WORKING AND LIVING SMARTER
(MORE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, INNOVATIVE, AND LONGER)
PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOPS/PUBLICATIONS

Almost a decade ago, I began to study basic brain science with the goal of helping engineers and other professionals work smarter by being even more effective, efficient, and innovative. This research naturally led to opportunities, which I welcomed, to write and speak about what I was learning and to conduct workshops. I am most appreciative of these interaction activities because of what I learned in preparing for and in receiving feedback from them. More recently, continuing studies and interactions with various individuals and groups led me to see that “Neuroscience 101” can also help us live better and longer.

A summary of my working smarter presentations, workshops, and publications follows. If any of these interest you, please contact me at stu-walesh@comcast.net to discuss them or to request a copy or summary which I would be pleased to share with you.

Perhaps you would like to explore conducting such a working smarter presentation/workshop within your organization (e.g., business, government entity, university, volunteer). If so, please let me know.

Thank you,
Stu Walesh  

Presentations/Workshops

“Brainology in K–Kollege Kurricula,” presented to the Saturday Evening Club, Valparaiso, IN, May 14, 2022.

“Using Brain Basics to Work Smarter,” presented to the SunCoast Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Sarasota, FL, November 19, 2020.

“Innovation in Civil Engineering,” a webinar presented as part of ASCE’s continuing education program, November 18, 2020.

"Know and Care for Your Brain: Use It or Lose It," presented to the Sanctuary Condominium Association, Cape Haze, FL, February 2, 2020.

“Can Doing Art Make You Even More Communicative and Creative?” presented at TRIZCON19 – The annual conference of the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies, Purdue University, May 2019.

“Our Brain: Are We Practicing Good Stewardship With It?” presented at Christ Lutheran Church, Valparaiso, IN as part of their year-long stewardship program, September 2018.

“How to Innovate More by Avoiding the Design Fixation Trap,” webinar sponsored by the Engineering Management Institute, July 31, 2018.

“Avoid Being Stung by Einstellung: Then Innovate,” presented at Annual Conference of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), Las Vegas, NV, July 20, 2018.

“Your Brain and the Rest of Your Life: A Layperson’s Perspective,” presented to the Kiwanis Club, Valparaiso, IN, June 20, 2018.

“Design Fixation: Fix It and Innovate More,” presented at the Indiana Society of   Professional Engineers Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN, June 8, 2018.

“Your Brain and the Rest of Your Life: A Layperson’s Perspective,” presented at the Englewood Charlotte Public Library, Charlotte County, FL, February 28, 2018.

“Brainology,” presented at the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, Cape Haze, FL, February 15, 2018.

“You, Your Brain, and the Rest of Your Life,” presented to financial advisors and clients of Blue Sky Financial Partners, Valparaiso, IN, October 6, 2017.

“Innovation: It’s in the Brain!” a webinar co-presented with Claude Goguen, PE, Director of Sustainability and Technical Education, National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA), Carmel, IN, October 5, 2017.

“Use Brain Basics to be More Productive and Innovative,” presentation to Senior Design students, College of Engineering, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, September 15, 2017.

“Use Neuroscience 101 to Live and Work Smarter,” presentation to the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors -- Northwest Branch, Valparaiso, IN, September 14, 2017.

“Use Neuroscience 101 to be More Innovative, Productive Engineers” presented to members of the Public Works, Environmental, and Transportation Department, City of San Jose, CA, July 21, 2017.

“Would Doing Art Make You an Even Better Engineer?” presented at the annual conference of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers, Indianapolis, IN, June 10, 2017.

“Neuroscience 101: Brain Basics for Teachers and Students,” a webinar sponsored by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Foundation (KEEN), May 10, 2017.

“You, Your Brain, and the Rest of Your Life,” presented to the Sanctuary Condominium Association, Cape Haze, FL, March 5, 2017.

“Using Neuroscience to Study and Work Smarter,” presentation to civil engineering students and faculty, College of Engineering, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, October 5, 2016

“Art as Part of Science and Engineering Education?” a webinar presented as part of Pearson’s Featured Speakers Series, October 3, 2016.

“Using Neuroscience to Work Smarter: More Effective, Creative, Innovative,” presented at the Third U.S. – Japan Geoenvironmental Engineering Workshop, Chicago, IL, August 13-14, 2016.

“You, Your Brain, and the Rest of Your Life” presented at the Indiana Fraternal Alliance Annual Meeting, Michigan City, IN, August 5, 2016.

“Art as Part of an Engineer’s Education?”, Reunion Conference on Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, June 24, 2016.

“Neuroscience 101: Might Your Teaching and Their Learning Benefit?” presented at the national ASEE Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 26-29, 2016.

“Neuroscience 101: Might Your Teaching and Their Learning Benefit?”, Distinguished Lecture, College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science, University of Wisconsin, Platteville, WI, April 7, 2016.

"Working Smarter: More Effective, Efficient, and Innovative," Morning Business Hour at First Financial Bank, Crown Point, IN, October 28, 2015.

"Working Smarter: More Effective, Efficient, and Innovative," half-day workshop for the Leadership Team, Valparaiso City Utilities, Valparaiso, IN, October 15, 2015.

"You, Your Brain and the Rest of Your Life," Christ Lutheran Church, Valparaiso, IN, September 24, 2015.

"Creativity and Innovation as Part of the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge," presented at the national ASEE Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, June 14-17, 2015.

"The Human Brain: An Engineer's Pragmatic View," presented at the Annual Conference of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers, Indianapolis, IN, June 12, 2015.

"Working Smarter: Using Brain Basics to Enhance Individual and Organizational Behavior," a webinar sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Continuing Education Program, September 2014 and October 2015.

"Working Smarter: Using Brain Basics to Improve Project Management," presented to the Project Management Institute, Calumet Chapter, Merrillville, IN, July 16, 2014.

"Using Brain Basics to Work Smarter," presented to the Rotary Club, Valparaiso, IN, May 5, 2014.

"Using Brain Basics to Work Smarter," a presentation to the ASCE SunCoast Branch, Sarasota, FL, March 20, 2014.

"Five Habits of Highly Effective Marketers: Engage Your Subconscious Mind," a webinar sponsored by ASCE's Continuing Education Program, February 13, 2014.

"A Whole-Brain Approach to Utility Management," a presentation and breakouts at the Joint Utility Management Seminar sponsored by the Indiana Section of the American Water Works Association and the Indiana Water Environment Association, Indianapolis, IN, October 31, 2013.

"A Half-Brain is Good, A Whole Brain is Much Better: How to Be Even More Creative/Innovative," a workshop conducted at Valparaiso University, October 26, 2013.

"A Half-Brain is Good, A Whole Brain is Much Better," a presentation and breakouts at the ASCE Iowa Section Annual Conference, Ames, IA, September 12, 2013.

"Adopt a Whole-Brain Approach to Increase Your Engineering and Leadership Effectiveness," presented at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Florida Conference, Sarasota, FL, July 10-13, 2013.

“Loose Ends and the Rest of Your Life,” presented to the Hammocks Condominium Association, Cape Haze, FL, April 10, 2013.

“Innovation in Engineering: A Whole-Brain Approach,” Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD, February 20, 2013.

 “Innovation for Civil and Environmental Professionals: A Whole-Brain Approach --A Two Day Workshop,” Department of Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, October 15-16, 2012.

“Creativity in Engineering Education and Research,” College of Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, October 5, 2012.

“Developing an Innovative Culture in Your Firm: Benefits and How To,” a webinar sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) continuing education program, August 7, 2012.

“A Half Brain is Good: A Whole Brain Much Better,” presented at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference (and published in the Proceedings), San Antonio, TX, June 10-13, 2012.

“Benefits of Developing a Creative/Innovative Culture in Your Firm,” presented at the Spring Meeting of ASFE: The Geoprofessional Business Association, Orlando, Fl, April 19-21, 2012.

“Solving Problems and Pursuing Opportunities: A More Creative Approach,” a webinar sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Continuing Education program, March 7, 2012.

“Enhancing Engineers' Creativity and Innovation: A Whole-Brain Approach,” Invited Kirlin Lecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, October 12, 2011.

“Project Management and Creativity/Innovation,” Portion of the graduate course Master of Leadership in Engineering, Civil Engineering School, Castilla LaMancha University, Ciudad Real, Spain, September 19-22, 2011.

“Enhancing the Creativity and Innovation of Engineers: Why and How,” 5th Course Lecture, Civil Engineering School, Castilla LaMancha University, Ciudad Real, Spain, September 19, 2011.

“Enhancing Engineers’ Creativity and Innovation: Why and How,” 2nd Reunion Conference on Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, August 3-5, 2011.

"Enhancing the Creativity and Innovation of Project Managers: Why and How,” presented to the Project Management Institute - Calumet Chapter, Merrillville, IN, May 25, 2011.

Publications

“Design Fixation: Avoid It and Innovate More,” Precast, Inc. Magazine, National Precast Concrete Association, May-June, 2020.

“Integrate Ethics into Interviews with Prospective Employees,” Indiana Professional Engineer Journal, September/October 2019.

“Timely Advice,” Indiana Professional Engineer Journal, July/August 2019.

“The Power of Questions,” Indiana Professional Engineer Journal, May/June 2019.

“From Bird Beak to Fast Train: Biomimicry,” Indiana Professional Engineer Journal, March/April 2019.

“Can Creating Art Make You a More Effective Engineer?” PE – The Magazine of Professional Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, March/April 2019.

“Design Fixation: The Bane of Innovative Engineering,” GEOSTRATA, ASCE, March/April 2019.

“Build Heads of STEAM,” Indiana Professional Engineer Journal, January/February, 2019.

“Nix Negativity Bias,” Indiana Professional Engineer Journal, November/December, 2018.

“Our Conscious and Subconscious Minds: A Powerful Duo,” published on the website of the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies, September 2018.

“Avoid Negativity Bias: You May Be Unwittingly Hampered by Your Brain!” GEOSTRATA, ASCE, July/August, 2018.

“STEM is Good, but STEAM is Better,” Guest Viewpoint, Engineering News-Record, December 27, 2017.

“Mind Your Mind,” Indiana Professional Engineer, May/June, 2017.

“Brain Power,” PE, The Magazine for Professional Engineers, January/February, 2017.

“Experiment – Just Try It,” Indiana Professional Engineer, July/August, 2016.

“Engineers as Composers,” Indiana Professional Engineer, May/June, 2016.

“Neuroscience 101: Might Your Teaching and Their Learning Benefit?”, proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 26-29, 2016.

"Creativity and Innovation as Part of the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge," proceedings of ASEE Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, June 14-17, 2015.

"Add Brain Basics to Your Professional Development List," Leading Insight column, PE, NSPE, April 2015.

"Engineering's Essence: Building," Indiana Professional Engineer, March/April 2015.

"Visual and Performing Arts and You: Never Too Late," Indiana Professional Engineer, January/February, 2015.

“Staging a Creative Culture,” Leadership and Management in Engineering-ASCE, October, 2012.

“To Engineer Is To Create: To Create Is To Engineer,” Leadership and Management in Engineering-ASCE, July, 2012.

“Creativity: Killing or Cultivating?” PE, National Society of Professional Engineers, June, 2012.

"A Half Brain is Good: A Whole Brain Much Better,” proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, June 10-13, 2012.

“Creativity/Innovation: Killing or Cultivating?” The Softside of Engineering, Indiana Professional Engineer, January/February, 2012, p. 3.

Engineering Your Future: The Professional Practice of Engineering – Third Edition, Chapter 7, “Quality: What is It and How Do We Achieve It?,” Section: “Tools and Techniques for Stimulating Creative and Innovative Thinking,” Wiley, Hoboken, NJ and ASCE Press, Reston, VA, March, 2012.

“Art for Engineers: Encouraging More Right-Mode Thinking,” Leadership and Management in Engineering-ASCE, January, 2012, pp. 37-42.

“The Power of Persistence,” The Softside of Engineering, Indiana Professional Engineer, November/December, 2011, p. 3.

“Creativity Plus Persistence Equals Breakthroughs,” Leadership and Management in Engineering-ASCE, April, 2011, p.1.

“The Power of Our Subconscious,” Lesson 32 and “Looking Ahead: Can You Spare a Paradigm,” Lesson 52 in Managing and Leading: 52 Lessons Learned for Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Press, Reston, VA, 2004.

Book

Introduction to Creativity and Innovation for Engineers, Pearson, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2017.

YouTube Videos

“How to Develop a Whole-Brain Mindset,” posted August 2017, 5:59, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRFIYy5nOyg  

“Neuroscience 101: Brain Basics for Teachers and Students,” posted May 2017, 54:18,             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksn5eOxBY8s

“How to Use a Whole-Brain Approach to Live and Work Smarter,” posted March 2017, 4:10, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufsyD15k_rI

“How You Can Avoid Being Stung by Einstellung: Set Yourself Up for Creativity and Innovation,” posted December 2016, 4:38, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm-imFertKw    

“How You Can Replace a Bad Habit with a Good Habit,” posted November 2016, 4:23, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aivl-6OsYLk


Notes:

  • I welcome opportunities to speak, teach, conduct workshops, and collaborate about any aspect of working smarter. Contact me at stu-walesh@comcast.net or 219-242-1704.

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