What inspires someone to become a civil engineer? In Autumn Buesking’s case: a childhood bridge, a statewide flood, and a spaghetti-and-glue design contest.
In this episode of 21st Century Water, host Dr. Dennis Truax welcomes Autumn — named one of ASCE’s 2025 New Faces of Civil Engineering — to share her journey from small-town Missouri to designing real infrastructure with national impact.
They dive into:
Building storm shelters, aquatic centers & school expansions
The power of internships and hands-on learning
Her explosive (literally) minor in demolition
The future of engineering: AI, sustainability, and systems thinking
The transition from college to career (including imposter syndrome)
Real advice for students and young professionals
This is a fun, practical, and inspiring conversation for anyone working in — or entering — the world of civil engineering.
🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Dennis Truax, former ASCE president and Professor Emeritus at Mississippi State University.
🔗 Resources
Learn more about ASCE: https://www.asce.org
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Connect with us: www.21stcenturyengineer.com
