Engineering Serving Humanity
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My studies at ÉTS are usually filled with formulas, calculations, set-ups, experiments and sometimes intensive lectures. But the course on Leadership et responsabilité citoyenne (LRC-110) (Leadership and Civic Responsibility) was in complete contrast. This course delighted me with its totally different subject matter and approach, which required venturing away from schoolbooks and the usual university framework.
The goal of this course is to bring about positive change in the world. It’s as simple and terrifying as that! At university, we become aware of our shortcomings, of the huge world we live in, the issues, joys, and sorrows, but above all, we see the people who live in it, who survive despite tragedy and hardship. The course has opened my eyes to a small part of the world’s condition and to what we can achieve to make it a little better for present and future generations.
The issues and dilemmas solved by engineers often stem from real human problems. Understanding them truly enables us to see the bigger picture and respond to needs in the best possible way. Our work can improve the lot of human beings as a whole.
The Leadership and Civic Responsibility course can be summed up in one word: inspiring. Structured from lectures presented by passionate experts, LRC-110 showcases initiatives seeking to make our world a better place. The enriching content captivated both my budding engineering brain and my ambitious dreams of universal justice. Listening and, above all, hearing what others have gone through and overcome has made me realize that everyone can make a difference in this world. Every lecture, every text I read, and every class discussion served to fuel my inner fire to do something that would matter to someone.
The author and his team
Powered by our passion and the guidance of our professors, our team was able to make a difference in the lives of 78 children attending an underprivileged elementary school by organizing “La journée des petits génies” (little genius day). This activity aimed to develop their critical thinking skills: asking questions, making connections and understanding environmental influence. Some had to overcome personal challenges, forging tools to serve them throughout their lives. We reminded these future adults that it’s okay to make mistakes, to be wrong, and sometimes, to change our minds, whether it’s about the shape of a paper airplane wing or their eventual field of study. Nothing is set in stone—we can always change our minds. This activity will be engraved in our brains—the children were able to see that school can be an exciting place and that learning can be exhilarating.
Finally, toward the end of the LRC-110 experience, it was time to share with the other teams our selected challenges and our contributions to the community. These discussions brought home the vision of this pioneering course and the scope of possible implications. What I learned during this session will be crucial to my future plans. As someone who procrastinated a lot at university, this course was truly a breath of fresh air in my career and my view of the world. If, like me, you wish to make your mark on this Earth, take this course and get involved. In closing, I’d like to thank Marc-Kevin Daoust for his guidance, Geneviève Champoux for her tremendous help during the day, and my teammate Djinah Démétrius, Côme Sica and Ji-Seonk Yun, for also deciding to go above and beyond in this project as people and role models for young children who were as inspired as they were inspiring.
