STLE Special Report Subgroup
By Sanya Mathura | TLT Volunteer's Voice October 2026
This subgroup has widened my scope beyond some of the industries I have traditionally worked in.
Before embarking on most projects, a common question people ask is, "What's in it for me?" Over the past two years, I've volunteered for the STLE Special Report Subgroup where we get to review submissions of articles and help some articles find their way into the spotlight through the new, technical special reports. While this may sound boring, I can assure you it is an adventure!
Submissions are received across the globe from people who are passionate about particular topics and want to share these with the audience. That passion is reflected in their submissions, as they describe (in detail!) some of the reasons the topic is of relevance and its impact on society. It's truly exceptional to be at the forefront and bear witness to all of the ideas circulating and, in some instances, changing the industry.
What makes this committee truly special is its international flavor. We have members from the U.S., Australia and Trinidad & Tobago who all collaborate with the common goal of bringing more knowledge to our audience. But again, the question gets asked, "What's in it for me?" The simple answer: "I get to hang out with some of the coolest people in our industry, bounce some ideas around and make an impact on the readers."
It has widened my scope beyond some of the industries I have traditionally worked in and given me more insight into topics relating to aerospace, aviation and even crossed over to concepts being explored on the moon. Having this front row seat has really increased my appreciation for the industry and the various roles researchers, as well as engineers, play in ensuring that everything goes smoothly (or rather has a reduced coefficient of friction).
At the end of the day, we all use our acquired knowledge and skills to help create a better future for the upcoming generation—a future where we are all equipped with information to solve problems or at least participate in creating solutions for these problems. By doing this, we are playing a small role in ensuring that information does not remain hidden or locked away in a drawer; rather it is available for those who need it the most.
Volunteering can be transformative as you get to give freely of your time, knowledge and skills to a cause which has a greater purpose. In this subgroup, we get to become more acquainted with topics that people are excited about and interact with some of the brilliant minds who are changing the landscape in these areas. We also get to work alongside the writers to help guide the tone and content of the article.
When next you're deciding whether or not you want to volunteer, instead of asking, "What's in it for me?" maybe we can change the conversation to: "What can I do to help the industry and the future generations?"
Sanya Mathura is CEO & founder of Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd. You can reach her at sanya.mathura@gmail.com.