The Professional Engineer Podcast

TPEP 005 - Recent Advancements in Nuclear Fusion and the Exciting Future Ahead

Nuclear Fusion is looking bright and feasible on our future.  Two recent milestones were set, one in China and the other in Europe, that has demonstrated that it is feasible.  This episode of The Professional Engineer Podcast provides a brief look into the current state of Nuclear Fusion in the World and a high level introduction into the topic.  The episode concludes with an overview of the new International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor - ITER - that is currently under construction in France and is set up to online in 2025.

TPEP 004 - The Lifecycle of a Transportation Design-Build Project

In this episode, Matt overviews how heavy civil transportation projects - roads and bridges - are born.  How are the conceptualized?  ?  What is the difference between a conventional "Design-Bid-Build" project vs a non-conventional "Design-Build" project?  What is the procurement process and contract award procedure for Design-Builds?  What is the final design procedure and how are released for construction plans achieved?  How does the Design Engineer of Record support construction as the project is being built?  And, How is regulatory compliance for Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Cultural factors achieved? This is a solo episode as I work towards building a foundation of episodes before I start inviting guests on.  Thank you for joining me on this journey! Liability Disclaimer: This is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact a licensed engineer if you need professional advice or services.

TPEP 003 - The Devil in the White City | Architecture & Engineering Challenges of Chicago World's Fair

Very Good Book Club time!  In this episode of The Professional Engineer Podcast, Matt Durshimer shares some passages from historical non-fiction book The Devil in White City by Erik Larson.  This book is about the Chicago World's Fair and the monumental Architectural and Engineering challenges that the fair had to overcome.    Reading like this aloud is helping boost my confidence to bring on guests.  I appreciate your support!  I felt inspired by this book and it starts to provide clarity of how to approach my life to accomplish great things.  One quote in particular stands out that I share: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood"

TPEP 002 - 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century

In this episode Matt Durshimer provides some hot takes on the National Academy of Engineer's 14 Grand Challenges for Engineer in the 21st Century.  Prior to performing deep dives on each of the subjects Matt sets the stage with his interests and understandings of each of the topics.  Those topics are broken into 4 different categories: Health, Security, Sustainability, and the Joy of Living.   For Health topics include: Engineering Better Medicines, Advancing Health Informatics, and Reverse Engineering the Brain. For Security topics include: Securing Cyberspace, Preventing Nuclear Terror, and Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure For Sustainability topics include: Making Solar Energy Economical, Providing Energy from Fusion, Develop Carbon Sequestration Methods, Managing the Nitrogen Cycle, and Providing Access to Clear Water. For Joy of Living topics include: Enhancing Virtual Reality, Advancing Personalized Learning, and Engineering the Tools of Scientific Discovery.

TPEP 001 - (Re) Introduction to The Professional Engineer Podcast

In this new introductory episode of The Professional Engineer Podcast Matt Durshimer introduces his background as a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida and as Design Build Project Manager.  Matt outlines his plan for the upcoming podcasts in the short term and sets goals to bring guests on in the near future!  The framework for the early episodes of the podcast will be centered around the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering published by the National Academy of Engineers.