let them discover. Give them guidance, but also freedom. Give them help, but also challenges. The weekend before the fib Symposium 2019, in Krakow, Poland, the YMG arranged the third international YMG Workshop. 25 people from 11 different countries participated in thought-provoking debates, fruitful conversations and discussions about future work and organizing. Connections were made, new groups established, and our next activities were decided. The next generation is rising, but we still want your help. Note: The fib International Young Members Group (YMG) is a group for young people under 35 years old. The group is widely spread over the globe and includes students, engineers, contractors, material producers, PhD students, professors, designers, and more. Different people with different occupations meet through this network. The YMG was established in 2017 and has expanded ever since. Many young people are seeing the benefit of being part of this network. Our work includes encouraging young people to join fib working groups, actively participating in symposiums/conferences, and being a part of organizing or scientific committees for such events. We are also helping national YMG to grow and have an impact on the industry, as well as help form/establish new national YMG in countries that do not have such group yet. Head of Concrete Technology Department in Veidekke Oslo, Norway Board member of Norwegian Concrete Association (NCA) Convenor of International Young Members Group in fib