An introduction to engineering adapted from the course “What is Engineering?” offered to freshman at Johns Hopkins University

What is Engineering?

What is Engineering?

How does it differ from science?

Science:DESCRIBEEXPLAIN

Parameters: θ, Ψ, ρ, σ2,☺,λ, Ǻ, g, ћ, H2C5OH, . . .Starting salary: $38K (chemist)

Engineering:INVENTDESIGNBUILD

Parameters: $Starting salary: $54K (chemical engineer)

iPod

spandex

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.

Engineering: What are its fields?Thirty years ago. . .

Today, it’s a blur. . .

Biomolecular-, nano-, computer-, materials-, robotic-, biomedical-, environmental-, . . .

What is Engineering?

According to Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary:

Engineering is “the application of mathematical andscientific principles to practical ends, as the design,construction, and operation of economical and efficientstructures, 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)

Engineering is art. Aesthetics as well as function counts

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, SpainFrank Gehry, architect

The Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale,England 1779

More art . . .

Pont du Gard, France, 100AD

Sagrada familia, Barcelona

Boring - see Civil Engineers --UK Yellow Pages

More engineering art. . .by women

Vietnam Memorial (Mia Lin)

Hearst Castle (Julia Morgan) Musee d’Orsay (Gae Aulenti)

London eye (Julia Barfield)

Engineering is problem-solving

One solution Two solutions

Engineering is approximation. The mathematics of engineeringsystems 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, anddeliberate choice.”--Ove Arup

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

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 testedin the NASA Langley Mach 20helium wind tunnel

Engineering is communication. Making presentations,producing technical manuals, coordinating teams for largescale projects are all fundamental to engineering practice.

Richard Feynmanduring the Challengerdisaster hearings.

$125M communication error

Engineering is politics. The best functional solutionis not necessarily the best practical solution.

Three-mile island

NIMBY

Alaskan pipeline

Engineering is finance. Design, construction, operation,and maintenance costs determine the viability ofprojects.

The Big Dig, Boston: $14.2B ($22B as of 7/2008)

The Channel tunnel: $21B

($1B = 666 Eiffel towers)

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

Most Lucrative College Degreesby Julianne Pepitone

Friday, 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."

Engineering is an outstanding salary.

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

Engineering is new materials. . . and the space elevator

Engineering is new designs for old problems

Millau viaduct-France (2005)

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

Engineering isn’t only about big things.

It’s also about nano-bio, bottom-up, tailored structures

quantum dotbiological markers

SWCN switches nano-robots

Engineering is haptics and robotic surgery

Engineering is acoustic control

Expose yourself to engineering!