Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1327102
74 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2021 Now, Where Were We? Introduction In this month's column, I share a few terms I've been contemplating lately, and which I have been trying to put into context regard- ing the role of the PCEA within the electronics industry. Then, I hand it off to our PCEA Chair- man Stephen Chavez to inspire us for a fresh start in the new year. Finally, I'll provide our readers with a list of events which are coming up. PCEA Updates Like me, you may have noticed the use of three concepts used extensively in 2020: "Believe the science and data," "Speak truth to power," and "Consider 'systemic' causes for problems." Indeed, these concepts were associated with some particularly challenging, if not nasty, dis- plays of societal failures in 2020. It has been easy for us to see that in an agitated and des- perate social climate, the time-consuming, methodical approach to collecting data and applying it to science can give way to con- venient conspiracy theory. Speaking truth to power was shown to have the short-term potential to get a person fired overnight. The term systemic was used to point to long term causes for some particularly blatant failures of a society to set people up for success. Will our society's negative issues be addressed? Will any good come through les- sons learned from science, speaking truth to power, and examining systemic causes for our problems? I hope so. As I begin 2021, these concepts continue to challenge me. And considering these concepts, how can an organization like the PCEA help the electronics industry see positive move- ment in our industry? I think there is a lot our organization can do to inspire our member- ship in the long run. Where would our printed The Digital Layout by Kelly Dack, CIT, CID+, PCEA