What do Engineers do?

Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs.

In addition to design and development, many engineers work in testing, production, or maintenance. These engineers supervise production in factories, determine the causes of component failure, and test manufactured products to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost to complete projects. Supervisory engineers are responsible for major components or entire projects.

Many engineers develop new products. During this process, they consider several factors. For example, in developing an industrial robot, engineers precisely specify the functional requirements; design and test the robot’s components; integrate the components to produce the final design; and evaluate the design’s overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety. This process applies to the development of many different products, such as chemicals, computers, power plants, helicopters, and toys.
  1. Mechanical Engineers: They design almost everything that you would consider to be a machine. Mechanical engineering applies the fundamental principles of mechanics and thermosciences to design.
  2. Environmental Engineers: Environmental engineering prepares students with a solid background in chemical, biological, and physical process. It allows them to analyze, design, and manage environmental systems and associated infrastructure, such as water supplies, waste-water treatment facilities, air pollution controls systems, surface and groundwater resources, and landfills.
  3. Materials Science Engineers: Tailoring raw materials from our earth, materials science engineers are able to create products that we use every single day like computers, dishes, and athletic equipment.
  4. Electrical Engineers: They explore the analysis of electrical and electronic circuits and devices, signal processing, and the design and analysis of modern electrical systems. They take energy from hydroelectric plants, solar panels, fuel cells, and turbines and move it to factories, homes, and businesses.
  5. Civil Engineers: Experts in planning, designing, and assisting in the operation and maintenance of water resources, transportation systems, environmental protection systems and urban development.
  6. Biological Engineers: Combining biology with engineering, biosystems engineers work in critical areas such as bioenergy, food safety, ecosystems protection, and human health.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering explores the processing of materials and the production or utilization of energy through chemical and biochemical reactions. Many products that we use every single day are made by chemical engineers who use raw materials and turn them into something useful. Chemical engineers play a key role in producing antibiotics, soft drinks, and even make-up.

There are also many chemical engineers who work with petroleum and plastics. Chemical engineers work at finding solutions to environmental hazards, such as pollution and harmful chemicals. Graduates typically work in the chemical processing industry, biotechnology, environmental remediation, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and plastics.

Chemical Engineers are involved in:

  1. Designing new materials needed in industry
  2. Creating new synthetics
  3. Making new medicines and pharmaceuticals
  4. Analyzing results from experiments in laboratories
  5. Improving processes in research