|
 |
Feb. 11, 2000
Dilbert Alert! Engineers Get the Last Laugh This Month
National Engineers Week will be celebrated Feb. 20-26 this year,
and the engineers who take so much abuse from coworkers and
comics are ready to celebrate. For one week each year, the
spotlight shines on their many accomplishments and innovations
that make our lives safer, healthier, more productive, and even, a
lot more fun.
In this week's University of Cincinnati e-briefing, we examine
engineering's impact, career opportunities, and problems yet to
be solved.
Table of contents
1. Presidential connections
a. Father of Our Country and American Engineering?
b. Thanks from President Clinton
2. On the job with engineers
a. High demand brings inflation-proof salaries
b. Beyond pocket protectors: what engineers really do
c. Dr. Dilbert? Engineering a healthier future
3. Trends in education
a. Keeping pace with new technology
b. The importance of modern labs
c. Opportunities from cooperative education
d. Overseas experience launches aerospace
career
1. PRESIDENTIAL CONNECTIONS
A. FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY AND AMERICAN ENGINEERING?
While the entire country celebrates President's Day and George
Washington's birthday, engineers celebrate our first president's
contributions to technological advancement. As a military
strategist, Washington was the first to approve the use of
submarines to bomb enemy ships. He also pioneered the
establishment of the U.S. Army units which became today's Army
Corps of Engineers. As president, Washington encouraged
engineering efforts from road construction to canal-building and
mining which helped to open the western frontiers. And as a
private farmer, Washington energetically adopted the latest
agricultural technology including the then-novel concept of crop
rotation. contact: National Engineers Week Headquarters, 703-
684-2852 or e-mail: eweek@nspe.org
B. THANKS FROM PRESIDENT CLINTON
National Engineers Week also drew attention from the current U.S.
President, Bill Clinton, who congratulated engineers for their
role in building a better society. "As we begin a new century, it
is an ideal time to recognize and give thanks for the many
contributions America's engineers have made to the life of our
nation. From putting men on the moon to developing our interstate
highway system, from cleaning our air and water to prolonging our
health, engineers have been involved in many of our century's
most extraordinary and enduring accomplishments." Details:
http://www.eweek.org/2000/News/Features/clinton.html
2. ON THE JOB WITH ENGINEERS
A. HIGH DEMAND BRINGS INFLATION-PROOF SALARIES
Two national reports both indicate that engineers not only start
their careers making high salaries, but those salaries remain
virtually inflation-proof over the years. The National Society of
Professional Engineers reported in its 1999 Salary Survey that
median annual income rose more than twice as fast as the
inflation rate to $72,842. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported that computer engineers, computer scientists,
and systems analysts are the three fastest growing occupations --
growth that is expected to continue for at least the next five
years. http://www.eweek.org/2000/News/
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ooh.table1.htm
B. BEYOND POCKET PROTECTORS: WHAT ENGINEERS REALLY DO
For many children, the word "engineer" still conjures up
storybook images of a burly man keeping a smoky train on track
and on time. For adults, engineers are often derided as the
office "geek." However, Stephen Kowel, dean of the University of
Cincinnati College of Engineering, says the nearly 2 million
engineers at work in the U.S. today have an incredible hidden
impact on our daily life. Whether it's the material in your
unbreakable dishes, the tiny computer inside your fuel-efficient
car, or the digital movies and music you enjoy on the weekend,
engineers are the ones who move new ideas from labs to store
shelves. contact: Dean Stephen Kowel, 513-556-2933
C. DR. DILBERT? ENGINEERING A HEALTHIER FUTURE
"The career opportunities in biomedical engineering are very
strong across a broad spectrum of areas," reports David Butler,
professor of engineering mechanics at the University of
Cincinnati and a founding member of the American Institute for
Biomedical Engineering. "The prospects for students who puruse
biomedical engineering appear to be very bright for the next
couple of decades." Butler also predicted that the combined
expertise of engineers and biologists will lead to improved
medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and not only a longer life, but
an improved quality of life for the nation's elderly. contact:
David Butler, professor of engineering mechanics, 513-556-4167
3. TRENDS IN EDUCATION
A. KEEPING PACE WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY
Among the challenges ahead for engineers is the education of
future engineers. New technology requires new laboratories and
new computers, and engineering educators struggle to keep pace.
"A computer, after three or four years, doesn't have much life left
in it. That's put a big burden on us," admits Roy Eckart,
associate dean of engineering at the University of Cincinnati.
"It's a tremendous part of our budget, but that's our lifeblood
in engineering." Corporate partnerships are helping to ease the
burden. Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin Corporation has donated
hundreds of thousands of dollars in new lab equipment and support
to eight engineering schools recently, including UC. "A huge
number of corporations have this technology, but many engineers
are not trained to use it," said Duane Crockrom, human resources
and development manager at Parker Hannifin, explaining the
company's investment in engineering education. contacts: Roy
Eckart, associate dean of engineering in the University of
Cincinnati, 513-556-2739. Duane Crockrom, Parker Hannifin, 216-896-2384
C. OPPORTUNITIES FROM COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
Rita Hessley, dean of the College of Applied Science at the
University of Cincinnati, says cooperative education can be one
of the most cost-effective ways to supplement traditional
curriculum and to train students on the latest technology. "It is
expensive to provide up-to-date equipment and instrumentation for
a high quality technological education," said Hessley. "Co-op can
be of assistance in this regard. Co-op experiences sometimes
carry over into joint projects the student (and faculty mentor)
continues collaborating on after returning from the co-op
experience." contact: Rita Hessley, dean of UC's College of
Applied Science, 513-556-6556
D. OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE LAUNCHES AEROSPACE CAREER
Paul Zomkowski, an aerospace engineering student, got a jump
start on his career with his first overseas trip -- a six-month,
international co-op assignment with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in
Munich, Germany. Zomkowski was able to work on a project
involving a new Eurofighter aircraft which will be a critical
component of the European Union's military defenses. "It was a
great experience," summed up Zomkowski. "I was right in the
middle of what's changing." The University of Cincinnati
International Engineering Program provides intense training in a
country's language and culture before students head overseas.
Zomkowski will graduate in June, 2000, and expects to easily find
work or a spot in graduate school. contact: Paul Zomkowski, 513-961-3922
Click here to return to UC e-briefings menu.
Click here to return to most recent UC e-briefing.
E-mail reillymb@email.uc.edu if you would like to become a regular recipient of UC's e-briefings. Please provide your name, media affiliation, snail-mail address, e-mail address, phone and fax number.
|
|
