What They Don’t Teach You in Engineering School
Welcome to the 21st Century Engineer Podcast, where we spotlight professionals shaping the future of civil infrastructure. In this episode, Dr. Dennis Truax interviews Clint Smith, a civil engineer and project manager at Half Associates, and one of ASCE's 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering.Clint shares his journey from academia to consulting, offering insights into the shock of transitioning from theory to real-world water and wastewater design. They dive into the complexity of hydraulic modeling, floodplain analysis, the ethical role of engineers in community planning, and the challenges of infrastructure funding and environmental justice.Topics covered include:Designing water and wastewater systemsFloodplain modeling and disaster mitigationASCE involvement, Mosaic & Younger Member ForumVolunteer engineering work in Kenya & UgandaEquity, inclusion, and the future of ethical civil engineeringWhether you're a student, young professional, or seasoned engineer, this episode offers practical advice, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes insight into the life of a modern civil engineer making real impact.Learn more about ASCE’s work: https://www.asce.orgConnect with us: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennistruax/Connect with Clint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintsmithce/Want to be on the podcast? Reach out at: 21stcenturyengineer.com Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Who This Podcast Is For01:02 – Meet Clint Smith: From Alabama to Austin03:18 – The Shock of Leaving Academia for Consulting06:45 – What Engineering School Didn’t Teach (But Should)10:12 – Fluid Mechanics: The Class That Changed Everything13:26 – Discovering Purpose in Clean Water Access16:02 – Volunteer Work in Kenya & Uganda: The Reality of Water Inequality19:20 – “I Designed That Water Line”: The First Real-World Moment21:37 – Flood Modeling in Texas: Predicting the July 4th Storms25:41 – When Models Match Reality: Life-Saving Engineering28:30 – Why Communities Still Flood (Even When We Know Better)31:04 – The Real Obstacle: Funding, Education & Political Will34:29 – Engineering for Equity: The Human Side of Infrastructure37:48 – ASCE Mosaic, Code of Conduct & Being “Civil” Engineers41:20 – Younger Member Forum: How Engineers Can Lead Early44:15 – Advice to Students & Young Professionals46:50 – Final Reflections with Dr. Truax49:00 – Outro: Why Civil Engineers Must Speak Up