Engineer Roles & Responsibilities

Yogesh Wahati Op. Mgr. 23rd Jan 2013

Adapted from Lecture Prof Thomas Eagar : MIT Cambridge

Basics
The word engineer is derived from the Latin roots ingeniare ("to contrive, devise") and ingenium ("cleverness") Engineers are grounded in applied sciences, and their work in research and development is distinct from the basic research focus of scientists.[2]The work of engineers forms the link between scientific discoveries and their subsequent applications to human needs and quality of life.[1]

Conference of Engineers at the Menai Straits Preparatory to Floating one of the Tubes of the Britannia Bridge, by John Seymour Lucas, 1868

www.wikipedia.com

Scientist vs. Engineer

Scientist : Explains what exists

Engineer : Creates that never was

A Fluttering flag

Theodore von Karman

Hungarian-Americanmathematician, aerospace engineer and physicist who was active primarily in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics. He is responsible for many key advances in aerodynamics, notably his work on supersonic and hypersonic airflow characterization. He is regarded as the outstanding aerodynamic theoretician of the twentieth century.[1]

Engineering
Engineering is the application of SCIENCE for Human benefit

ENGINEERING = PROBLEM SOLVING ( Technical + People )

What does an Engineer do?

Tools : Scientific and Mathematical principles to

What ? Design, Construction and Operation of Equipment Systems How ? Economic Efficient Socially responsible manner

Qualities an Engineer has? ( 1 of 2)

A good grasp of Engineering science fundamentals Mathematics Physical sciences Life sciences

A good understanding of Engineering design process

Understands the context in which Engineering is practiced Economics History Manufacturing Customer needs

Qualities an Engineer has? ( 2 of 2)

Good communication skills Written Verbal Graphic Listening

Ability to think critically & creatively independently and co-operatively

Flexibility an ability and self confidence to adapt to rapid / major change

A profound understanding the importance of Teamwork

Source : Boeing

Are u an Engineer?
Reflect and ponder

Questions?

What is science?
Science is both a body of knowledge and a process. In school, science may sometimes seem like a collection of isolated and staticfacts listed in a textbook, but that's only a small part of the story. Just as importantly, science is also a process of discovery that allows us to link isolated facts into coherent and comprehensive understandings of the natural world. Science is exciting. Science is a way of discovering what's in the universe and how those things work today, how they worked in the past, and how they are likely to work in the future. Scientists are motivated by the thrill of seeing or figuring out something that no one has before. Science is useful. The knowledge generated by science is powerful and reliable. It can be used to develop new technologies, treat diseases, and deal with many other sorts of problems. Science is ongoing. Science is continually refining and expanding our knowledge of the universe, and as it does, it leads to new questions for future investigation. Science will never be "finished." Science is a global human endeavor. People all over the world participate in the process of science. And you can too!

http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/whatisscience_01