Prompt #1

Engineering Preconceptions

• Engineers have to love math and science
• Most engineering occupations get paid extremely well
• It's difficult to earn a degree in this field
• Generally, engineers are stereotypical nerds (socially awkward, does calculus problems in their spare time, etc.)

By running through an introductory Engineering textbook, I was able to address a couple of my misconceptions about my field. The book appeared to be a really reliable and effective way to get a glimpse at the engineering field as a whole. It touched on some basic topics that helped clarify some things such as...

1. Descriptions of a handful of different engineering types
2. Communication/Teamwork in the field
3. Engineering Ethics

There is such a wide variety of engineering professions out there, and depending on the specific ones that interest you, it's definitely not necessary to be in love with math or even certain sciences. Sure, you need to take a lot of math and science courses to get your degree, so if it's a major struggle than maybe engineering isn't the best choice. However, when you get to the actual profession it's surprising that you don't have to know every single scientific and mathematic principle that exists. For example, if you really like physics but hate biology, Automotive engineers may appeal because they rarely even look at any biological aspects. If you aren't into complex math, there aren't many electrical or environmental engineers that solve differential equations every day at work. 

The stereotypical engineer is very shy and quiet, but plenty of engineers realize that it's extremely difficult to succeed in engineering with that type of approach. So much of the work done in engineering is done with a group or a project team. You need to be able to effectively communicate and be assertive in these types of situations. Engineers do have to deliver presentations occasionally as well. It doesn't look good if you come in, looking down at your feet and talking quietly the whole time. It's important to come across as approachable in the engineering field rather than someone who's distant and not concerned about other people's problems. 

Yes it's true that earning an engineering degree is not an easy task. But, some people in engineering only focus on specific topics and completing tasks logically without considering ethics or morality. For example, a mechanical engineer working for a car company might choose to design a vehicle with a cheaper material that's much easier to build with. However, this could prove to be a danger to the consumer who might be much less safe if a crash occurred. You can't just consider the efficiency and company's profits alone. This is why automotive engineers...

• have to crash test every model
• calculate the right place for airbags to deploy
• design effective seat-belts
• choose balanced material for every part of the vehicle... all to keep the passengers as safe as possible. 

You can see that engineering isn't just about broad topics that you learn about in the classroom, you also have to consider ethical principles as well. Of course, you're taught other ethical principles such as stealing, lying, or plagiarism, but there are obvious other issues that concern engineering specifically and play a big part in everyone's safety today. 

Overall, the textbook was extremely informative and answered a lot of my preconceptions about engineering. It really is an interesting field.

-Danny

Source: 

Stephan, Elizabeth A. Thinking like an Engineer: An Active Learning Approach. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2013. Print.

Geological Engineering

Geological Engineering

Geological engineering is a hybrid discipline that comprises elements of civil engineering, mining engineering, petroleum engineering, and earth sciences. Geo-engineers work in areas of mining such as: mining, energy, infrastructure which is underground transportation systems and isolations of nuclear and hazardous wastes, environment which is groundwater flow.

Geological engineering is a application with a combination of geology and engineering science to design, involving rock, soil, groundwater and mineral resources

What do geological engineers do?

They carry out site investigations for dams, plants, roads, railways, housing projects, mines and quarries, pipelines, petroleum production, forestry operations and a variety of other things. They interact with civil engineers to design essential parts of projects. They prospect for minerals, building material resources and drinking water. They carry out hazard and risk assessments and mapping for landslides and earthquakes.  -DJ

Communication Engineering

Communication Engineering

Communication engineering is an discipline that brings together all electrical disciplines including computer engineering with systems to enhance telecommunication systems. A communication engineer may be involved in the following:

• The creation of video conferencing facilities which bring people from all over the world.

• The design and maintenance of satellites which bring TV, phones, and internet service into remote and rural regions

  Communication engineering may work and design on tiny troubleshoot circuits or may work with the technology that manages a city wide electrical grid. They may work in a lab or at the top of a cellular tower; they also may travel many times or remain in a central office. For some positions, engineers must also be certified by one or more advisory bodies. Communication engineers can work in highly sensitive roles and may be required to pass criminal or background investigations or obtain security clearances.

Mathematics and science is the key component of communication engineering. Also have other key skills including problem solving, analytical skills and organization. -DJ 

Prompt #3

Interviewing engineer

How long have you been working for ford? I've been working for ford for 15 years and I don't plan on moving away from them unless its another opportunity for me.

In high school I heard that engineering is hard, how did you overcome the difficulties in your classes? Well at first I was doing bad, I wasn't the best of a student but it worked out. I found out that I had many resources and I used them to my advantage.

What you think is going to be the biggest challenges for future engineers? I don't think its really going to be challenge for you all because you  have the web and all of this new technology. otherwise I think communication is going to be the biggest challenge

What do you do at your job exactly? I go to work sit in my office and play the game until one of the machines stop functioning right, then I go fix it.

In college, what do you think was the hardest thing about engineering? For a fact it was the math. Math isn't a joke so you really have to apply yourself.

What made you pick engineering of every other career? I like math and I felt like it best suited me. i never got bored with so I just kept on rolling with it.

If a person wishes to enter your field what characteristics must he/she display? You have to be a hands on type person and being humble about the job opportunity that you have.

A New Formula

For the 2017 F1 season, the rules and regulations are getting a complete update. And this time around, the word "update" can actually be used. Unlike the regulation change in 2014, that saw the cars switching from V8's to V6 Turbos, the 2017 rule change doesn't touch the engines. Cars in 2017 will still have the widely criticized power units, but now something might just make up for that. It is safe to say that the aero engineers and technical designers will have work on their hands for 2017.

To start, the tires will now be wider. The front tires are being raised from 245mm to 305mm. The rears are being bumped up even more heavily, from 305mm to 405mm. Pirelli, the F1 tire supplier, claims that this change alone will cut 4 to 5 seconds PER LAP. That is ridiculous, considering F1 cars are already tamed rocket ships.

The next part of the rule change is all about the aesthetics and aerodynamics of the cars. Starting at the front, the wrong will now be wider, and tapered toward the wheels, supposedly giving the cars a better look. But if you ignore the makeup, the wider wing will allow for much more downforce, again, making the cars even faster.

Moving back, the side-pods will get a new look as well. Again, they will be tapered back and away from the center of the car. This won't change airflow much, so this is strictly for aesthetic purposes.

Finally, the rear wing will be completely changed. It will now be lower, and wider. This will resemble the cars before the 2009 rule change. It will also make the cars see an increase in downforce, and a reduce in drag. The DRS (Drag-Reduction-System)will be effected as well, as the rear wing is much wider, DRS will be much more effective.

With so many changes on the cards for 2017, each team's aero designer will be tested to the max. The rules see changes for aerodynamics at nearly every corner of the car. Whoever can come up with the best formula for the new rules, will be rewarded by a strong year in 2017.

Writer: Pat Wilkinson

Prompt #7

There isn’t a ton of controversy associated with the engineering field as a whole. The general public recognizes that engineering is an important career, capable of solving some of the world’s most difficult problems. However, certain subcategories of engineering can bring about conflicting viewpoints as some engineering methods may be seen as unethical.

An obvious one that comes to mind is genetic engineering. Monsanto, a biotech company that specializes in Agriculture, created an artificial hormone for cows that stimulates milk production. Engineers and Scientists for Monsanto argue that the hormone reduces the strain placed on the environment by cow herds, which must eat enough grass to produce the right amount of milk each day (average of eight gallons per cow). Based on this, proponents would argue that…

• They’re actually saving grass by injecting cows with the hormone
• They could save as much as 6.6 billion gallons of water annually that would normally go to grass cultivation.
• Overall, the drug’s impact would be beneficial to the environment
• More milk production would lead to more profit

On the other hand, critics point to the studies that show the negative health effects that the hormone has on cows and humans. The opposing argument is as follows…

• Foot problems in cows as a side effect
• Mastitis, or inflammation of the mammary glands, another proven side effect
• Certain groups argue that the hormone in our milk could negatively impact the human immune system
• Already banned in the EU and Canada for the above reasons

Both arguments are compelling, making it pretty difficult for some to take a definitive stance on the issue. It’s evident that certain types of engineering do bring about controversy. There are plenty of other controversies relating to genetic engineering that extend much further than this lone example, so if you were interested in this argument feel free to do some added research.

By: Danny

Source: "Genetic Engineering." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.,
http://libraries.state.ma.us/login?gwurl=http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&action=2&catId=GALE%7C00000000LVWS&documentId=GALE%7CPC3021900072&userGroupName=mlin_m_framhs&source=Bookmark&u=mlin_m_framhs&jsid=65c21b1c763218bbed4f53729512bf12

Image Cite:  http://www.foodandpower.net/tag/monsanto/

Prompt #9

Perhaps the biggest science news this year is Amazon's unveiling of the delivery drone. This device will soon be available across the US, allowing people to get their deliveries in minutes, instead of hours. "Drones that will fly packages directly to your doorstep in 30 minutes" (Soper). This is made possible by the explosion in drone technology over the recent years. A drone is a remote controlled (or in this case controlled by ai) vehicle that is propelled by (usually 4) propellers. These drones are capable of flying miles on end, at altitudes safe from any electrical lines, or airplanes. "drones fly under 400 feet and weigh less than 55 pounds" (Soper).

Amazon has taken this new concept of transport, and plan to revolutionize both it and logistics. These devices would be required to pick up a box, up to 5 pounds, and carry it for up to 15 miles. For Amazon to achieve this, they had to bring in a group of engineers to design said drones. First, it was the mechanical and aerospace engineers turn. Their job was to make an aircraft that can not only fly 15 miles on a single charge, but can also pick up, carry, and drop a package. For help with this and location control, Amazon called in computer engineers. These types of engineers are skilled in computer programming. Their job is to code the drone so it can maneuver around object, and deliver the package to the correct destination, with no human input.

While Amazon has done all of the technical work, they still need liscensing to be able to fly the drones. "The Federal Aviation Administration is currently developing regulations for both recreational drones and commercial delivery drones" (Soper). Their aim is to have drones in the sky by early 2017

Writer: Pat Wilkinson

Soper, Taylor. "Amazon Reveals New Delivery Drone Design with Range

 of 15 Miles." GeekWire. N.p., 29 Nov. 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.

Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory is well-known for its witty humor and science-themed jokes, but a lot of the stereotypes and generalizations about scientists and engineers can actually be harmful. I’m not a huge fan of the show and I’ve only seen a few episodes. It is indeed humorous, but many aspects of the show can lead kids away from choosing a path in the engineering field or the scientific and math communities.

Earlier in the semester, the class was asked to read a few articles on this show that showed how it can influence youth when choosing a career path.  I saw an episode on T.V. and decided to further analyze its misrepresentations in society.

The class saw plenty of proof that women see the two opposites of the spectrum when looking up to the female role models on the show. You see women that are extremely book-smart, yet very socially challenged and exhibit many stereotypical “nerdy” characteristics. Then you see a woman who’s attractive and blond, with only an average intelligence. This paints a very negative picture, in young girls in particular, about females that choose to enter into a career relating to science or engineering. It implies that you can only choose between two types of people. I found that the show doesn’t just stop at female stereotypes in STEM fields either.

I read a lengthy article online that analyzes the negative portrayals of engineers within the general media. A portion of this article focuses on this show and how it portrays engineers in a certain negative light. Specifically analyzed is the aerospace engineer within the show, Howard Wolowitz. Just to give you a taste, I’ll lay out some of the following characteristics of this main character.

• Socially awkward
• Lives with his mother (even after he gets engaged)
• Dresses in vintage 1960’s clothing
• Loves comics and superheroes
• Embarrasses himself repeatedly when trying to pick up girls
• Has a collection of around a hundred belt buckles (one of them is a Nintendo controller)

Clearly, the show paints a picture of what the stereotypical engineer is supposed to look like in society. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a person like this, but the simple fact is that a majority of engineers are not at all like the one portrayed here in the show. Over the course of the show, this character and the engineering field in general, seems to be mocked by the show’s writers. For example, Howard works with NASA and one episode shows how poorly the profession as a whole is depicted. He’s shown working on a design project for NASA and of the hundreds of cool and exciting designs he could have been working on, the writers chose to have him develop a space toilet. The writers further mocked his ability by showing that the design was flawed, and would explode after ten flushes.

Overall, the show depicts a number of engineering and scientific stereotypes that definitely would not inspire a young viewer to want to be like these characters.

-Danny

Fabian, Andrew. "Engineers in Popular Media." Digital Commons. Olin College, 1 Apr. 2012. Web. <http://digitalcommons.olin.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=ahs_capstone_2012>.