Introduction to Engineering.

1. Design for Engineering
Unit #1 Introduction to the Engineering Profession
Annette Beattie
April 10, 2006
Engineering
ETP 2006 – Annette Beattie
This material is based upon work supported by the National
Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402616. Any opinions,
findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in
this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the view of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

2. Engineering Definitions
 Problem solving
 The profession in which knowledge of the
mathematical and natural sciences gained
by study, experience, and practice is
applied with judgment to develop ways to
economically utilize the materials and the
forces of nature for the benefit of
mankind. (OSU, n.d.)

3. What does it take?
 Drive & perseverance!
 How do you get those?
 Have to be willing to make the effort.
 Don’t let anything stand in your way.
 Know what you’re getting into.
 Engineers have in common the desire to
make the world a better place.(VCSU,
2006)

4. The First Engineer
 Imhotep
 Designed the pyramid near Memphis,
Egypt around 2550 BC. (BBC, n.d.)

5. Imhotep
 He set a precedent by including temples,
pavilions, corridors, chapels and halls within the
closed walls.
 He was a commoner by birth.
 Which means he did not have a formal
education (that was only for the rich).
 At that time engineers learned the trade through
the apprenticeship system. (BBC, n.d.)

6. Imhotep
 He became one of the king’s most trusted
advisors.
 His reputation lives on still today in many
fictional stories such as:
The Mummy &
The Mummy Returns
(BBC, n.d.)

7. Engineering School
 Since the industrial revolution began in
England about 1750, most would think the
study of engineering began there, too.
 But military engineering was taught in
France in the 1600’s.
 The Corps des Ponts et Chaussees was
the first engineering school in the world.
Opened in France in 1747. (VCSU, 2006)

8. American Engineering
 During the Revolution, the need for
military and civil engineers became great.
 George Washington, whose background
was in civil engineering, called for the
formation of engineering schools. (VCSU, 2006)

9. American Engineering
 West Point included an engineering
school in the 1780’s.
 Before the Civil War, land expansion
and the growth of railroads fueled the
need for engineers.(VCSU, 2006)

10. American Engineering
 From the Civil War to 1900 there were two
major influences affecting engineering.
 The continued economic boom
 Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862 - Pres. Lincoln
 This provided public land to have a college in
each state.
 Specified a practical education to the masses,
which lead to engineering schools. (VCSU,
2006)
 NDSU, known for its engineering program,
was established through this act in 1891.
(NDSU, n.d.)

11. American Engineering
 The 1900’s
 The automobile & two world wars demanded
large numbers of engineers.
 America was cut off from Europe’s scientific
knowledge because of WW II.
 This exposed a weakness in science and
engineering education.(VCSU, 2006)

12. American Engineering
 1958 - National Defense Education Act
 This was set up to stimulate the
advancement of education in math and
sciences and other fields.
 It established a student loan program for
colleges. (Encyclopedia.com, n.d.)

13. American Engineering
 1963 Vocational Education Act
 Funding for vocational education was greatly
increased.
 Also provided work study programs.
 These 2 acts greatly increased the
number of people that could enroll in an
engineering study. (VCSU, 2005/2006)

14. American Engineering
 What else happened to increase
America’s engineers?
 Hitler’s Holocaust drove the best of the
scientists and engineers out of Europe and to
America.
 Freedom and opportunity sealed the deal.
They stayed and helped America become a
super power.(VCSU, 2005/2006)

15. American Engineering
 America also captured Germany’s best
scientists and engineers in the field of rocketry
and brought them to America during WW II.
 America didn’t use them right away, but it kept
Russia from having access to their knowledge.
 However, while America was falling in love with
the field of aviation, Russia put a satellite into
orbit. (The Sputnik Crisis) (VCSU,
2005/2006)

16. American Engineering
 America quickly created NASA in 1958.
The U.S. also put a man on the moon
before Russia in 1969.
 John F. Kennedy “closed the missile gap”
by deploying 1000 Minuteman missiles -
far more than Russia had. (VCSU,
2005/2006)

17. American Engineering
 America has prospered on the
educational investments made in the
‘60’s.
 Can we sit back and relax?
 Hardly, the scientists, engineers and
teachers (baby boomers) we educated in
the 60’s are now about to retire. (VCSU,
2005/2006)

18. American Engineering
 For America to secure it’s superpower
position, we need more engineers!
 America produces 70,000 engineers/yr
 India produces 350,000
 China produces 600,000 (VCSU, 2005/2006)

19. Why study engineering?
 Job satisfaction
 The No. 1 cause of unhappiness is job
dissatisfaction.
 Important to find a career you enjoy.
 Variety of career opportunities
 Neil Armstrong, Jimmy Carter, and Alfred
Hitchcock all started with an engineering
education. (ASEE, 2004)

20. Why study engineering?
 Challenging work
 Problems will be open-ended
 No single answer
 No answer in the back of the book
 No teacher to tell you that you are right or
wrong
 You find a solution and persuade others
that yours is the best one (ASEE, 2004)

21. Why study engineering?
 Intellectual development
 An engineering education will develop your ability to
think logically and to solve problems
 Benefit society
 You can choose projects that benefit society
 Cleaning the environment
 Developing prosthetic aids for disabled persons
 Finding new sources of energy (ASEE, 2004)

22. Why study engineering?
 Financial security
 This should not be your only reason for
choosing a career in engineering
 However, you will be well paid
 Engineering graduates receive the highest
starting salary of any discipline (ASEE, 2004)

23. Why study engineering?
 Prestige
 Engineers greatly help
• sustain our nation's international competitiveness
• maintain our standard of living
• ensure a strong national security
• protect public safety
 People know that engineering requires hard work
and strong technical skills. As a member of this
profession, you will receive a high amount of
prestige. (ASEE, 2004)

24. Why study engineering?
 Professional environment
 You will work in a professional environment in which
you will be treated with respect and have some
freedom in choosing your work.
 Creative thinking
 We are in a time of rapid social and technological
changes, therefore, the need for engineers to think
creatively is greater than ever before. (ASEE, 2004)

25. Why study engineering?
 Technological and scientific discovery
 Do you know why golf balls have dimples?
 When you drive on a mountain road, do you look
at the guard rails and understand why they were
designed the way they are?
 Do you know why split-level houses experience
more damage in earthquakes?
 An engineering education can help you
understand how many things in the world work.
(ASEE, 2004)

26. ENGINEERING IS
EVERYWHERE
 Engineering gives shape to our world
 We all know cars, computers, airplanes, and
bridges are all products of imaginative
engineering
 But did you know bubble gum, baseball bats,
movie special effects, roller coasters, and
synthetic human tissue replacements are also
engineering products? (ASEE, 2004)

27. ENGINEERING IS
EVERYWHERE
 Engineers design, create, or modify nearly
everything we touch, wear, eat, see, and hear in
our daily lives.
 Their innovations and inventions fuel economic
growth, fortify national security, improve
healthcare, and safeguard the environment.
(ASEE, 2004)

28. Sources
 ASEE. (2004). The top 10 benefits of an engineering career. Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website:
http://www.engineeringk12.org
 BBC. (n.d.). Imhotep (fl. 2667-2648 BC). Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/imhotep.shtml
 Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). National defense education act. Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/N/NatlD1efe.asp
 North Dakota State University. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu
 Ohio State University. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2006, from Ohio state University website:
http://www.matsceng.ohio-state.edu/about/
 Valley City State University. (2005/2006). Technology education 675 research and assessment in technology
education unit 1 reading assignment realizing excellence. Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website:
http://www.vcsu.edu
 Valley City State University. (2006). Technology education 660 design for engineering unit 1 reading
assignment. Retrieved April 15, 2006 from the website: http://www.vcsu.edu

29. Standards
 Standard 1: Students will develop an understanding of the
characteristics and scope of technology
• K. The rate of technological development and diffusion is increasing
rapidly.
 Standard 7: Students will develop an understanding of the
influence of technology on history
• H. The evolution of civilization has been directly affected by, and
has in turn affected, the development and use of tools and materials.
• I. Throughout history, technology has been a powerful force in
reshaping the social, cultural, political and economic landscape.
• N. The industrial revolution saw the development of continuous
manufacturing, sophisticated transportation and communication
practices and improved education and leisure time.