June 2021 Letter from the Editor

Perhaps it’s fitting that we end Volume 45 with a focus on the future and lessons from our past. “Emergency Preparedness” is a topic familiar to civil engineers and planners, and after this year-plus of the pandemic, it’s a topic familiar to pretty much everyone. Be it extreme storms, sea level rise, or lack of toilet paper, it’s just good sense to be prepared.  

We have two articles from this month’s sponsoring firm, AECOM, focusing on climate change and data acquisition for supply chains. We consider sea-level rise from two perspectives with articles from MWRA and CDM Smith. We have many updates, including a reminder about America’s Water Infrastructure Act, a congratulations for the Northeastern SEI Chapter, and reports from the Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute Boston Chapter (COPRI), BSCES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Chapter, and the BSCES President. Lastly, we fondly remember Dom D’Eramo and his impact in the engineering community. 

This issue also caps my tenure as Newsletter Committee Chair. I leave the committee in excellent hands. Mike Sullivan, who authored the Historic New England Infrastructure series, will take over as Committee Chair for Volume 46. I thank him for his help this year and wish him the best of luck as he takes over the helm. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the Newsletter Committee members, without whom this newsletter would not be possible. Anna Dastgheib- Beheshti, Gus O’Leary, Jess Debellis, Mike Cunningham, Todd Clark, Susannah Davis, and David Manugian: thank you! 

BSCES Newsletter Committee, 2020 – 2021 

Newsletter Committee Member & YMG Secretary Annahid Beheshti visiting the 
Portland Observatory ASCE Landmark on a day trip Portland, Maine 

I must also thank Rich Keenan and Emily Devane from TECET. Rich has provided invaluable insights, guidance, and assistance with soliciting articles, editing, writing, and much more. Emily has served behind-the-scenes to generate our email blasts and publish the articles online. I sincerely appreciate her patience as the time in which I sent articles her way crept closer and closer to the end of the month.  

I’ve truly enjoyed reading and editing all of the stories, announcements, project summaries, memorials and group updates published this year. In the face of a year of challenges, this newsletter is a testament to the fact that BSCES members are an active, resilient bunch. I wish all of our readers and members a happy, joyful summer as we take a short break before resuming with Volume 46 in September. I personally plan to use my extra time to enjoy the nice weather with Scout and look forward to reading what you all were up to upon our return. 

BSCES Newsletter Chair Katie Swanson’s attempt at a photo with BSCESNews 
unofficial mascot, Scout, at the Chicago Water Tower.

Happy reading!