In this address, I talked about the differences in engineering practice between Paris and Tunis and how young Tunisian engineers can learn to be experts by understanding how they can contribute economic, commercial and social value from their work.

Here is an audio recording (apologies for the noise and low quality)

And the powerpoint presentation

Trevelyan-Monastir-170728-1

Bill Williams and I have now written a book chapter and a journal article about these ideas, but it will still be several months before they appear.  If you would like advance copies of these manuscripts, please write to us.

Tunis has some wonderfully picturesque locations, particularly at Sidi Bou Said, where the traditional architecture and streetscape was preserved by orders of the French Protectorate.

I visited the ancient Carthage port and ruins of the citadel…

Leftover “spare parts” fascinated me: these exquisite marble columns represented the technological state of the art at the time of the Roman occupation.

At Al Jem, there is a vast, wonderfully restored Roman amphitheatre which serves as a reminder of Tunisia’s past engineering achievements, albeit under Roman tutelage.

With our guide Lotfi Hassine and companion Dr. Vasundara V Varadan, who delivered an inspiring keynote address on Saturday.

Some other photos:

Note the notches used with lifting clamps to ensure no stones would be dropped while being lifted into place.

Here are some of the enthusiastic young engineers I met and had the privilege to work with at Monastir.

Dr Ammar Kouki, Chair of NATEG 2017, and Dr. Ahmed Khebir, volunteer their time and energy every year to organize NATEG for up to 600 young Tunisian student engineers.

Finally we were entertained by the Central chapter of the Tunisia America Chamber of Commerce in Sousse – a memorable evening.