Engineering and Science
SUZETTE R. BURCKHARD, PHD, PE
CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
JULY 21, 2014
ENGINEERING THE FUTURE WORKSHOP
Is it Mad Scientist or Mad Engineer?
Goals
 To explain in your own words what engineering is
 To describe basic differences and similarities
between engineering and science
What is science?
1. a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body
of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing
the operation of general laws: the mathematical
sciences.
2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material
world gained through observation and
experimentation.
3. any of the branches of natural or physical science.
• From Dictionary.com
Who is a scientist?
 Chemist
 Biologist
 Earth scientist
 Geologist
 Geographer
 Physicist
 Others ???
Science Process
What is Engineering?
Engineering:
 It is a great profession. There is the fascination of
watching a figment of the imagination emerge
through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it
moves to realization in stone or metal or energy.
Then it brings jobs and homes to men. Then it
elevates the standards of living and adds to the
comforts of life. That is the Engineer’s high
privilege.
 The great liability of
the engineer
compared to men of
other professions is
that his works are out
in the open where all
can see them. His
acts, step by step, are
in hard substance.
 He cannot bury his
mistakes in the grave
like the doctors.
 He cannot argue them
into thin air or blame
the judges like the
lawyers.
 He cannot, like the
architects cover his
failures with trees and
vines.
 He cannot, like the
politicians, screen
his shortcomings by
blaming his
opponents and hope
the people will
forget.
 The engineer simply cannot deny he did it. If his
works do not work, he is dammed…
 On the other hand, unlike the doctor his is not a
life among the weak. Unlike the soldier,
destruction is not his purpose. Unlike the lawyer,
quarrels are not his daily bread. To the engineer
falls the job of clothing the bare bones of science
with life, comfort, and hope.
 No doubt as years go by the people forget which
engineer did it, even if they knew. Or some
politician puts his name on it. Or they credit it to
the promoter who used other people’s money…But
the engineer himself looks back at the unending
stream of goodness which flows from his successes
with satisfactions that few professions may know.
And the verdict of his fellow professionals is all the
accolade he wants.
 Who do we contribute this quote to?
Herbert Hoover
 Engineer,
Administrator,
Humanitarian
 31st President of the
United States (19291933)
 Born in Iowa, Studied
Mining Engineering at
Stanford University
The World Without Engineers
The World Without Engineers
The World Without Engineers
The World Without Engineers
The World Without Engineers
The World Without Engineers
The World Without Engineers
 How do you define Engineering?
 Engineers make nouns and
adjectives
Engineers are Inventors!
 Engineers use science and math to solve
real world problems!
Engineering Disciplines
Major Disciplines
Other Disciplines
• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Chemical
• Civil
• Industrial
•Agricultural
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Biomedical/Biomechanical
• Computer
• Environmental
• Materials
• Nuclear
• Robotics
• Safety
Civil Engineering
• Create solutions to cope with:
• air quality issues
• decaying cities, roadways and
bridges
• clogged airports and highways
• polluted streams, rivers and lakes
• Water for a city or an industry
• Stable place to build
• Oldest engineering profession
Design solutions to cope with many of our planet’s most serious
problems.
Mechanical Engineering
• Concerned with design, manufacture &
operation of a wide range of components,
devices, or systems:
• microscopic parts (nanotechnology) to
gigantic gears
• heating, ventilation, refrigeration
• manufacturing equipment (tanks, motors,
pumps)
• laser technology
• biomedical applications
• automotive industry
• computer-aided design, automation,
robotics
Broadest of all the engineering disciplines in its range of activities
Chemical Engineering
•Gasoline
• Plastic
• Energy (natural gas, oil heating, coal)
• Adhesives
• Clothing
• Building Materials
Applying chemistry to the solution of practical problems
Electrical Engineering
Play a role in almost everything we
interact with on a daily basis. They
design smaller, cheaper, and better:
• cell phones
• computers
• power systems
• appliances
• robots
Apply specialized skill to the design, manufacture, application,
installation, and operation of electrical products and systems.
Industrial Engineering
• Design data processing
systems
• Integrate activities of finance,
engineering and management
• Develop systems for planning,
cost analysis, production and
quality of products
Stresses design, improvement, and installation of integrated
systems of people, material, and equipment for the effective
production of goods or services in all types of industries
Engineering periods in history
 Food-Producing Revolution (6000-3000 BC)
 Appearance of Urban Society (3000-2000 BC)
 Birth of Greek Science (600-300 BC)
 Revolution in Power (Middle Ages)
 Rise of Modern Science (17th Century)
 Steam and Industrial Revolution (18th Century)
 Electricity and the beginnings of applied science
(19th Century)
 Age of Automatic Control (20th Century)

Engineering in History by Kirby, Withington, Darling, and Kilgour
Now let’s take a look at some real life
engineers and what they’re working on
right now!
Separating Oil from Water
 Di Gao, a chemical engineer at the
University of Pittsburg, invented a plasticcoated cotton material that could clean up
the Gulf.
Designing Better Cars
 Marcus Ashford, a
mechanical engineer at
the University of
Alabama, has invented
a car engine with 80%
less exhaust emissions.
Cleaning Up the Ocean
 Alexandria Boehm is an environmental engineer
who works on ways to clean up oceans near
where people live.
Designing Space Colonies
 Kimberly Jones is a civil engineer working on
purifying water so that we can one day go to
Mars!!!
Controlling Computers with Thoughts
 Daniel Moran, a biomedical engineer at
Washington University, has invented a way to
play video games using only the human mind!
Listening for Cancer
• John Viator, a
biological engineer,
has invented a way
to hear cancer cells.
Which engineer is ‘better?’
Good Traits for Engineers
Enjoy solving problems
• Like working with other people (strong
teamwork skills)
• Interested in solving society’s needs
• Want to make things work better
• Strive for continual improvement
• Able to adapt to a changing
environment
• Good communication skills
• Strong study skills
• Desire to constantly learn new things
• Data analysis skills
• Strong computer skills
• Dedicated
•