Question: how would you define engineer

Rebecca Pullon answered on 16 Jun 2016:

Hi!

Well, from my experience I would say an engineer is someone who applies problem solving and mathematical techniques to come up with something new or solve a problem. In healthcare that looks like coming up with solutions to practical problems, like how do we deliver a drug faster? How do we best design a prosthetic leg that won’t hurt the patient? How can we use mobile technology to get good quality healthcare to rural and poor areas?

Each type of engineering looks slightly different – for example, software engineering is all coding and designing websites/apps/software that serve a particular function. Civil and mechanical engineers are usually the most practical, designing bridges, buildings, mechanics (think the inside of a car), that function as they should (ie. let 1 million cars over a bridge in a day and don’t collapse, sort of thing).

In engineering usually there is a problem that needs solving, and the engineer applies their knowledge to coming up with the best solution.

Sorry that was a bit of a rambly definition, but hopefully that helps 🙂

Rebecca