Standardization News

James Bryce (fourth from left) was ASTM's intern in 2008. Here, he and other 2008 WISE interns meet with Peter Lyons (center), commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, from 2005 to 2009.

Exposing aspiring engineers to the U.S. political system is crucial to their future careers. Through the WISE internship program, ASTM International gives students an experience that allows them to travel, broaden their talents, and discover their passions.

Since 2007, ASTM has annually sponsored a college student's participation in the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering. WISE is an extensive summer internship program in which students research a topic of their choice with help from their sponsoring society's assigned mentor. Interns learn about the public policy process, including how engineers can contribute to legislative and public policy decisions. The WISE experience gives the interns the opportunity to network and form connections with influential people in their prospective industries.

After 10 years of sponsorship, we wanted to catch up with past interns to find out where their lives have taken them since their WISE experience.

Derek Burling, '15

Intern at Burns & McDonnell

"WISE shaped my understanding of politics and policy. It has shown me how important it is that we become involved in the process, otherwise it will hurt us more than help us. It has shown me that there is no limit on what one can do and that you are never restricted to your ‘field' or current career path. The world is much more gray than it is black and white, and that, for me, was an exciting realization."

Connor Slone, '13

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow

"When I applied for the WISE program, I already knew I was interested in the intersection of science and public policy. What I lacked was a sense of how it worked in practice. The WISE program was an outstanding introduction to the complex interactions that drive policy development in the real world.

"I am so grateful for my time in the WISE program - it was one of my favorite undergraduate experiences and it has influenced my career trajectory. The connections I made with my peers, my outstanding mentors, and scientists and policymakers have been indispensable."

Kate Gasparro, '12

Graduate Student of Civil Engineering and International Policy at Stanford University

"For the past three summers, I have worked in the engineering and construction industry. Regardless of the type of firm I have worked for, ASTM standards have been an integral part of quality processes.

"My summer with WISE was incredible. It was a pleasure to work with Jim Olshefsky and Anthony Quinn, who were so supportive and offered priceless insights for working in policy."

Ashley Vincent, '11

Engineer

"The WISE internship inspired me to continue in engineering because it showed me a wider range of directions in which I could take my career. Since my WISE internship, I finished my degree, and am now working as an engineer."

James Bryce, '08

Senior Consultant at Amec Foster Wheeler

"Following the WISE program, I enrolled in a leading graduate program to increase my exposure to national level research. Attending the WISE program opened up many opportunities for me. I now work as a consultant in the Washington, D.C., area on national level engineering research that directly informs policy.

"The WISE program was the single factor that caused a turning point in my career plan. After WISE, I realized that I would not be satisfied in a traditional engineering setting, and instead decided that I wanted to be a part of the national conversation on standards and rules developed for infrastructure. My current work is a direct reflection of the lessons I learned through the WISE program."

Saurabh Anand, '07

Attorney for SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

"I regularly work with ASTM standards in contract requirements. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory frequently uses them in construction. I also advise Stanford University on unmanned aerial systems, which was the subject of my paper while I was a WISE intern.

"It was a formative experience, and one that I treasure. I am grateful for ASTM's sponsorship, and for the mentors and friends I met at ASTM and at WISE."

Anthony Quinn, director of public policy and international trade at ASTM, who has mentored many of these students, says, "One of the significant aspects of the internship is showing students the importance of having a technical viewpoint reflected in policy discussion while simultaneously educating [the U.S.] Congress on the importance of voluntary consensus standards and ASTM's mission in helping our world work better."

ASTM's director of external relations, James Olshefsky, who has been a WISE mentor since 2008, says, "I enjoy interacting with the students and hearing their opinions on the latest policy issues being discussed by decision makers in Washington."

This year, ASTM has chosen Nicholas D'Angelo as our 10th intern to spend summer 2016 in Washington, D.C., with WISE. D'Angelo's topic of focus will be corrosion policy in water distribution systems, inspired by the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. We hope that D'Angelo and the former WISE interns continue to be successful in their industries, knowing that ASTM is on their side.

Alayya Arrison is a student at Immaculata University and ASTM's corporate communications intern for 2016.