Science and mathematics are used to solve problems in engineering. Engineers find practical uses for scientific discoveries. Engineers often get the credit for innovations that advance the human condition, but they are not the only ones who make those innovations available to the world.

A good scientist is one who has original ideas, according to physicist Dyson Freeman. A good engineer is someone who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no rules in engineering.

The history of engineering is a part of human civilization. Our heritage of engineering includes the pyramids of Giza, the Parthenon, and the Eiffel Tower. Engineers are building maps to the human genome and smaller computer chips, as well as building huge structures, such as the International Space Station.

Engineering is one of the cornerstones of STEAM education, an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to motivate students to learn about science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Types of engineering

The design, manufacturing, inspection and maintenance of machinery, equipment and components as well as control systems and instruments for monitoring their status and performance is a part of mechanical engineering. Vehicles, construction and farm machinery, industrial installations, and a wide variety of tools and devices are included.

The design, testing, manufacturing, construction, control, monitoring and inspection of electrical and electronic devices are all part of electrical engineering. The systems vary in size from tiny circuits to national power generation and transmission systems.

Electrical engineering systems vary in scale from microscopic circuits to national power generation and transmission systems.

Electrical engineering systems vary in scale from microscopic circuits to national power generation and transmission systems. (Image credit: Hinterhaus Productions via Getty Images.)

Civil engineering involves the design, construction, maintenance and inspection of large infrastructure projects.

Aeronautical engineering involves the design, manufacturing and testing of aircraft and spacecraft as well as parts and components such as airframes, power plants, control and guidance systems, electrical and electronic systems, and communication and navigation systems.

Nuclear engineering involves the design, manufacturing, construction, operation and testing of equipment, systems and processes involved in the production, control and detection of nuclear radiation. Nuclear reactor production and research are included in these systems. Nuclear engineering protects humans from the effects of radiation.

Structural engineering involves the design, construction and inspection of load-bearing structures.

The practice of designing systems, equipment and devices for use in the practice of medicine is called Biomedical Engineering. It involves working closely with medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists and researchers, in order to determine, understand and meet their requirements for systems, equipment and devices.

Biomedical engineers work closely with medical practitioners to design systems, equipment and devices for medical use.

Biomedical engineers work closely with medical practitioners to design systems, equipment and devices for medical use. (Image credit: Janiecbros via Getty Images)

Chemical engineering is the practice of designing equipment, systems and processes for refining raw materials and for mixing, compounding and processing chemicals to make valuable products.

Computer engineering is the practice of designing computer hardware components.

Industrial engineering is the practice of designing andOptimizing facilities, equipment, systems and processes for manufacturing, material processing, and any number of other work environments.

Environmental engineering is the practice of preventing, reducing and eliminating sources of pollution. It involves detecting and measuring pollution levels, determining sources of pollution, cleaning up polluted sites and ensuring compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

Environmental engineers also design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems like the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works in Hong Kong.

Environmental engineers also design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems like the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works in Hong Kong.  (Image credit: William C. Y. Chu via Getty Images)

Engineers need in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics and computer applications. Most college programs include basic engineering courses in a wide range of topics before students choose to specialize in a particular area.

Careers in engineering: jobs & salaries

Employers often require engineers to get state certification. Many engineers are members of the American Society of Professional Engineers and other engineering societies.

The BLS has information on various fields of engineering, including educational requirements, job descriptions, work environments and job outlooks. MyMajors.com has information on job descriptions, educational requirements and required skills and knowledge for different areas of engineering.

According to the BLS, engineers work in many different settings, including research laboratories, factories, construction sites, nuclear power plants, offshore oil rigs and even on the ISS. An engineer might own a heating and air conditioning company and a structural engineer might own a construction company if they are related to their areas of expertise.

Engineers work in many different settings, including research laboratories, factories, construction sites, nuclear power plants, offshore oil rigs and even on the ISS.

Engineers work in many different settings, including research laboratories, factories, construction sites, nuclear power plants, offshore oil rigs and even on the ISS.  (Image credit: Monty Rakusen via Getty Images.)

Most engineering jobs require a degree in engineering. State certification as a Professional Engineer, which requires passing a rigorous and comprehensive test, is also required by many employers and to work as a consultant. A master's degree is required for senior engineering positions and professorships.

According to the BLS, the employment of engineers is projected to grow from 2020 to 2030. There is an increase in demand for renewable energy, oil and gas, and robotics in the areas with the most projected job growth. In May 2020, the average annual wage for architecture and engineering occupations was $82,320. The average of all occupations is $41,950.

Engineering has matured and expanded over the centuries, along with our knowledge and understanding of science, mathematics and the laws of physics. Engineers apply scientific principles and cutting-edge innovations in order to design, build, improve, operate and maintain complex devices, structures, systems and processes.

Engineering brought us out of the caves, and if we ever make it to the stars, it will be engineering that takes us there. Engineers will have more opportunities to use scientific discoveries in practical ways.

The novelist James A. Michener put it in his novel Space, "Scientists dream about doing great things." Engineers do them.

Additional resources

If you're looking for a job in engineering or just want to see what career options are out there, check out Engineer Jobs. Are you thinking about studying engineering? Kingston University has come up with a list of benefits to studying engineering. There are useful resources for those considering a career in engineering.

Bibliography

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  • National Research Council. Enhancing the community college pathway to engineering careers. National Academies Press, 2006. 
  • Buse, Kathleen, Diana Bilimoria, and Sheri Perelli. "Why they stay: Women persisting in US engineering careers." Career Development International (2013). 
  • Eastman, Michael G., et al. "To educate engineers or to engineer educators?: Exploring access to engineering careers." Journal of Research in Science Teaching 54.7 (2017): 884-913. 
  • Bystydzienski, Jill M., Margaret Eisenhart, and Monica Bruning. "High school is not too late: Developing girls' interest and engagement in engineering careers." The Career Development Quarterly 63.1 (2015): 88-95. 
  • James Michener "Space", Robert Beard Books; Reissue edition (Oct, 1. 1988).