INTRODUCTION:

What is engineering? Many people have difficulty answering this question. In fact, engineering is a diverse field; there are many disciplines within engineering that can each involve the application of a very different body of knowledge and skills. Nearly everything that is not “natural” (i.e., created by Mother Nature) most likely was designed and created with input from engineers. The shampoo you used this morning to wash your hair, the technology that cleans the water you drink, the buildings in which you live, work, and attend school, and the cell phone you use to communicate all involved the expertise of engineers in the initial design, building and testing, and final production.

All engineers are problems solvers. The differences among the roles of engineers in varying disciplines are dependent on the types of problems that are solved. In general there are four major disciplines within the engineering field: chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical. Many other engineering disciplines are derived as an extension of or a specialization within one of these major disciplines. For example, environmental engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering. Other engineering disciplines have resulted from the combination of aspects of two or more of the major disciplines. Mechatronics is a relatively new branch of engineering that incorporates both mechanical and electrical engineering principles.

In this activity you will investigate the four major disciplines of engineering and consider their impact on you and the world.

RESOURCES: 

• Engineering Overview Powerpoint
• Engineering Disciples Powerpoint 
• Engineering Achievements Powerpoint

ASSIGNMENTS: 

STEP ONE: Research and Record your answers to the Questions for Activity 1.6- Discovering Engineering. Record your answers in your Binder in the appropriate section. 

STEP TWO: Turn your answers into a Presentation using the Google Slides Template Provided

• “MAKE A COPY” of the file to edit the information by going to FILE> MAKE A COPY.
• RENAME the File “What is Engineering? by YOUR NAME”
• SAVE he File to “MY DRIVE”
• SHARE your presentation with familiare@uaglobalcommerce.org

STEP THREE: Complete the conclusion Questions at the end of Activity 1.6.

1. What is it about engineering that is common to all disciplines of engineering? That is, what makes an engineer an engineer regardless of the work one does?
2. Why do you think engineering has been called the stealth profession? (Hint: there are many internet resources that address this question.)
3. How is an engineer different from a scientist?
4. What interpersonal characteristics do you think are important to the success of an engineer of any discipline?