Project: Crowdsourcing

This article discusses the contribution of readers in creating the feature content of an entire issue of Mechanical Engineering magazine. The only parameter to this project was that the ideas for articles be focused on at least one of ASME’s three strategic initiatives. That is, they should relate to energy, engineering workforce development, or global impact and outreach. The project started by spreading the word about the initiative. Over the course, the editors solicited readers’ input, streamlined their comments and suggestions, presented readers with a list of ideas they had submitted, and then asked the readers to vote on them. Two ideas from each of the three ASME strategic areas were used. Writers were identified who would bring the most interesting perspectives to each of the topics, and then those writers were asked to write essays. The result of the 12-month process was the first crowdsourced issue of the magazine.