Ep. 69 ‘The Future Engineer Will Be a Creative Thinker, Not Just a Calculator’ – The New Role of Engineers

Send a textIn this episode of Thrive in Construction, Darren is joined by James Norman, a structural engineer, author, and educator passionate about shaping the future of the industry. James discusses his transition from working in industry to teaching, highlighting the autonomy and influence he now enjoys in mentoring the next generation of engineers.James dives into the future of structural engineering, sharing insights on the rise of automation in standardised design and the evolving role of engineers to focus more on buildability and creative material experimentation. He also talks about his latest book, Feature Structural Design, which explores how engineers can push the boundaries of traditional design and make a positive impact on the built environment.Key topics covered in this episode include:The future of structural engineering and how automation will change the role of engineersJames Norman’s journey from industry to teaching and the influence of educationRegenerative design and sustainability with natural materials like straw, bamboo, and hempOvercoming over-engineering and the importance of designing with efficiency and sustainability in mindThe impact of feedback from students and readers in shaping James' workCreating systems change in construction through small, consistent actionsMental health in the construction industry and the importance of supporting professionals for long-term successLinks:James LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lecturer/James Book -The Regenerative Structural Engineer: https://www.istructe.org/resources/guidance/the-regenerative-structural-engineer/Darren Evans Consultancy: https://darren-evans.co.uk/Darren: https://darrenevans.komi.io/Support the show