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What is Engineering?

What is Engineering?. What is Engineering ? How does it differ from science?. iPod. Science: DESCRIBE EXPLAIN Parameters: θ, Ψ, ρ, σ 2 ,☺,λ, Ǻ, g, ћ, H 2 C 5 OH, . . . Starting salary: $38K (chemist). Engineering: INVENT DESIGN BUILD Parameters: $

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What is Engineering?

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  1. What is Engineering?

  2. What is Engineering? How does it differ from science? iPod Science: DESCRIBE EXPLAIN Parameters: θ, Ψ, ρ, σ2,☺,λ, Ǻ, g, ћ, H2C5OH, . . . Starting salary: $38K (chemist) Engineering: INVENT DESIGN BUILD Parameters: $ Starting salary: $54K (chemical engineer) spandex

  3. Engineering: What are its fields? Thirty years ago. . . If it moves, it's mechanical engineering; If it doesn't move, it's civil engineering; If you can't see it, it's electrical engineering; If it smells, it's chemical engineering. Today, it’s a blur. . . Biomolecular-, nano-, computer-, materials-, robotic-, biomedical-, environmental-, . . .

  4. What is Engineering? According to Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary: Engineering is “the application of mathematical and scientific principles to practical ends, as the design, construction, and operation of economical and efficient structures, equipment, and systems.” But is there more. . .? “Engineering. . .to define rudely but not inaptly is the art of doing that well with one dollar, which any bungler can do with two after a fashion”--Arthur Mellen Wellington, The Economic Theory of Railway Location (1911)

  5. Perspectives of engineering • by discipline (mechanical, bio-medical, . . .) • by vested interest (cultural, political, aesthetic, technical, . . .) • by scope (size, time scale, cost, . . .) • by impact (individual, community, world) • by technical level (research, adaptation of technology, • design, sales)

  6. Engineering is art. Aesthetics as well as function counts The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain Frank Gehry, architect The Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, England 1779

  7. Art that lasts a long time . . . Pont du Gard, France, 100AD Pyramids, Egypt, 2500BC (tallest manmade structures for 3800 years) Boring - see Civil Engineers --UK Yellow Pages

  8. Engineering is problem-solving One solution Two solutions

  9. Engineering is approximation. The mathematics of engineering systems are often too complicated to solve analytically. “Engineering problems are under-defined, there are many solutions, good, bad and indifferent. The art is to arrive at a good solution. This is a creative activity involving imagination, intuition, and deliberate choice.”--Ove Arup

  10. Engineering is measurement and estimation. River flow, noise in a communication system, scatter in a laser beam, earthquake characteristics--all require measurement

  11. Engineering is modeling and simulation. Often the only efficient means to confirm that an idea or design will work is to experiment with a scale model or computer simulation. Model of the X-33 being tested in the NASA Langley Mach 20 helium wind tunnel

  12. Engineering is communication. Making presentations, producing technical manuals, coordinating teams for large scale projects are all fundamental to engineering practice. Richard Feynman during the Challenger disaster hearings. $125M communication error

  13. Engineering is politics. The best functional solution is not necessarily the best practical solution. Three-mile island NIMBY Alaskan pipeline

  14. Engineering is finance. Design, construction, operation, and maintenance costs determine the viability of projects. The Big Dig, Boston: $14.2B ($22B as of 7/2008) The Channel tunnel: $21B ($1B = 666 Eiffel towers)

  15. Engineering is invention/design/innovation. New devices, materials, and processes are developed by engineers to meet needs that existing technologies do not address.

  16. Engineering is an outstanding salary. Most Lucrative College Degrees by Julianne PepitoneFriday, July 24, 2009provided by . . .engineering diplomas account for 12 of the 15 the top-paying majors. NACE collects its data by surveying 200 college career centers. . . .salaries for graduates who studied fields like social work command tiny paychecks, somewhere in the vicinity of $29,000. English, foreign language and communications majors make about $35,000. “. . .few grads offer math skills, and those who can are rewarded."

  17. Engineering is ethics. Engineering is safety. Engineering is public service. . . . “Architects and engineers are among the most fortunate of men since they build their own monuments with public consent, public approval and often public money”--John Prebble

  18. Engineering is new materials. . . and the space elevator

  19. A 21st century Eiffel Tower? (Chosen for London 2012 Olympics)

  20. Engineering isn’t only about big things. It’s also about nano-bio, bottom-up, tailored structures quantum dot biological markers SWCN switches nano-robots

  21. Engineering is haptics and robotic surgery

  22. Engineering is quick response problem-solving

  23. Global engineering challenges: global warming

  24. Engineering is long-range problem-solving

  25. Global engineering challenges: potable water

  26. Global engineering challenges: the cost of water

  27. Pumping Punjab dry (IEEE Spectrum, 2010) From hand-operated pumps to 4 hrs/day free electricity, subsistence farmers are lowering the water table to dangerous levels.

  28. Expose yourself to engineering!

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