Orange County Branch Newsletter

July 2014

ASCE Awards

ASCE OC YMF's Daniela Malott Awarded Daniel W. Mead Prize


By: Remi Candaele, P.E., ASCE OC YMF Vice President

Daniela Malott, EIT in RBF/Michael Baker International’s Irvine Surface Water Department, has received the 2014 Daniel W. Mead Prize for Younger Members. This recognition is awarded annually on the basis of papers on professional ethics. The Daniel W. Mead Prize for Younger Members was established in 1939 to honor the memory and accomplishments of the 67th President of the American Society of Civil Engineers.  The talents of many of the leaders of the profession were first recognized in previous contests for this significant professional honor.  The current contest provides an opportunity for young Civil Engineers to further their professional development and gain national attention. Daniela serves on the ASCE OC Younger Member Forum Board as the Historian.

The award for Daniela’s paper, “The Ethical Risk Associated with Natural Disaster Prevention”, will be conferred at the ASCE 2014 Global Engineering Conference in Panama City, Panama in October 2014.

Abstract from “The Ethical Risk Associated with Natural Disaster Prevention”:
In the past ten years, the world has endured disasters such as: Hurricane Katrina, the Sumatra Tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti, the earthquake in Chile, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and many other natural disasters.  It has become clear that preventative measures need to be taken in areas of high risk.  Civil engineers are becoming more accountable to protect future generations from disasters such as those that have occurred in the past. The question of how much a life is worth becomes essential. Developing sustainable, efficient, affordable and safe communities is the future of Civil Engineering and societies. Research studies should continue to help us better understand the different hazards in order to develop better design standards and future codes should start considering the equation: Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability (Goyet et al). Civil Engineers should be cognizant in their daily practice that their job goes beyond the design and construction of infrastructure to encompass overcoming challenges, assuring public safety and developing sustainable communities.

Daniela Malott, EIT

Related Groups/Committees

Sponsors