The Work No One Sees: Why the Most Important Problems Are the Least Visible

The most important engineering challenges are often the least visible. Across the country, communities are facing aging infrastructure, emerging contaminants like PFAS, and shrinking workforces that are struggling to keep up. These are not future problems. They are happening now.

For years, many utilities have taken pride in keeping rates low, often at the expense of reinvestment. The result is that this generation is inheriting one of the largest infrastructure challenges in decades.

This talk challenges students to look beyond traditional career paths and consider where their skills can have immediate impact. Through real-world experience in wastewater and advanced water treatment, it shows how engineers can step into complex, often overlooked systems and make a difference for communities they can see, meet, and serve.

The InspireME series explores topics of interest in Mechanical Engineering for the Boise State community.