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The ground beneath our feet may seem solid, but during an earthquake, everything can change in just 15-20 seconds. In this eye-opening conversation with Chartered Civil Engineer Dr Kubilây Hiçyılmaz, we explore how civil engineering quietly shapes every aspect of our daily lives while revealing the profound responsibility engineers have in creating resilient communities.
Civil engineering isn't just about buildings and bridges—it's about ensuring society itself can function. As Dr Kubilây Hiçyılmaz explains, the term reveals its purpose: "civilian engineering" designed to serve civilian needs. From the water flowing through your taps to the roads connecting communities, civil engineers are the hidden guardians of infrastructure that enables modern life.
The stakes couldn't be higher. When major earthquakes struck Pakistan (2005), Haiti (2010), and Nepal (2015), poorly constructed buildings collapsed in seconds, claiming between 10,000-200,000 lives. These tragedies highlight a troubling paradox: we entrust our families to structures often built by workers with minimal training. Yet through better skills and implementation practices, buildings can withstand nature's most violent forces.
Perhaps most surprising is civil engineering's impact on public health. "Dysentery is not a medical problem; it's primarily a civil engineering problem, Dr Kubilây Hiçyılmaz provocatively states. By providing clean water and proper sanitation, engineers prevent illness before medicine becomes necessary—potentially saving more lives than healthcare interventions.
As we wrestle with infrastructure maintenance challenges, energy needs, and balancing cost against safety, this conversation reveals that civil engineering isn't just about technical solutions—it's about making ethical choices that shape society. What kind of world are we building, and at what cost? The answers lie not only in steel and concrete but in how we value human life and dignity.
Listen now to discover the hidden infrastructure that makes civilization possible and how engineering choices ripple through every aspect of our existence.

Music, lyrics, guitar and singing by Dr Ariel Rosita King
Teach me to live one day at a time
with courage love and a sense of pride.
Giving me the ability to love and accept myself
so I can go and give it to someone else.
Teach me to live one day at a time.....

The Business of Life
Dr Ariella (Ariel) Rosita King
Original Song, "Teach Me to Live one Day At A Time"
written, guitar and vocals by Dr. Ariel Rosita King
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