WC137 JulyAug 2024 - Magazine - Page 34
H2OPINION
Gen Z Engineers & Operators: The Key to
Ending Canada’s Indigenous Water Crisis?
Through better engagement and ignoring stereotypes, a younger
generation believes it can bring forward meaningful actions and solutions.
BY BITA MALEKIAN AND ADITYA CHAUDHURI
N THE WORLD of engineering, there exists a
deep-rooted and long-standing stereotype—a tiff
between the engineers who design solutions, and
those in operations who actually build it according
to the engineered designs. Those in this industry
are likely familiar with the rather under-discussed
perceptions these two groups of professionals have
towards each other. One place this divide is especially
pronounced is within Canada’s Indigenous communities, and for good reason too. Engineering firms tend
to use cookie-cutter solutions in places that require
something more tailored, make fewer visits to sites
on reserves, especially the more remote locations, and
struggle to establish meaningful relationships with this
demographic of clientele. Compared to the corporate
cultures of metropolitan cities like Vancouver, Calgary,
and Toronto, where engineering in the office already
clashes with the realities of working on-site, this gap is
even more amplified in smaller, distant communities.
Oversized water treatment plants, poor project
handovers, and a lack of training for equipment
operation and maintenance are all too common in
such areas. Among the myriad reasons contributing
to these problems, a glaring one stands out—the
strained relationship between engineers and the
boots-on-the-ground operators. In remote Indigenous communities, limited access to troubleshooting
and mentorship make the repercussions dire. As we
find ourselves in 2024, the fact that 33 long-term
drinking water advisories persist is not just a water
I
Aditya
Chaudhuri
and
Bita Malekian
are Water Movement
Ambassadors.
34
WATER C AN ADA • JULY/AUGUS T 2024
crisis, it’s a national disgrace and a violation of basic
human rights.
So, the question looms—how do we shatter this
age-old stereotype and entrenched way of working?
How can we instigate change in corporate culture
and practices that will trickle down to what’s built
and maintained on-site? The answer may lie with
Gen Z, a generation renowned for its fearless attitude
and unwavering confidence. They refuse to accept the
status quo of “this is the way it’s always been done.”
Growing up in an era where the genuine struggles of
First Nations peoples are broadcasted unfiltered onto
their screens, they’ve seen a different reality than the
sanitized versions found in textbooks. While platforms like TikTok showcase viral dances and trends,
it also amplifies Indigenous voices, shedding light on
their challenges and educating an entire generation.
Gen Z’s attitude and “woke” culture can provide
an ideal foundation for redefining the way engineers
and operators collaborate. However, relying solely
on these confident aspiring engineers to navigate the
corporate world is not enough to drive change. They
must be equipped with the right skills and shown, in
an encouraging and informative way, how engineering projects should be executed.
Engineering programs excel at teaching students
complex technical content, such as intricate calculations and theoretical principles. They may delve into
nth degree integrals and determine maximum flow
rates in ideal conditions. Some even touch on rocket
science. While the technical content is undoubtedly vital, it’s in fact not the most challenging aspect
of a project. The true challenge lies in stakeholder
relationship building, a facet rarely taught by universities. The engagement piece is where projects truly
face their trials, not in the technical aspects. This is
where the capstone project, a final-year endeavor undertaken by engineering students, has the potential to
demonstrate to students the challenges in planning,
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
