Are You Professionally Active Outside the Office?

As a company we participate in a scheme called STEMNET. This gets engineers working with local schools either by visiting the schools or by getting youngsters into the workplace. Several of us are STEMNET ambassadors. I've also helped through the engineering institution by being on their stand at a motor-sport event.

I have a number of projects "outside" the work environment- from mentoring youngsters in the neighborhood with strong interest in math/electronics/science/mechanics, which is the most enjoyable. I also am quite active in the local Open Source community, introducing Open Source solutions for engineers at the University level, and working with local groups to support accessibility for the visually impaired (another Open Source project). Although I do this mostly for personal satisfaction, I find that such activities also have a business benefit- sort of like inexpensive PR...

It is really difficult for me to determine where the line between "work" and "fun" is drawn- sometimes, the "work" is more fun than the "fun" stuff, sometimes the "fun stuff is more work than the work stuff! I don't have the advantage of being able to separate them by physical location, since I work from home. It's like I am "on" 24/7, sometimes I get paid for doing what I enjoy, sometimes I don't...

I'm on my local IMechE committee; we organise the lectures for the professionals in the area. We do this is conjunction with the IET, RAeS, the local Iron & Steel Institute and the local Shipbuilding Institute. I've been on the committee for about 5 years and a few years back gave one of the lectures on my company's (then) shiny new product.

We have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ambassador on the committee and I've helped at evening activities at local schools.

I've been asked to be an ambassador at a local school - only they can't tell me what level of commitment they need, so I haven't confirmed this. Work are not disposed to allowing time off for this.

Then of course there's Toastmasters...more in the Comms blog!

No rest for the wicked, ever.

Besides doing engineering jobs,I do take part in Insitution of Engineers,I.S.T.E,etc.activities & regularly give time to sports,Badminton.

I do give time to I.I.T.Alumni Association activities for organising scientific events for school children.

I always had a thing for teaching. Now I have finalized teaching my first semester in Mechatronics. I have always read technical literature (and popular too), but this has gotten me the chance to study and refresh stuff I had forgotten. Plus, I have an audience to listen to stuff that I like to speak about and I GET PAID.

Pretty cool don´t you think.

I am mechanical engineer from I.I.T.Delhi & worked in industry for more than six years & later in an academic institution for more than twelve years.I pass my rest time in playing badminton & organising sports,organising alumni work,etc.