OSPE - The Voice - Fall 2019 - 25

COVER

MEMBER PROFILE

Mr. Harvey Shi
Written by Huijie Xu, OSPE's Policy Intern from the McMaster Master
in Engineering and Public Policy program

y background is in mechanical engineering and materials science,
and now I'm in my fourth year of my Ph.D., focusing on discovering
new material structures for textile electrochemical capacitors to provide
energy for wearable devices. Imagine replacing part of your t-shirt with
this flexible active textile that would power the wearable sensors, actuators,
and transmitters in smart devices.
Apart from the research work, I am also a sessional lecturer at the
University of Toronto. During my teaching experience, I found out that
many of my students have questions as to where to start their professional
careers even though they do have the desire to contribute their efforts in
engineering. I strongly feel the need to help them gain insights into what
professional engineers are doing in Ontario. I am involved with OSPE's
Research and Innovation Task Force, and along with the team, we have developed a number
of projects and initiatives to help bridge the gap between academia and the industry,
providing a starting point for many fresh engineering graduates. As an OSPE member,
I also feel that I am empowered to play a major role to help students in participating in
engineering advocacy as well as to engage and connect with professional networks.
My vision of the future is more about the engineering future in Ontario. A lot of current
engineering practices are in non-traditional ways, and fewer and fewer engineering
graduates are considering obtaining a professional engineering licence in Ontario. This
is an area which we could improve, as the next generation of engineers will engage more
in creative and innovative engineering work which requires different types of regulation.
In the current engineering landscape, many young engineers think that licensing is neither
a requirement nor something helpful for their careers. I feel that's just not right. OSPE has
been putting in tremendous efforts in engaging the next generation of engineers in Ontario
and that's something we all could contribute to as well. In this digital age with substantial
paradigm shifts in engineering, I hope that I, as a member of OSPE, can help the future of
engineers in Ontario to grow while continuously ensuring that the industry is regulated.
In term of advocacy, I feel that OSPE is doing a great job. It allows like-minded people
from different fields to come together and offer their different perspectives on specific
topics. This advocacy body is a concrete framework for engineers in Ontario and has been
a strong community that can offer valuable insights into building the future of engineering.
OSPE is a think tank that allows us to engage with the government as well as the public.
That's why I'm contributing my own efforts to be a part of this great vision. I am looking
forward to seeing OSPE come up with more events and opportunities for our students
to engage, connect and advocate, which also helps OSPE to grow and expand to a much
larger engineering community.

MY VISION OF THE
FUTURE IS MORE ABOUT THE
ENGINEERING FUTURE IN
ONTARIO. A LOT OF CURRENT
ENGINEERING PRACTICES
ARE IN NON-TRADITIONAL
WAYS, AND FEWER AND FEWER
ENGINEERING GRADUATES ARE
CONSIDERING OBTAINING A
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
LICENCE IN ONTARIO.
- Mr. Harvey Shi

Fall 2019

THE VOICE

OSPE - The Voice - Fall 2019

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