Three civil engineering cadets from the Class of 2013 successfully published three separate articles in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ flagship publication Civil Engineering. Current 2LTs Robert Downey, Colin Hennesy, and Zeke Hunsburger were enrolled in Dr. Brock E. Barry’s Advanced Soil Mechanics (CE472) elective. An assignment in that course required cadets to conduct individual research related to the influence of soil structure and strength on historic military engagements.
Downey researched and wrote a paper related to World War II construction of the tunnel system on the Island of Iwo Jima. Hennesy researched and wrote a paper about the covert construction of a tunnel under Confederate positions during the Civil War Battle of the Crater. Hunsberger researched and wrote a paper about the influence of soil mechanics on World War I trench construction and stability. The quality of their independent research was sufficiently high to pursue outside publication. With additional writing by Dr. Barry, advising by the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering’s Class of ’53 Chair Dr. Paul Mlakar, and assistance from USMA Reference Librarian Laura Mosher, all three former cadets successfully generated their first formal publications.
The Editor’s Note that accompanied the three articles included the following statement: “Anyone who lays claim to the notion that today’s students are disengaged, ignorant of history, unconcerned with bygone accomplishments, or unmotivated by anything that is not part of the digital realm would do well to read these articles. If they can serve as an example, it is clear that the current generation of engineering students -- much like those of any generation past -- are eager to learn, thorough in their efforts, and capable of critical thinking that leads to innovative solutions. Isn’t that what we all want in our next generation of civil engineers?"
Click here to see the articles on the West Point Civil and Mechanical Engineering Facebook page.