1. What is Engineering? An overview Michael Karweit Dept. Chemical Engineering Johns Hopkins University

2. What is Engineering? According to Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary: Engineering is “the application of mathematical and scientific principles to practical ends, as the design, construction, and operation of economical and efficient structures, equipment, and systems.” But is there more...?

3. Engineering is art. Aesthetics as well as function counts The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain Frank Gehry, architect The Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, England 1779

4. More art... Pont du Gard, France, 100AD Maillart bridge, Switzerland

5. Engineering is approximation. The mathematics of engineering systems are often too complicated to solve analytically.

6. Engineering is measurement and estimation. River flow, noise in a communication system, scatter in a laser beam, earthquake characteristics--all require measurement

7. Engineering is modeling and simulation. Often the only efficient means to confirm that an idea or design will work is to experiment with a scale model or computer simulation. Model of the X-33 being tested in the NASA Langley Mach 20 helium wind tunnel

8. Engineering is communication. Making presentations, producing technical manuals, coordinating teams for large scale projects are all fundamental to engineering practice. Richard Feynman during the Challenger disaster hearings. $125M communication error

9. Engineering is politics. The best functional solution is not necessarily the best practical solution. Three-mile island NIMBY Alaskan pipeline

10. Engineering is finance. Design, construction, operation, and maintenance costs determine the viability of projects. The Big Dig: Boston’s $14.2 billion construction project

11. Engineering is invention. New devices, materials, and processes are developed by engineers to meet needs that existing technologies do not address.

12. Engineering is ethics. Engineering is safety. Engineering is public service.. This list is not exhaustive, but it does suggest a far broader scope than Webster’s II definition

13. What is Engineering? The course. From a substantive point of view: 1) Strength/behavior of materials 2) Statics/structures 3) Uncertainty, statistics, measurment 4) Robotics 5) Digital logic/circuitry 6) Separation processes 7) Diffusion, heat transfer

14. From a “process” point of view, i.e., what an engineer does 1) Communication a) proposal presentation b) development of assembly/construction plans c) reporting and interpreting of laboratory results d) research synthesis (written) 2) Project management a) time/team management b) design c) construction d) testing

15. “process” (cont.) 3) Experimentation a) measurement b) application of principles c) application of data 4) Tools a) approximation b) statistics c) computer software i) simulation ii) spreadsheet/presentation iii) graphics/drawing

16. Expose yourself to engineering!