Nomination Deadline: February 1st

This prize was established and endowed in 1939 by Daniel W. Mead. The prize was established and endowed in 1939 by Daniel W. Mead, Hon.M.ASCE, a Society past president.

2023 Recipient

  • Sam Potts, P.E., M.ASCE

2024 Topic

Per ASCE’s Code of Ethics, engineers govern their professional careers on the following fundamental principles:

  • Create safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure;
  • Treat all persons with respect, dignity, and fairness in a manner that fosters equitable participation without regard to personal identity;
  • Consider the current and anticipated needs of society; and
  • Utilize their knowledge and skills to enhance the quality of life for humanity.

Civil engineers are responsible for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting and advancing the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Technology, particularly the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has the potential to change engineering in the future and design the built environment for generations. Ethical responsibilities of an engineer may or may not align with the use of AI on engineering projects.

Discuss how engineers need to evaluate their ethical responsibilities as they determine whether or how to use AI to aid in their work.

Questions should be directed to ASCE Younger Member Services.

Rules

  1. The Daniel W Mead Prize for Younger Members of the society may be awarded annually on the basis of papers on professional ethics. Each year the Committee on Younger Members shall select the specific topics of the contest for the forthcoming year.
  2. Younger Members of the Society who are in good standing at the time their papers are submitted are eligible, unless they have previously received the national award for which they are competing. For the purpose of this prize, Younger Members are defined as Affiliate Members, Associate Members or Members 35 years of age or less on February 1 on the year of the award.
  3. Papers for the national contest shall (a) not exceed 2,000 words in length; (b) be written by only 1 person; and (c) not have previously been published in Society publications.
  4. Papers shall be judged by the Committee on Younger Members (CYM). The Committee shall select one nominee as the national winner. Certificates of Commendation may be given to other deserving nominees. The nominations, if any, shall be presented to the Executive Committee of the ASCE Board of Direction for approval.
  5. The recipients of Certificates of Commendation shall receive an appropriate certificate recognizing their achievements. The national winner shall receive a plaque and cash prize determined annually by and subject to the approval of the Executive Committee of the ASCE Board of Direction based on the income from the award endowment. The papers written by the national winners shall be forwarded to an appropriate Society journal for consideration to print.
  6. Active voting members of CYM shall not be eligible for the award. Corresponding Members of CYM are eligible.

Nomination

To nominate, submit the following to Younger Member Programs in a single .pdf file:

The name of the file shall follow this format:

  • Mead Prize for Younger Members - Name of Nominee. pdf

Entries must be received by 5:00 pm (EST) February 1.

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