What Engineers Do...
Engineers help to design and manufacture just about everything—from the tallest skyscrapers to the smallest computer chips, from cars to space shuttles, from miracle fabrics to artificial heart valves. Even though their efforts are all around us, the work of engineers can seem like a mystery to those outside the profession.
"You grow up knowing what teachers and doctors and lawyers do. But unless your parents happen to be engineers, you probably don't have a clue what their work involves," says a woman who grew up to be a successful environmental engineer.
What do engineers really do? Let's take a look.
Types of Engineering: The "Big Four"
In the most general terms, engineers are problem-solvers. They apply the concepts of mathematics and science to solving real-world challenges.
The engineering profession includes many different disciplines. In fact, engineering may offer more career options than any other profession. Engineers are a diverse group, contributing to projects that improve the quality of life on every continent. A background in engineering can also lead to a career in law, education, medicine, or public policy.
Here's a look at four of the largest categories within the profession: chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Chemical Engineering
Take a walk through your grocery store, pharmacy, or paint store, and you'll see hundreds of examples of what chemical engineers create. Chemical engineers combine the science of chemistry with the principles of engineering to produce better plastics, fuels, fibers, semiconductors, medicines, building materials, cosmetics, and much more. Their know-how has helped to develop reduced-calorie sweeteners, lead-free paint, fibers that can withstand the heat of forest fires, and thousands of other products.
Chemical engineers work in a variety of settings, from research laboratories to food-processing plants to pharmaceutical companies. They tackle challenges relating to agriculture, environmental pollution, and energy production. Sometimes they even work at the molecular level to create brand-new synthetic materials.
Interested in the field of chemical engineering? Visit the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) (http://www.aiche.org/*) to learn how a chemical engineering background can prepare you for a career in manufacturing, research, biomedicine, quality control, law, sales and marketing, and related fields.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineers help to create the building blocks of modern society. From dams and highways to bridges and buildings, the products of civil engineering are all around us. Civil engineers belong to one of the oldest and largest branches of engineering. They use cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials to solve challenges in new ways.
A background in civil engineering opens the door to a variety of career options. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, areas of focus include construction engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, as well as transportation, urban planning, and water resources.
Interested in the field of civil engineering? Visit the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) http://www.asce.org/*.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical engineering has been one of the fastest-growing fields in recent decades, as breakthroughs in technology have led to rapid advancements in computing, medical imaging, telecommunications, fiber optics, and related fields.
Electrical engineers work with electricity in all its forms, from tiny electrons to large-scale magnetic fields. They apply scientific knowledge of electricity, magnetism, and light to solving problems that relate to cell phones, computer software, electronic music, radio and television broadcasting, air and space travel, and a wide range of other areas. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a background in electrical or computer engineering can lead to a career in aerospace, bioengineering, telecommunications, power, semiconductors, manufacturing, transportation, or related fields.
Electrical engineers often work in teams with other specialists to develop sophisticated devices such as lasers to use in medical treatments, or robots that can perform complex operations in space. In addition to technical expertise, engineers contribute problem-solving skills and interpersonal communications to successful team projects.
To find out more about the fields relating to electrical engineering, visit the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) http://www.ieee.org/*.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers turn energy into power and motion. What does that mean? "Anything that moves or uses power, there's a mechanical engineer involved in designing it," explains a member of this large branch of engineering.
Mechanical engineers work in all areas of manufacturing, designing automobiles or sporting goods, water treatment facilities or ocean-going ships. In a field like biomechanics, their expertise can improve the quality of life by designing artificial joints or mechanical heart valves.
Interested in the field of mechanical engineering? Find out more about mechanical engineering from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (http://www.asme.org/*).
Other Engineering Disciplines
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft, space vehicles, satellites, missiles, and rockets are some of the projects that are developed by aeronautical and aerospace engineers. They get involved in testing new materials, engines, body shapes, and structures that increase speed and strength of a flying vehicle.
Aerospace engineers work in commercial aviation, national defense, and space exploration. Some engineers work in labs testing aircraft, while others investigate system failures such as crashes to determine the cause and prevent future accidents. They are specialists in fields such as aerodynamics, propulsion, navigation, flight testing, and more.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineers, or bioengineers, use engineering principles to solve complex medical problems in health care and medical services. They work with doctors and medical scientists to develop and apply the latest technologies, such as microcomputers, electronics, and lasers.
Biomedical engineers might develop biomaterials to speed tissue repair in burn victims, or design medical devices that aid doctors in surgery. They might help to build bionic legs, arms, or hands to improve the lives of accident victims.
The biomedical field is changing rapidly as new technologies emerge. Bioengineers work in hospitals, government agencies, medical device companies, research labs, universities, and corporations. Many biomedical engineers have degrees in chemical or electrical engineering, and some go to medical school.
To find out more about biomedical engineering, visit the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), http://www.bmes.org/*.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers develop methods to solve problems related to the environment. They assist with the development of water distribution systems, recycling methods, sewage treatment plants, and other pollution prevention and control systems. Environmental engineers often conduct hazardous-waste management evaluations to offer solutions for treatment and containment of hazardous waste. Environmental engineers work locally and globally. They study and attempt to minimize the effects of acid rain, global warming, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion.
To learn more about the work of environmental engineers, visit the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, http://www.enviro-engrs.org/*.
Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineers make things work better, more safely, and more economical. They often work in manufacturing—dealing with design and management, quality control, and the human factors of engineering. They are problem-solvers who analyze and evaluate methods of production and ways to improve the methods. Based on their evaluation, they may determine how a company should allocate its resources.
Interested in the field of industrial engineering? To find out more, visit the Institute of Industrial engineers, http://www.iienet.org/*.
Materials Engineering
Materials engineers work with plastics, metals, ceramics, semiconductors, and composites to make products. They develop new materials from raw materials and improve upon existing materials. Whether it's creating higher performance skis or a biodegradable coffee cup, materials engineers can be found applying their expertise.
Materials engineers specializing in metals are metallurgical engineers, while those specializing in ceramics are ceramic engineers. Metallurgical engineers extract and refine metals from ores, process metals into products, and improve upon metalworking processes. Ceramic engineers develop ceramic materials and the processes for making ceramic materials into useful products. Ceramic engineers work on products as diverse as glassware, automobile and aircraft engine components, fiber-optic communication lines, tile, and electric insulators.
Compliments from http://www.intel.com/education/design/resources/what_engineers_do.htm
"You grow up knowing what teachers and doctors and lawyers do. But unless your parents happen to be engineers, you probably don't have a clue what their work involves," says a woman who grew up to be a successful environmental engineer.
What do engineers really do? Let's take a look.
Types of Engineering: The "Big Four"
In the most general terms, engineers are problem-solvers. They apply the concepts of mathematics and science to solving real-world challenges.
The engineering profession includes many different disciplines. In fact, engineering may offer more career options than any other profession. Engineers are a diverse group, contributing to projects that improve the quality of life on every continent. A background in engineering can also lead to a career in law, education, medicine, or public policy.
Here's a look at four of the largest categories within the profession: chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Chemical Engineering
Take a walk through your grocery store, pharmacy, or paint store, and you'll see hundreds of examples of what chemical engineers create. Chemical engineers combine the science of chemistry with the principles of engineering to produce better plastics, fuels, fibers, semiconductors, medicines, building materials, cosmetics, and much more. Their know-how has helped to develop reduced-calorie sweeteners, lead-free paint, fibers that can withstand the heat of forest fires, and thousands of other products.
Chemical engineers work in a variety of settings, from research laboratories to food-processing plants to pharmaceutical companies. They tackle challenges relating to agriculture, environmental pollution, and energy production. Sometimes they even work at the molecular level to create brand-new synthetic materials.
Interested in the field of chemical engineering? Visit the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) (http://www.aiche.org/*) to learn how a chemical engineering background can prepare you for a career in manufacturing, research, biomedicine, quality control, law, sales and marketing, and related fields.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineers help to create the building blocks of modern society. From dams and highways to bridges and buildings, the products of civil engineering are all around us. Civil engineers belong to one of the oldest and largest branches of engineering. They use cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials to solve challenges in new ways.
A background in civil engineering opens the door to a variety of career options. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, areas of focus include construction engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, as well as transportation, urban planning, and water resources.
Interested in the field of civil engineering? Visit the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) http://www.asce.org/*.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical engineering has been one of the fastest-growing fields in recent decades, as breakthroughs in technology have led to rapid advancements in computing, medical imaging, telecommunications, fiber optics, and related fields.
Electrical engineers work with electricity in all its forms, from tiny electrons to large-scale magnetic fields. They apply scientific knowledge of electricity, magnetism, and light to solving problems that relate to cell phones, computer software, electronic music, radio and television broadcasting, air and space travel, and a wide range of other areas. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a background in electrical or computer engineering can lead to a career in aerospace, bioengineering, telecommunications, power, semiconductors, manufacturing, transportation, or related fields.
Electrical engineers often work in teams with other specialists to develop sophisticated devices such as lasers to use in medical treatments, or robots that can perform complex operations in space. In addition to technical expertise, engineers contribute problem-solving skills and interpersonal communications to successful team projects.
To find out more about the fields relating to electrical engineering, visit the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) http://www.ieee.org/*.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers turn energy into power and motion. What does that mean? "Anything that moves or uses power, there's a mechanical engineer involved in designing it," explains a member of this large branch of engineering.
Mechanical engineers work in all areas of manufacturing, designing automobiles or sporting goods, water treatment facilities or ocean-going ships. In a field like biomechanics, their expertise can improve the quality of life by designing artificial joints or mechanical heart valves.
Interested in the field of mechanical engineering? Find out more about mechanical engineering from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) (http://www.asme.org/*).
Other Engineering Disciplines
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft, space vehicles, satellites, missiles, and rockets are some of the projects that are developed by aeronautical and aerospace engineers. They get involved in testing new materials, engines, body shapes, and structures that increase speed and strength of a flying vehicle.
Aerospace engineers work in commercial aviation, national defense, and space exploration. Some engineers work in labs testing aircraft, while others investigate system failures such as crashes to determine the cause and prevent future accidents. They are specialists in fields such as aerodynamics, propulsion, navigation, flight testing, and more.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineers, or bioengineers, use engineering principles to solve complex medical problems in health care and medical services. They work with doctors and medical scientists to develop and apply the latest technologies, such as microcomputers, electronics, and lasers.
Biomedical engineers might develop biomaterials to speed tissue repair in burn victims, or design medical devices that aid doctors in surgery. They might help to build bionic legs, arms, or hands to improve the lives of accident victims.
The biomedical field is changing rapidly as new technologies emerge. Bioengineers work in hospitals, government agencies, medical device companies, research labs, universities, and corporations. Many biomedical engineers have degrees in chemical or electrical engineering, and some go to medical school.
To find out more about biomedical engineering, visit the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), http://www.bmes.org/*.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers develop methods to solve problems related to the environment. They assist with the development of water distribution systems, recycling methods, sewage treatment plants, and other pollution prevention and control systems. Environmental engineers often conduct hazardous-waste management evaluations to offer solutions for treatment and containment of hazardous waste. Environmental engineers work locally and globally. They study and attempt to minimize the effects of acid rain, global warming, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion.
To learn more about the work of environmental engineers, visit the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, http://www.enviro-engrs.org/*.
Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineers make things work better, more safely, and more economical. They often work in manufacturing—dealing with design and management, quality control, and the human factors of engineering. They are problem-solvers who analyze and evaluate methods of production and ways to improve the methods. Based on their evaluation, they may determine how a company should allocate its resources.
Interested in the field of industrial engineering? To find out more, visit the Institute of Industrial engineers, http://www.iienet.org/*.
Materials Engineering
Materials engineers work with plastics, metals, ceramics, semiconductors, and composites to make products. They develop new materials from raw materials and improve upon existing materials. Whether it's creating higher performance skis or a biodegradable coffee cup, materials engineers can be found applying their expertise.
Materials engineers specializing in metals are metallurgical engineers, while those specializing in ceramics are ceramic engineers. Metallurgical engineers extract and refine metals from ores, process metals into products, and improve upon metalworking processes. Ceramic engineers develop ceramic materials and the processes for making ceramic materials into useful products. Ceramic engineers work on products as diverse as glassware, automobile and aircraft engine components, fiber-optic communication lines, tile, and electric insulators.
Compliments from http://www.intel.com/education/design/resources/what_engineers_do.htm
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