Editorial 200510008
 Let’s Win the Race“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” — H. G. Wells (1866–1946) Ronald C. Pierce Chair, AWS Foundation Board of Trustees This is a somewhat ominous statement from this Victorian novelist, journalist, and historian. Wells made his debut with The Time Machine (1895), followed by The Invisible Man (1897) and The War of the Worlds (1898). He also published several nonfiction works on world organization and mankind’s prospects for the future. He had a passionate concern for society and education. Even though decades have passed since his work was first published and this observation made, it still holds true today. Education is a key element for progress and humanity’s technological development. Do you realize that the welding industry may soon be facing an employment catastrophe? Take a look at the following statistics. • Currently there are more than 600,000 welding professionals working in the United States. • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a shortage of 250,000 welding professionals by the year 2010. • The average age of welders in today’s workforce is 54. • Many of these people will retire within the next ten years. • U.S. industries report difficulties locating qualified individuals. • Welding and joining have been identified as the “industry of the future” by the U.S. Department of Energy. • Advanced technology is creating more uses for welding in the workplace and expanding employment opportunities. • Industrial manufacturing is at its highest level in 20 years, and new orders are at their highest since 1950 (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Manufacturing in America, January 2004). The welding professionals mentioned above include key people and positions, including engineers, welders, technicians, inspectors, researchers, sales personnel, and educators. The AWS Foundation’s sole purpose and vision is to attract people to the welding industry by providing funding for education, research, and training. It meets the needs for education and research in the field of welding and related joining technologies. How does it do this? By identifying and providing financial support for • Welding research (fellowships) • Welding engineering (university scholarships) • Technicians (junior college scholarships) • Welders (training school support)
Will you help us? You can assist by supporting the Foundation’s efforts through your contributions of cash, by setting up a trust, through estate bequests, gift annuities, and gifts of stocks or properties. You will be giving back to your industry, making it stronger through education and helping us win the race between education and catastrophe. |