Articulate engineers
The letter from Duc Bieu Pham [spring 2008, p. 2] touches on an issue with which I, too, am concerned: the need for engineers to have more exposure to the humanities.

My career included nearly 30 years in project management with a major international firm engaged in designing and building petrochemical projects all over the globe. Project managers interface with clients, and their correspondence must be clear and succinct because it often forms a contractual commitment. During the latter part of my career, I led the project management department of one of our branch offices, and I was appalled at how inarticulate most of the project managers were in written correspondence. Not being able to express their ideas not only created a poor impression with our clients but often created problems that were detrimental to the progress of the project.

The college was once, I believe, seriously considering making engineering a five-year curriculum to expose engineers to courses in the humanities and thus better equip them to express themselves and interact socially. I do hope you will give this concept due consideration.
—ALLEN MIRK (B.S.’40 EE) Camden, Maine

The tide of humanity
Perhaps it is not surprising that the article about the Blum Center [spring 2008, p. 6] closes with a quote about how technology can help “bridge the gap” in developing nations. Yet, examination of the developing world over the past half century of technology deployment suggests that, not only have no gaps been bridged, but conditions are actually worse. Billions of people (including many in the United States) suffer from hunger, lack of medical care and chronic unemployment. And the root cause remains unaddressed: the economic status of women and the availability of free reproductive control. The solutions to these problems lie more in the political realities of today than in the technological “fixes” of tomorrow. I hope the Blum Center’s young researchers remain acutely aware that all technology may be rendered useless in the face of an unending tide of humanity.
—STEVEN B. SANDS (B.S.’79 EECS) San Diego, California

Issue that inspires
I just want to say how impressed I am with Forefront’s spring 2008 issue. The magazine includes lots of interesting articles, particularly those about sustainability; I found the story on the wind turbine project inspiring [p. 29]. And I learned something new from the bioengineering story about materials to help cells align and grow the correct way to reduce scars [p. 16]. Keep up the good work.
—KEVIN JIM (B.S.’96 CEE) Oakland, California

KAUST: pros and cons
Coverage of the KAUST agreement in Forefront [spring 2008, p. 5] and other College of Engineering publications elicited a number of responses. Following is a small sample:

I am very concerned about the collaboration agreement. The agreement calls for nondiscrimination, but what control does KAUST have over the government and its discriminatory policies? Can a woman fly alone into the country, rent a car and drive to the university, hotel, restaurants, etc.? Can a person with a stamp from Israel in his or her passport get a visa and be admitted to the country without special procedures?
—JAMES BLOOM (B.S.’85 EECS) Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts

It is encouraging to see Berkeley Engineering in such a leadership role. UC Berkeley is uniquely qualified to be an example in such a controversial program, as it has a history of leading social reform in the midst of academic excellence. . . .  How nice it is to hear about relationships between America and Saudi Arabia that do not center on terrorism, oil, fear or religious fervor.
—JASON CARBAUGH (B.S.’94, M.S.’96 ME) Woodinville, Washington

I believe the involvement with the King Abdullah University is an outstanding step the College of Engineering is taking. It involves us in a very important part of the world and helps reverse some of the political isolation we have witnessed in this country in recent years. A significant number of Saudis have attended UC Berkeley, and this initiative will demonstrate that the relationship is a two-way street.
—DOUG WOLCOTT (B.S.’57 Agricultural Engineering) Ross, California

We love your letters
Write to us at forefront@coe.berkeley.edu or send your letters to Forefront letters, 312 McLaughlin Hall #1704, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1704. Please write a maximum of 250 words and include the writer’s name. Note that we cannot include all letters, and those published may be edited for length and clarity.