• Question: What is the most impressive part of engineering?

    Asked by Cara to Matthew, Neil, Paula, Pete, Philippa on 14 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Neil Taylor

      Neil Taylor answered on 14 Mar 2015:

      Hi Cara!

      I think the most impressive part of engineering is that it lets you use BOTH your science side (using maths, performing calculations) AND your creative side (designing solutions, coming up with new ways to do things better, or designing completely new things!)… and makes the world a better place while you do it!

      This makes it unique in the way it drives you to problem solve and optimise – while also forcing you to consider the impacts of time, cost, and efficiency. It’s about taking the technical and the theoretical and making them work in a practical way, getting the best out of them, and/or using them in new and creative ways.

      One example is a biomedical engineer developing prosthetic limbs. They need to be able to use technology in a way that solve the problem (i.e. creating or optimising a limb design that can be used as an effective replacement), but also ensure that the limb is efficient and reasonably priced, so that it can reach as many people as possible

      I don’t think many other kinds of work offer the same feeling of being able to put ideas into practice, and make the world a better place at the same time!

      Hope this helps!

    • Photo: Philippa Jefferis

      Philippa Jefferis answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      I think it is hard to define the one most impressive thing but when you look around you at all that engineers have achieved, that is pretty impressive. The next stage, where everything is connected – the Internet of things – will be hugely impressive. We have created a whole new world in which we live, something our grandparents would never have imagined. However with great power comes great responsibility. We need to remember that just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.

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