American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr) held a very successful 12th Annual Conference at Chicago, IL on July 27-28, 2019
The American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr) held its twelfth (12th) Annual Conference and General Membership Meeting at Chicago, IL, U.S.A. on July 27 – 28, 2019. The conference was attended by over 130 participants, including practicing engineers, scientists, technologists, academicians, students, industry leaders, and their guests.
The conference with the theme of “Explorations and Applications in Engineering, Science, and Technology” offered how the state-of-the-art innovations in engineering, applied science, environment, climate and water resources, education, management, and information technology could be utilized to address problems faced by developed as well as developing countries, including Nepal, in the future. The conference featured an opening program with one distinguished guest speaker, two keynote lectures in the plenary session, and three more technical sessions. Altogether 11 technical presentations were delivered at this year’s conference. The conference also included IT interaction session, entrepreneurs’ session, women interaction program, and kid’s STEM program.
The conference kicked off the morning of Saturday, July 27, with a brief welcome note from the Conference General Chair, Thakur Dhakal, P.E. Following this, Rabin Bhattarai, Ph.D. and Sanjaya Gajurel, Ph. D., Conference Technical Chair and Co-Chair respectively, provided an overview of the technical program. Then, Madan Baral, P. E., Conference Local Chair, welcomed and thanked the participants on behalf of the Local Organizing Committee. Upendra L. Karna, D. Eng., P. E., F. ASNEngr, President of ASNEngr, welcomed the attendees and presented a brief introduction of the ASNEngr organization, highlighting its scope, activities and achievements and future plans.
The Conference Opening program this year featured Chief Guest, His Excellency Dr. Arjun Karki, Nepali Ambassador to the United States, Washington, DC who presented Inaugural Remarks via a video message wishing for a successful conference. He expressed the Nepali Embassy’s interest in working with the Nepali engineering community in the US to contribute to the development of Nepal.
The first session (Plenary Keynote), chaired by Bishnu Phuuyal, Ph.D., F. ASNEngr, and Jagannath Ghimire, P.E., Past President, ASNEngr, had two distinguished invitedspeakers. Prof. Ramesh B. Malla, Ph.D., F. ASCE, F. ASNEngr, Founding President, ASNEngr, gave a presentation on “Special Topics – (I) Response Monitoring of a Very Old Truss Railroad Bridge for High Speed Trains and (II) Engineering Challenges for Building Structures on the Moon.” The second keynote speaker, Govinda Timilsina, Ph.D., Senior Economist, Research Department, World Bank, Washington DC, presented on “Hydropower Development in Nepal: Market Opportunities and Risks.”
The second technical session (Advances in Climate, Water, and Environment) was moderated by Ram Poudel, Ph.D., Denver, CO; and Manoj Khadka, P.E., Chicago, IL. There were four technical presentations offered in this session.
There was a special presentation by Upendra Karna, D. Eng. P.E., President, ASNEngr after the lunch break on the Society’s new initiative on flood position paper in Southern Nepal, followed by an IT Interaction Program from Ankur Sharma, Chicago, IL and Yagna Panta, Chicago, IL.
After the special presentation, IT interaction session was moderated by Ankur Sharma and Yagna Panta, Chicago, IL. The session focused on IT career road map, Software development, management, and testing.
The third technical session (Recent Advances in Information Technology, Education, and Management) was chaired by Lalit K. Jha, P.E., D.WRE, CFM, Lincoln, NE and Kiran Adhikary, P.E., Lake Zurich, IL included three technical presentations. The presentation topics in this session ranged from establishing computer labs for public schools in Nepal to how to get a meaningful result from subordinates.
Om Dahal, Ph.D., Merrillville, IN and Sanjaya Gajurel. Ph.D. Cleveland, OH chaired the fourth session (Advances in Infrastructure Research, Design, and Analysis). There were two papers presented in this session that discussed subsurface exploration and maximizing angle board production.
In parallel to the technical sessions in the afternoon, the Women’s Interaction Program and Kids STEM Program were organized to engage the spouses and kids attending the conference, which was very well received.
Subsequent to the final technical session, ASNEngr held a lively and fruitful Entrepreneur’s session moderated by Mangal Maharjan, Elkridge, MD, and Uttam Sedai, Chantilly, VA. It was very informative and inspirational for those who want to be their own boss and do what they aspire for. Society updates were then provided by Washington DC and Houston chapters, respectively. Update on the Society’s new website development was provided by Srijana Sharma, Information Secretary, ASNEngr.
On the first day of the conference, ASNEngr also presented “Outstanding Performance Award” to Uttam Sedai, Chantilly, VA (current President, Washington DC chapter) for his outstanding contribution to the Washington DC chapter and the Society in Web Committee.
A pre-dinner open networking event took place after the award presentation. This session also offered an opportunity for new members to interact with the Society leadership and provide feedback to increase the visibility of societal activities. Several topics that are of significant importance to the Society were discussed in that session, including a formation of a local chapter in Chicago. Members expressed their deep satisfaction with this year’s conference and discussed how ASNEngr could increase member participation and further enhance the conference in the future. Amidst warm hospitality and effective and flawless execution by the Conference Organizing Committees, the highly successful 2019 ASNEngr 12th Annual Conference concluded on a triumphant note with significant enthusiasm and momentum. The conference was concluded with dinner and a cultural program.
ASNEngr extends its sincere appreciation and gratefully acknowledges the many hours of voluntary time and efforts contributed by the members of the various Conference Organizing Committees to make the conference a grand success. Special appreciation goes to members of the Local Organizing Committee and volunteers, including those who participated in the cultural program. The Society also deeply appreciates the generous support provided by all sponsors/donors.
Last but not least, ASNEngr expresses its sincere appreciation to the authors/presenters, session chairs/moderators, invited guests, and conference attendees, without whose participation the conference would not have been possible, let alone so successful.
The Membership application form and detailed information on ASNEngr and updates on its recent activities can be found at http://www.ASNEngr.org
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ASNEngr 12th Annual Conference Press Release
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