Activity 1.6 Discover Engineering
In this activity you will investigate the four major disciplines of engineering and consider their impact on you and the world.
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1. What is engineering? Based on your current perception, in a few sentences define the term “engineering.”
Now investigate the engineering profession. Some websites that may be helpful in your research include the following.
As you perform your research, record information that will help you respond to the following. Once you have gathered sufficient information, write your responses in the spaces provided.
2. Describe the four major disciplines of engineering and identify problems or projects that an engineer in each discipline might encounter.
Visit the National Academy of Engineering website on the Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century at http://www.greatachievements.org/ (Links to an external site.). Choose one of the achievements listed and read the information provided about your selected achievement. Then, based on what you learn, respond to the following.
4. Describe your selected achievement in a few sentences.
5. Which major discipline of engineering do you think was most involved in the development of this achievement? Justify your answer.
Visit the National Academy of Engineering website on the Grand Engineering Challenges at http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/ (Links to an external site.). Review your choice of an engineering discipline in item 3 and consider how an engineer within this discipline could contribute to the solution of one or more of the grand challenges.
6. If you were an engineer within the discipline that you chose in item 3, which engineering grand challenge would you like to work on?
7. Describe your selected grand challenge.
8. Why is a solution to this challenge important to the world?
9. How could you, as an engineer in your chosen discipline, contribute to a solution to this challenge?
Conclusion
1. What is it about engineering that is common to all disciplines of engineering? That is, what makes an engineer an engineer regardless of the work one does
The application of math and science are common to all disciplines of engineering.
2. Why do you think engineering has been called the stealth profession? (Hint: there are many Internet resources that address this question.)
Because many people do not actually see the engineers doing the work, instead they see the outcome.
3. How is an engineer different from a scientist?
They are different from scientists in the sense that they don't only do research but also application of the research.
4. What interpersonal characteristics do you think are important to the success of an engineer of any discipline?
You must be disciplined and intelligent to survive the engineering shark tank.
Now investigate the engineering profession. Some websites that may be helpful in your research include the following.
As you perform your research, record information that will help you respond to the following. Once you have gathered sufficient information, write your responses in the spaces provided.
2. Describe the four major disciplines of engineering and identify problems or projects that an engineer in each discipline might encounter.
- Chemical engineering
- Civil engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
Visit the National Academy of Engineering website on the Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century at http://www.greatachievements.org/ (Links to an external site.). Choose one of the achievements listed and read the information provided about your selected achievement. Then, based on what you learn, respond to the following.
4. Describe your selected achievement in a few sentences.
5. Which major discipline of engineering do you think was most involved in the development of this achievement? Justify your answer.
Visit the National Academy of Engineering website on the Grand Engineering Challenges at http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/ (Links to an external site.). Review your choice of an engineering discipline in item 3 and consider how an engineer within this discipline could contribute to the solution of one or more of the grand challenges.
6. If you were an engineer within the discipline that you chose in item 3, which engineering grand challenge would you like to work on?
7. Describe your selected grand challenge.
8. Why is a solution to this challenge important to the world?
9. How could you, as an engineer in your chosen discipline, contribute to a solution to this challenge?
Conclusion
1. What is it about engineering that is common to all disciplines of engineering? That is, what makes an engineer an engineer regardless of the work one does
The application of math and science are common to all disciplines of engineering.
2. Why do you think engineering has been called the stealth profession? (Hint: there are many Internet resources that address this question.)
Because many people do not actually see the engineers doing the work, instead they see the outcome.
3. How is an engineer different from a scientist?
They are different from scientists in the sense that they don't only do research but also application of the research.
4. What interpersonal characteristics do you think are important to the success of an engineer of any discipline?
You must be disciplined and intelligent to survive the engineering shark tank.