Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2010 - (Page 5)

big questions What is Engineering? A simple answer: designing and building things. The Random House College Dictionary says it’s “the art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics, etc., as in the construction of engines, bridges, and the like.” The “science” part we might have guessed—but “art”? Does this mean there’s more to engineering than science and mathematics? Absolutely! Is there yet more to the meaning of engineering? Absolutely! Ordinarily we think that, to become an effective engineer, all we need to do is master the science and mathematics of the discipline—statics, thermodynamics, digital circuits, reactor design. Certainly, if we look at course offerings in university catalogs in, say, a department of mechanical engineering, these would be the listings that we would find. But such courses relate only to the technical aspects of engineering. And engineering is far from being purely technical. Recall the word “art” in the dictionary definition. So, what is engineering? by Michael J. Karweit, Ph.D. Engineering is measurement and estimation. River flow, noise in communication systems, and the failure parameters of automobile tires—to name a few—require measurement. How does one make these measurements? How accurate must they be? What variability will they have? How can we characterize this variability? These are engineering questions. Engineering is art. The best designs are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. Developing a balance between form and function can be a very rewarding part of engineering. And, since engineering problems rarely have single solutions, creativity and imagination play a large role in engineering. Notice that our descriptions don’t even mention the technical aspects of engineering. Nor do they mention the various fields of engineering. Yet they still accurately reflect what engineering is—and the descriptions apply to all of engineering. Most certainly, math and science are the foundations on which engineers build their ideas and designs. But math and science are only limited tools in the practice of engineering. i Engineering is approximation. When the mathematics and science that relate to a problem are too complex to apply, progress requires approximations, simplifications, and, sometimes, intelligent guesses. But what are appropriate approximations, simplifications, and guesses? That’s part of engineering. Engineering is modeling and simulation. To confirm that an idea or design will work, engineers must experiment with a scale model or computer simulation—perhaps an airplane or a chemical processing column. Then they must determine how to apply the results to full-sized versions. Engineering is a way of thinking. It’s the practice of solving multi-parameter problems using mathematics, science, and technology as tools, but within the constraints of many other things—some economic, some aesthetic, some cultural, some political. And where these tools are inadequate, engineering is the creation of new tools. Engineering is communication. Selling designs, collaborating on projects, and writing operation manuals are all a part of engineering. michael karweit is a research professor in the department of chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, academic director of Engineering innovation, and faculty advisor of Engineers without Borders—all at Johns Hopkins University. Engineering is politics. The best technical solution to a problem may be impractical because of political or social objections. Engineers must develop compromises that satisfy functional and societal constraints. Engineering is invention. Engineers develop new devices, materials, or processes to meet the needs that existing technology does not address. Sometimes invention means finding new ways to combine and use existing technologies. Engineering is money. vEcToRSTock Design, construction, operation, and maintenance all cost money! Realistic cost projections are essential to any engineering project. www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine imagine 5 http://www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2010

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2010
Table of Contents
Big Questions
In My Own Words
If They Build It
Design That Matters
Wired to Win
A Student at SPAWAR
Even When the Ground Shakes
Biomimicry
An Engineer in Training
Engineering My Future
Home Away From Home
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Middle Ground
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Sudoku
Knossos Game

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2010