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Engineering Essay | Essay on Engineering for Students and Children in English

February 13, 2024 by Prasanna

Engineering Essay:  The discipline that applies scientific principles to design, develop and operate structures, machines, apparatus, and other things like roads, bridges, vehicles, buildings, etc., is called Engineering.

The Latin word ‘ingenium,’ which means cleverness, is the origin of the name ‘engineering,’ and the ‘engineer’ is derived from the word ‘ingeniare’ (Latin), which means ‘to contrive and devise.’

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

Long and Short Essays on Engineering for Students and Kids in English

We are providing students with a sample of a long essay of 500 words and a sample of a short essay of 15 words in English for reference.

Long Essay on Engineering 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Engineering is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

In the 21st if we are to look around in our society, we will see most of it displays several marvels of engineering, which shows why it is an important discipline. The field of engineering consists of a vast sea of knowledge whose boundary is infinite. And through the discoveries and breakthroughs made by engineers almost every day, the expertise and information keep growing.

Society has given engineers various nicknames like problem solvers, organizers, designers, human calculators, and communicators because of the highly creative activities. The most amusing fact about the engineering discipline is that the evidence of its applications dates back to the ancient stone ages. The discoveries made in those primitive days were like the invention of wheels, carts, the building of huts, pulleys, etc.

There has been a significant role in engineering since when human civilization had started. The evidence from ancient Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilizations show that it had a planned layout of the street grids along with equal-sized buildings, structural city division for commercial purposes, well-planned drainage system, etc., which are all considered to be very advanced civil engineering activities for the period of the civilization.

As we proceed further down the timeline, we have witnessed several other civil engineering wonders like the great pyramids, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, etc. Engineers from places like Japan, where earthquakes are common, found a way to withstand natural disasters by building shock-proof structures, and such inventions have saved a million lives. Ancient Greeks made machines for civilians, military, and as well as commercial purposes.

Transportation is another great wonder in the contributions of engineering made to humankind. Using transportation devices, we have voyaged into outer space and reached the moon as well. And vehicles are such inventions which have certainly made the commute a whole lot easier.

Earlier, the engineering field only consisted of core branches that specialized in individual departments of work, and the divisions were Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil. But eventually, with much more advanced and discoveries in the field of technology and a combination of engineering with other areas of study, some more branches of course under the engineering field became popular. Among them, a few Engineering branches to name are Computer, Aerospace, IT, Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Instrumentation, Biomedical, Chemical, Textile, Petroleum, Food Technology, etc.

In an age where society is highly dependent on technology, especially on electronic devices and the internet, a modern-day software engineer is expected to be tech-savvy and able to solve a range of various problems related to commuting programs. They are also likely to help verify designs and predict structures/devices’ behavior in different environments.

The main objective of engineers and engineering is to benefit humankind by making life and living easier. The contributions of engineering cannot be summed up into a few words. Still, the right way to respect their immense role in society is by recognizing and using their inventions responsibly. Engineering always has and will continue to strive to lift our living standards through sustainable developments and considering conditions to protect our Earth’s environment at all costs.

Short Essay on Engineering 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Engineering is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The world filled with human-made machines, structures, and devices was potent enough to raise a curiosity in the little mind of mine when I was a child. I often wondered and questioned the procedures behind how the machines operated.

To be the inventions and discoveries made by man in the field of engineering felt majestic. And if I didn’t get logical answers to my doubts, I could have easily mistaken the wonders of engineering to be established using magical spells. Even though I have come a long way in life, I still believe engineers are nothing less than magicians, for they are who have or can give you a solution for almost every problem. One should take a glimpse around them in a room and outside I can assure you will find very few things not relying to a certain degree of engineering upon, which makes this field of study so remarkable.

10 Lines on Engineering in English

• Imhotep is said to be the first known engineer of the world who is believed to have built the Step Pyramid in Egypt around 2550BC.
• The first female to get a degree in engineering was Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu.
• The first engineer in India was Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, who was recruited by the government to be the Assistant Engineer in the department of public works in Bombay.
• There are several branches of engineering like the core branches (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical), the computer branches (Software, IT, CE), and then there are specialization branches (Aerospace, AEIE, Robotics, Biomedical, etc.).
• As per the oldest inventions and applications, it was deduced that civil is the oldest branch of engineering that prevailed even in the Stone Age.
• Engineering is a discipline required in many fields of work like media, sports, healthcare, films, music, entertainment, etc.
• With the Government Technological Institute, the engineering discipline was started to be taught in India in 1921.
• Engineers believe in solving problems most effectively and simply.
• A great example for an engineer and inventor is Nikola Tesla, whose contributions to society through his discoveries were immense.
• In today’s world, one can find several marvels of engineering if they look around.

FAQ’s on Engineering Essay

Question 1. Name the person called the father of computer science.

Answer:  Charles Babbage.

Question 2.  Name some computer programming languages.

Answer:  C, C++, Java, Python, etc.

Question 3.  Which city In India is given the name ‘Silicon city’?

Answer:  Bengaluru is the center of India’s high-tech industry and is also known as silicon city.

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Importance Of Engineering : Essay , Article , Notes

Importance of engineering.

In 21 st century as we see everything surroundings us is made of with help of the knowledge of engineer’s, this shows us how much is the importance of engineering in our life & society in which we live in. Now before advancing towards the importance on engineering first we need to have introduction regarding engineering   as well as its origin.

What is engineering?

Engineering is the application of scientific knowledge to solving problems in the real world.

It is the profession in which scientific knowledge & mathematics is gained through study, experiments and practical knowledge which is utilize for the benefit of mankind.  

The term Engineering is derived from the Latin ingenium , meaning “ cleverness ” and ingeniare , meaning “ to contrive, devise ”. The engineering is the vast knowledge of sea or space which have boundaries at infinity, i.e. day by day from more and more research and practical experiment we are getting more information and knowledge. Engineers are problem solvers, organizers, communicators, calculators and designers. Engineering is a highly creative activity, especially when complicated problems are involved. The modern Engineer is also very software savvy and can use a range of different computing programs to assist in verifying designs and predicting how structures will behave in the environment.

The evidence of existence of engineering can be found from stone age such as fundamental invention of wheels, pulleys, carts etc., Since when human civilization has started there is significance role of engineering has been observe like in harappa Mohenjo-daro has a planned layout based on a street grid of equal sized  buildings. The city was divided in 2 parts such as upper parts & lower part, the lower part had public baths and toilets and upper had house, markets, administrative buildings, a public gathering hall etc., since the structural design was well planned of drainage system all the waste products were easily drained out of city. Now as we proceed further great pyramids, Taj mahal & Great Wall of China are the engineering marvel and even seven wonders of earth. Japan is prone to earthquake which has led to invention of shock proof house & buildings which has saved millions of life till date. Ancient Greece developed machines for both civilian, military and for commercial purpose.

Now while we move towards early ages of modern era steam engines & electricity was invented which has revolutionized in mankind. Due to steam engine people & heavy goods were easily transported from one place to another. The electricity provide power to the industry revolution which has led to production in bulk quantities and good products with efficiency. Nowadays the discipline of engineering is extremely broad, and encompasses a range of more specialized fields of engineering , each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied science, technology and types of application.

The main branches of engineering are characterized are mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, information technology, electronics & communication, computer engineering, aeronautical.

The aeronautical engineering made traveling time shorter and safest way to travel from one place to another which in turn save time as time is money as well as movement is space has increased and it’s study.

In modern era modern scientific and technological endeavors, computers and software play an increasingly important role. As well as the typical business application software there are a number of Computer aided applications. Modern scientific and technological endeavors, computers and software play an increasingly important role. As well as the typical business application software there are a number of computer aided applications.

Any environment surrounding can be made on computer and stimulated and hence product manufacturing accordingly. The advancement of engineering in electronics is such way that we can save millions of precious life during any climatic disaster such as effect of cyclone, earthquake, tsunami etc. by evacuating public safely. In the Field of medical science, advancement of engineering technology & chemical engineering has influenced a lot by inventing lifesaving drugs & organ transplant. The world tallest building burj khailfa & Eiffel tower etc. are one of the morden era engineering sensation. In agricultural industry many types of machines are invented for better crop yielding as well saving crop from natural and pesticides .

Engineers, and the practice of Engineering, has one primary goal: to benefit mankind , which we have discussed. Millions of any combination of 26 alphabets cannot describe the importance of engineering in our life & Society. It has always helped us in benefit of mankind as well as lifting up the standards of living. It has always helped us in sustainable development & provide steps to protect our earth and its surroundings nature.

Hence at last I would like to say One person magic is another person engineering.

About Charmin Patel

Blogger and Digital Marketer by Choice and Chemical Engineer By Chance. Computer and Internet Geek Person Who Loves To Do Something New Every Day.

Home » All articles » The Importance of Engineering in Modern Society: Solving Today’s Challenges

The Importance of Engineering in Modern Society: Solving Today’s Challenges

Welcome to our blog post on the importance of engineering in modern society and how it plays a crucial role in solving the challenges we face today. Engineering is not just about building structures or designing machines; it is a field that encompasses problem-solving, innovation, and creating solutions that improve our lives. In this post, we will explore the significance of engineering in addressing issues such as climate change, renewable energy, transportation, and healthcare. Join us as we delve into how engineers are shaping the future and making a positive impact on society.

Table of Contents

1. Sustainable Development and Environmental Engineering

1.1 an overview.

The field of sustainable development and environmental engineering plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by modern society. Engineers in this field are tasked with developing innovative solutions to tackle environmental issues, while simultaneously ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of our resources.

1.2 The Importance of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development refers to the practice of using resources efficiently to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Engineers in this field are at the forefront of implementing strategies to achieve sustainability in various sectors, such as energy, water, transportation, and waste management.

1.3 Energy Engineering

One of the key areas where sustainable development and environmental engineering are vital is in the field of energy. Engineers are constantly working on developing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, which can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

1.4 Water Management

Water scarcity and pollution are major concerns that require innovative engineering solutions to ensure sustainable access to clean water for present and future generations. Engineers in this field design and implement efficient water treatment and conservation methods, as well as develop sustainable irrigation systems to optimize water usage in agriculture.

1.5 Transportation and Infrastructure

Transportation plays a significant role in society, but it also contributes to environmental degradation. Sustainable development engineers are focused on developing and implementing eco-friendly transportation solutions, such as electric vehicles and efficient public transportation systems, to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in urban areas.

1.6 Waste Management

Proper management of waste is essential for maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment. Environmental engineers work to develop effective waste management strategies that include recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy technologies. These strategies aim to minimize the amount of waste generated and reduce the impact of landfills on ecosystems.

1.7 Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental engineering involves conducting thorough assessments of potential projects or developments to identify and mitigate any adverse environmental impacts. This process ensures that new infrastructure or industrial projects adhere to strict environmental regulations and minimize their ecological footprint.

1.8 Conclusion

In conclusion, sustainable development and environmental engineering are crucial disciplines that address the challenges posed by modern society. Through the implementation of innovative engineering solutions, professionals in this field can help create a greener and more sustainable future. By focusing on areas such as energy, water, transportation, waste management, and environmental impact assessment, engineers are playing a vital role in ensuring the long-term well-being of both the environment and future generations.

2. Energy and Resource Management: The Significance of Engineering in Modern Society

Efficient management of energy and resources.

The importance of engineering cannot be overstated when addressing the challenges of energy and resource management in our modern society. Engineering encompasses a wide range of disciplines that tackle the complex issues related to energy production, consumption, and resource utilization. Through innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies, engineers play a crucial role in solving these pressing challenges and paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Optimizing Energy Production and Consumption

Engineers are actively engaged in developing efficient methods for energy production while minimizing environmental impact. From designing renewable energy systems to optimizing the efficiency of fossil fuel-based power plants, engineers strive to maximize energy output while minimizing waste and emissions. By harnessing the power of renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric, engineers contribute to a more sustainable and cleaner energy mix.

Revolutionizing Resource Utilization

Effective resource management is another crucial aspect addressed by engineering. Engineers work diligently to find innovative solutions for minimizing resource depletion and waste generation. Whether it’s through advanced recycling technologies, efficient water management systems, or sustainable agricultural practices, engineers constantly seek ways to optimize resource utilization and reduce our ecological footprint.

Challenges in Modern Society

Modern society faces numerous challenges when it comes to energy and resource management. The exponential increase in global population and industrialization has put immense pressure on our existing resources. Moreover, the adverse effects of climate change have necessitated the urgent need for sustainable energy alternatives. These challenges demand creative and inventive engineering solutions to ensure a resilient and environmentally conscious future.

Emerging Engineering Solutions

To address these challenges, engineers are developing innovative technologies such as smart grids, energy storage solutions, and efficient transportation systems. These advancements not only promote efficient energy use but also enhance overall resource management. For instance, smart grids enable real-time monitoring and optimization of energy distribution, ensuring minimal energy waste. Similarly, advances in battery technology have revolutionized energy storage, enabling the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid.

The Role of Engineering Education

To continue solving the energy and resource management challenges of the future, it is essential to invest in engineering education. By training future engineers in sustainable design principles, renewable energy systems, and resource optimization techniques, we can ensure a continuous stream of individuals equipped to tackle these problems head-on. Fostering innovation and collaboration among engineering students will promote the development of groundbreaking solutions, setting the stage for a more sustainable society.

Considering the pivotal role of engineering in energy and resource management, it is crucial to recognize the significance of this discipline in addressing the challenges of the modern world. Through research, innovation, and education, engineers are instrumental in developing sustainable solutions that optimize energy production, consumption, and resource utilization. By embracing the potential of engineering, we can create a more sustainable and resilient society for future generations.

3. Infrastructure and Urban Planning: The Importance of Engineering in Modern Society

Sustainable urban environments: a top priority.

In an increasingly urbanized world, creating sustainable and livable cities has become a paramount concern. Engineers play a vital role in this process by designing and implementing innovative infrastructure and urban solutions to address today’s pressing challenges.

The Inception of Urban Planning

Urban planning emerged as a discipline in response to the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the 19th century. With urban populations surging, cities faced various issues such as overcrowding, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure. Engineers were called upon to devise creative solutions, leading to the birth of urban planning.

The Power of Infrastructure

Infrastructure is the backbone of any modern society and encompasses a wide range of systems like transportation, energy, water supply, and communication networks. Engineers bring their expertise to develop and maintain these critical components, ensuring the smooth functioning of cities.

Efficient Transportation Systems

Efficient transportation systems are crucial to the mobility of both people and goods. Engineers leverage their skills to design optimized road networks, railways, and airports, enabling seamless connectivity. Through the integration of smart technologies, they enhance public transportation, reduce congestion, and promote sustainable modes of travel.

Sustainable Energy Systems

Addressing energy demands sustainably is a key challenge of our time. Engineers are instrumental in developing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. By optimizing energy grids and implementing energy-efficient technologies, they contribute to building a greener and more sustainable future.

Smart Water Management

Water scarcity and quality are significant concerns in many regions. Engineers tackle these challenges through effective water management strategies. They design innovative water treatment plants, distribution systems, and rainwater harvesting structures to ensure the availability of clean water for urban populations.

Resilient Communication Networks

In the digital age, reliable communication networks are indispensable. Engineers are at the forefront of developing robust and resilient systems that enable seamless connectivity. They design and implement fiber-optic networks, cellular infrastructure, and satellite systems to ensure uninterrupted communication even during times of crisis.

Green Spaces and Urban Design

Creating green spaces and well-designed urban environments is crucial for enhancing the quality of life. Engineers collaborate with architects and urban planners to integrate sustainable practices into the design process. They focus on optimizing urban spaces, improving air quality, and creating parks and gardens to promote physical and mental well-being.

The importance of engineering in infrastructure and urban planning cannot be overstated. Through their expertise and innovative solutions, engineers contribute to the creation of sustainable, resilient, and livable cities. As the demands of modern society continue to evolve, the role of engineering in shaping our urban environments becomes ever more crucial.

Technological Advancements and Engineering Innovation

Technological advancements and engineering innovation play a pivotal role in modern society, addressing the many challenges we face today. Engineers work tirelessly to create, design, and implement solutions that improve our lives and transform industries.

The Rise of Technological Advancements

In recent years, we have witnessed an unprecedented rise in technological advancements that have revolutionized various aspects of our lives. These advancements have been made possible due to the cross-disciplinary collaboration between engineering and other fields such as computer science and material science.

Transforming Industries

Engineering innovations have transformed industries, making them more efficient, sustainable, and adaptable to today’s needs. In the automotive industry, for example, engineers have developed electric vehicles that contribute to reducing carbon emissions and combatting climate change.

Solving Energy Challenges

Engineers have also made significant contributions to solving energy challenges, developing renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. Through the integration of engineering and science, solar panels have become more affordable and efficient, providing an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional energy sources.

Improving Healthcare

In the field of healthcare, engineering innovations have led to improved diagnostics, treatment options, and patient care. Medical devices such as MRI machines and robotic surgical systems are prime examples of how engineering has revolutionized the healthcare industry, enhancing both the accuracy and efficiency of medical procedures.

Ensuring Sustainability

Sustainability is a critical aspect of modern engineering. Engineers are actively involved in developing sustainable solutions and practices to minimize the impact of human activities on the environment. Through innovations in waste management, water treatment, and green infrastructure, engineers are playing a vital role in creating a sustainable future for generations to come.

Enhancing Communication and Connectivity

Technological advancements in engineering have also greatly improved communication and connectivity. The development of mobile technologies, high-speed internet, and wireless networks has transformed the way we communicate, collaborate, and access information.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a prominent field that intersects with engineering. Through AI, engineers can develop intelligent systems that automate tasks, analyze complex data, and make informed decisions, leading to increased efficiency and productivity across industries.

In conclusion, technological advancements and engineering innovation are instrumental in addressing the challenges of our time. Engineers continue to push boundaries, developing solutions that transform industries, improve healthcare, ensure sustainability, and enhance communication and connectivity. As we look to the future, the role of engineering in shaping our society will continue to grow, driving progress and innovation in all aspects of our lives.

In conclusion, engineering plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of our modern society. From solving complex environmental issues to developing innovative technologies, engineers are at the forefront of finding solutions that improve our quality of life. The importance of engineering cannot be overstated, as it enables us to create a sustainable future and tackle the pressing problems we face today. Through their expertise, creativity, and dedication, engineers continue to drive progress and shape the world we live in. So, let us recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions of engineers and support their endeavors in building a better tomorrow.

The importance of engineering in the modern world

Engineers don’t sit back and watch – they make things happen. Using innovation, creativity and a wealth of knowledge, engineering graduates are impacting the world unlike any other.

The world is changing, and engineers are the ones behind so much of this development. The majority of today’s services and products had some element of engineering involved in their conception at least, paving the way to long, fulfilling and healthy lives for the people influenced by them.

Engineers must be critical yet creative; curious yet capable; as well as ready to handle the constantly changing world.

The wide range of disciplines that fall under the engineering title mean that no matter what the prospective student’s interest, there’s bound to be one facet of the sector they’ll find enticing and engaging. Whether its civil, electrical, chemical or mechanical engineering, if you like tinkering, creating, designing or building, the engineering sector has a place for you.

In an advanced technological world, we need engineers to bring ideas into reality. By applying the principles of mathematics and science, engineers develop solutions to the world’s biggest technical issues.

You could find yourself doing anything from building new bridges to developing electrical sockets for refugee camps; working on special effects for blockbuster movies or testing aircraft and aerospace products. With a myriad of positions open to engineers in almost every field, graduates happily welcome the huge choice of careers they have the potential to explore.

The engineering portfolio knows no bounds, but these people are all working to the same common goal: building a sustainable world. Whatever you wish to contribute to society through your engineering dedication, nothing compares to the knowledge that you’ve achieved something that’s impacted people’s lives for the better.

Considering studying in the engineering field but stuck with where to go? We’ve scoured the globe and found four universities that are making waves in engineering education…

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MURDOCH UNIVERSITY – AUSTRALIA

The School of Engineering and Information Technology (SEIT) is an innovative faculty where students can pursue their studies in a stimulating learning environment.  Here, learners gain practical experience in Australia’s best renewable energy and engineering research facilities, including a $10.1 million Bayer Pilot Plant – the only one of its kind in Western Australia.

Murdoch’s Engineering and Technology courses stand out as some of the best in the country when compared to other Australian Universities. For overall experience in Australian engineering and technology education, Murdoch has been ranked the very best . Its learning resources and teaching quality are ranked second-best in the country and it produces the third-best average in terms of graduate salary.

The school has a keen focus on merging disciplines to produce multi-talented, well-rounded graduates. SEIT’s focus on innovation to benefit society comes to life in its cross-disciplinary groups researching Sustainable Energy , Environmental Engineering , Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering , Energy and Power , and Physics and Nanotechnology . All SEIT students are involved in the labs and projects which support these cutting-edge groups.

The school’s world-class facilities  and esteemed faculty prepare students to thrive in dynamic and fulfilling careers.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (UHK)

The Faculty at Engineering at UHK tries to stay ahead of the game, keeping up with developments in the world of engineering and producing pioneering research through five departments in modern engineering, technology and computer science.

The faculty is not afraid to collaborate, offering interdisciplinary programsm, including a  BEng in Medical Engineering , offered jointly with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine .

Programs here are constantly updated to reflect changes in the world. The faculty even brings out new courses where necessary; the BEng in Engineering Science program  was first offered in 2012 as a response to the ever-increasing demand for high-caliber engineers who are equipped with the knowhow and skill needed to tackle multidisciplinary world problems.

By encouraging cross-disciplinary study, the faculty aims to provide an all-round education to ensure graduates have all they need to become a successful engineer. Qualified students come away with a grasp on lateral thinking, superb communication skills, a sense of professionalism, knowledge of cutting-edge technologies and more, ready for their futures.

Many UHK engineering graduates are now pursuing senior, prestigious positions in various industry roles – including in the commercial sector, education and government.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (NUS)

NUS Engineering’s passionate community allows potential engineering leaders to flourish, promoting a global understanding of the discipline and facilitating high-impact research. The faculty has contributed significant amounts of research to benefit the industrial and economic growth of the nation.

Classes are led in small groups where teachers ensure student voices are heard. In the very first semester, participants are given a taste of what it’s really like to be an engineer with hands-on experiments designed to mimic real-world situations they could experience outside of class. All sessions are intended to imitate professional settings so graduates leave prepared to tackle the workplace.

Life at NUS isn’t just restricted to the classroom; an extensive list of clubs, student groups and other social  activities gives students a flavour of what it’s really like on this buzzing campus. NUS also ensures students leave ready for the world of work when their time at university comes to an end, with many  industry networking events and supportive career advisors .

The school also encourages students to undertake a 12-week internship as part of their course, priming them for entry to the workplace soon after graduation.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND – NEW ZEALAND

The largest tertiary institution in New Zealand, the University of Auckland, houses 40,000 students across four main campuses and four satellite sites.

The faculty is particularly renowned for its world-class research, in which it fosters the inter-disciplinary potential of notable findings. Students and staff often collaborate with many public and private organisations, research institutions, and industry professionals. Its researchers are making ground-breaking discoveries in the engineering field, pushing for change and creating ever-evolving programs that strive to stay on top of the latest developments.

In late 2019, the university will launch its brand-new, purpose-built engineering facility , inviting students to utilize its study hubs, tailor-made to support students’ learning, with many of them big enough to accommodate large student cohorts and collaboration. The building will have an interdisciplinary nature, encouraging students to share knowledge and work together to broaden their understanding of the discipline.

The integrative nature of the faculty doesn’t just reside in this yet-to-be-built space but in everything the university does. Its multidisciplinary learning spaces (MDLS) give staff and students flexible areas in which labs can be customized, giving them space to move equipment and furniture to create the optimum learning environment for individual groups.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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The Importance of Engineering: Education, Employment, and Innovation

Author: Marie C. Thursby

Technological innovation has long been the key to US growth and prosperity, and engineering has been an important driver of this innovation. Indeed, the development and institutionalization of the engineering disciplines in US universities provided much of the talent behind US domination of world markets during the 20th century (Rosenberg and Nelson 1994). Engineering disciplines integrate scientific principles with practically oriented research, providing systems and processes that themselves create ways of acquiring new knowledge. This integration makes engineering critical to successful industrial innovation.

It is therefore sobering to see the low percentage of engineering degrees awarded in US universities today: only 4.4 percent of the undergraduate degrees awarded in the United States are in engineering, compared with 13 percent in European countries and 23 percent in key Asian countries (NAE 2014). Furthermore, with ever increasing economic development and growth worldwide, it is not clear that the best engineers will want to work in the United States—or that the best employment opportunities for US-educated engineers will be in this country.

Survey evidence from a large sample of R&D-intensive companies headquartered primarily in the United States and Europe shows that firms do not feel constrained to locate new research facilities at home (Thursby and Thursby 2006a). Only 15 percent of those surveyed located all of their R&D at home, and 20 percent conducted more than half of their R&D outside of their home country. Many of them located facilities in developing countries, and the second most important reason for companies’ choice of location was access to quality research personnel (Thursby and Thursby 2006a,b). 1

Against this backdrop, it is difficult to evaluate the low percentage of engineering degrees being awarded in the United States. Are too few engineering degrees being sought and awarded? The figures cited above compare degrees across countries, but what are the trends in the United States? What are the occupations and employment opportunities for US-trained engineers?

This article presents evidence that, despite the low number of degrees awarded, the US production of engineers at both undergraduate and graduate levels has increased quite dramatically over time.

Engineering Degrees Awarded in the United States

Projected Job Opportunities: Beyond Engineering Occupations

Figure 6 shows that of the 12.6 million people whose highest degree was in a science or engineering field, only 3.9 million worked in science and engineering jobs in 2008. Of the 11.2 million people whose job required bachelor’s-level technical skills, only 27 percent actually worked in science and engineering occupations and 40 percent either worked outside of science and engineering or their highest degree was outside of science and engineering. Common examples of the latter are managers or lawyers with MBAs or JDs whose undergraduate degree was in engineering. Note, however, that 7.9 million of those whose job requires bachelor’s-level technical skills work in areas closely related to their field.

Educational Challenge

The employment pattern shown in Figure 6 is not idiosyncratic but rather reflects general trends since the 1990s. This is good news because it suggests that engineers contribute well beyond their technical skills. But it also means that US universities face a major challenge: the need to design curricula to attract and prepare students for the current and future workplace, where the need for multidisciplinary skills is increasingly the norm.

The multinational firm survey mentioned above provides compelling evidence that engineers working in R&D-intensive firms will likely work on globally distributed teams (Thursby and Thursby 2006a,b), and data on the role of teams in innovation show that research teams are becoming ever larger and cross-institutional in nature (Wuchty et al. 2007). Thus engineers managing or working in R&D will need to work across many organizational structures.

The challenge for universities is to design programs that retain the rigor of engineering while broadening the curriculum to address communication across cultures, management within and across organizations, intellectual property and technology transfer issues, financing innovation, knowledge of regulatory environments, and so on.

Many US universities have stepped up to the challenge. At the undergraduate level, some have created “four plus one” programs that introduce cross-disciplinary courses or certificate programs in the fifth year. Others have introduced minors in entrepreneurship or management of technology, and a number of joint degree programs combine engineering with law and/or business. In addition, a number of universities are partnering to meet the challenge. For example, a graduate certificate program at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University teams PhD candidates in science and engineering with business and law students to focus on issues involved in commercializing fundamental research.

Concluding Remarks

This article began by recalling the heart of the engineering disciplines—the integration of ideas and techniques that make engineering so essential for industrial innovation. It is fitting, then, to end on a similar note. Engineering holds great potential for continued US innovation in the future. But to realize this potential, it will be necessary for US universities to extend the “integrative” expertise of engineers into areas well beyond the technical core.

NAE [National Academy of Engineering]. 2014. The Importance of Engineering Talent to the Prosperity and Security of the Nation: Summary of a Forum. Washington: National Academies Press.

NSB [National Science Board]. 2012. Science and Engineering Indicators. Washington.

NSB. 2014. Science and Engineering Indicators. Washington.

NSF [National Science Foundation]. 2012. Doctorate Recipients from US Universities: 2011. Special Report NSF 13-301. Arlington, VA. Available at www.nsf.gov/statistics/sed/digest/2011/nsf13301.pdf.

NSF. 2014. Doctorate Recipients from US Universities: 2012. Special Report NSF 14-305. Arlington, VA. Available at www.nsf.gov/statistics/sed/2012/start.cfm .

Rosenberg N, Nelson R. 1994. American universities and technical advance in industry. Research Policy 23:323–348.

Stephan P. 2012. How Economics Shapes Science. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Stephan P. (forthcoming). The endless frontier: Reaping what Bush sowed? Version of July 18, 2014. In: The Changing Frontier: Rethinking Science and Innovation Policy, eds. Jaffe A, Jones B. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research. Available at www.nber.org/chapters/c13034.pdf .

Thursby J, Thursby M. 2006a. Here or there? A survey on the factors in multinational R&D location. Report to the National Research Council Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable. Washington: National Academies Press.

Thursby J, Thursby M. 2006b. Where is the new science in corporate R&D? Science 314:1547–1548.

Wuchty S, Jones B, Uzzi B. 2007. The increasing dominance of teams in the production of knowledge. Science 316:1036–1039.

Yoder B. 2013. Engineering by the Numbers. Washington: American Society of Engineering Education. Available at www.asee.org/papers-and-publications/publications/11-47. pdf .

This article extends the comments and perspective presented by the author for the panel on “The Importance of Engineering for the Prosperity and Security of the United States,” at the 2013 annual meeting of the National Academy of Engineering. Where possible the data have been updated. The author is grateful to Paula Stephan and Jerry Thursby for insightful discussions, and to Stephan for providing data she compiled from doctoral surveys.

  1 The most important reason for locating in a developing country was growth potential of the market.

Why Engineers are Becoming Increasingly Important

The history of our species is a testament to the works of countless engineers. as we become more and more dependent on technology, engineers will become increasingly important..

Christopher McFadden

The importance of engineers to any society has historically been of great importance, and that trend is only likely to increase over time. Engineers and their labors are, in effect, transforming the theoretical to the practical for the betterment of all.

One of the greatest, if not the greatest engineering feat was the introduction of electricity . Its development and deployment have had an incalculable impact on our societies. Just think about how much blood, sweat, and tears have been saved since its introduction. Work has become easier and our general standards of living have risen considerably. 

As our world becomes rapidly more technology dependent, the reliance on good tech will make Engineers increasingly important.

Engineer-free society

Now consider a society that is completely free of engineers. What would it look like? It’s a hard thing to picture because for as long as humans have existed, engineers (in some fashion) have also existed. 

The closest we can probably think about would be a hunter-gatherer one. This society would literally be one of pure survival. There would be no innovation, no technology of any kind. As soon as one or other members of that society created a trap, a spear or improved on a technique for smashing things an engineer will have been “born”.

From a  scientific point of view, the entire goal of life is to survive and reproduce. Our development of tools over our entire history has been a product of those basic “commands”. The conception of and development of tools of any kind has been to help our species overcome our physical limitations as an animal. They have also helped accelerate or amplify our ability to survive and thrive.

Unless we destroy our species in a nuclear armageddon , this is a trend that is highly unlikely to slow down or cease. With this in mind, engineers are going to become ever more important with time.

The importance of engineering

No country or society today would succeed without the adoption of engineering at some level. Engineering and engineers have had an enormous impact on every aspect of our modern lives. 

Let’s take a closer look at a few of these. 

 – Agriculture

 – Education

 – Health sectors

Agriculture

Put simply, without food there would be no society. Our development by early peoples, who were engineers in effect, has enabled us to cultivate and harvest crops and rear animals. Given the importance of this sector, agriculture has a strong link with engineering. Agricultural engineering is a major field of engineering today.

It would a rare event to find a situation where machinery or other technology is not being used on a modern farm. The adoption of technology en masse has led to every increasing yields and efficiency of the production of food. 

The development of fertilizers has further increased the efficiency of agriculture, most of which are the fruits of the labors of chemical engineers. Water supplies for irrigation even in very arid locations have been more or less guaranteed by other engineers. As our global population grows with time, the need for more and more food is self-evident. 

Drive’s for more efficient use of land for farming and more efficient food production will become increasingly more and more important. For this reason, Engineers are increasingly more important to agriculture.

Education is important for all aspects of life and society. Engineering has, in and of itself, made significant contributions to this aspect of society. From the basic teaching of the principles of engineering, the products of engineering are all around students and teachers alike.

In fact, the very building, the seats, and other teaching materials all around them would not exist without engineers and engineering. The physical buildings themselves, air conditioning, lighting and of course computers are vitally important. 

As education will likely become ever more important in the future, though its format will of course change, engineers will be needed to facilitate the classrooms of the future. It is debatable whether actually physically attending a classroom or lecture hall will become extinct in favor of distant learning, but in either case, engineers skills will be needed. The future of education will make engineers increasingly important.

Every aspect of our lives has the fingerprints of engineers and engineering somewhere. Healthcare is another important area. Of course, the drugs and medicines used are more the realms of medical sciences. However, the equipment used certainly wouldn’t exist without engineering.

Modern surgical theatres are jam packed with highly complex pieces of machinery to improve your chances of survival under the surgeon’s knife. That includes the knife itself. With a likely increase in the use of more and more advanced equipment in the future, it is an inevitability that engineers will become ever more important in this field too.

Robotic or automated surgery may not be that far off either. This technologies development will rely more and more on engineers rather than the doctors themselves. Perhaps, in the future, the physical act of surgery will not need the guiding hand of human doctors.

The Final Word

We have hand picked three sectors in our modern world where engineering has had a critical input. Engineering, as a profession, is of incredible importance today and has been since the beginnings of our species. The work of countless engineers over the ages has changed our lives forever. So much so it is unlikely most of could survive “in the wild.”

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Our understandable addiction and reliance on technology will only ever grow and as such, the importance of Engineer will follow suit. So why are Engineers increasingly important? Because pretty much everything around us wouldn’t exist without them. This is not going to change anytime soon.

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ABOUT THE EDITOR

Christopher McFadden Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.

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Essays About Engineering: Top 5 Essay Examples Plus Prompts

Engineering is one of the most sought after professions for the 21st century. If you are writing essays about engineering, use these examples below.

A common stereotype of engineers is that they build houses, but that is simply not the case. Nearly all of the things we enjoy today are because of engineers. The food you buy at the grocers is deemed as safe thanks to the chemical engineers who analyzed its contents. The smartphone or laptop you’re using to read this right now was made possible by computer engineers.

The house you’re living in, the offices you go to work at, these marvels made our life easier because of engineers who dedicated their time to innovate and solve our problems through science and mathematics. After all, accuracy is what sets engineers apart.

If you are writing an essay about engineering, here are 5 essay examples to help you write an insightful piece.

1. Why Engineers Are Becoming Increasingly Important by Christopher McFadden

2. women in engineering: why i chose an engineering degree by purity muhia, 3. taking lessons from what went wrong by william j. broad, 4. the way i work: brendan walker by gary ryan, 5. engineering ethics and its impact on society by dr. william m. marcy and jane b. rathbun, 1. different types of engineering, 2. future of engineering, 3. how to become an engineer, 4. pros and cons of engineering innovation, 5. is engineering hard.

“ Now consider a society that is completely free of engineers. What would it look like? It’s a hard thing to picture because for as long as humans have existed, engineers (in some fashion) have also existed. 

The closest we can probably think about would be a hunter-gatherer one. This society would literally be one of pure survival. There would be no innovation, no technology of any kind. As soon as one or other members of that society created a trap, a spear or improved on a technique for smashing things an engineer will have been “born” .”

McFadden eloquently discussed how engineers transformed our way of living and the big role they’ll be playing as society becomes increasingly reliant on technology. He also discussed the impact engineers have in different sectors such agriculture, health, and education.

“ There are some girls who still grow up thinking that engineering and science isn’t meant for women. It is important to remember women can thrive in the world of engineering. I chose engineering because I loved math and science, and engineering promised real opportunities to change the world. ”

Muhia is now one step closer to achieving her dreams of making a change in the world as she now holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering. 

In this essay, which she wrote back in 2016 as a student intern, she discussed the origins of her interest in engineering and aimed to inspire other young women to pursue this profession as a way to bring a different perspective to a vocation dominated by men.

“ It is not that failure is desirable, or that anyone hopes for or aims for a disaster. But failures, sometimes appalling, are inevitable, and given this fact, engineers say it pays to make good use of them to prevent future mistakes.

The result is that the technological feats that define the modern world are sometimes the result of events that some might wish to forget. ”

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner William Broad took a dive into the subject of how some of the innovations we enjoy today were conceptualized based on the tragedies of the past. Written in the midst of the Deepwater Horizon Drilling Rig Disaster, the article gathered the takes of distinguished engineers and used infamous engineering mishaps to discuss the adjustments made to improve work conditions and quality of life.

“ Novelty is a big part of creating a thrilling experience, so fairgrounds have historically been early adopters of new technology… Now the challenge for people like me is to produce content that controls and choreographs people’s emotional experience using this technology. ”

Coined as the world’s only thrill engineer, Brendan Walker reminisced his transition from an aeronautical engineer to conceptualizing and designing roller coasters and other theme park rides, and how understanding the physiological responses is key to providing patrons an unforgettable, thrilling experience.

“One aspect of many of the recent and prominently technological changes is a vast array of unintended consequences that the designers never anticipated. Unintended consequences frequently overshadow the anticipated benefits designers of a new technology had in mind. While many unintended consequences may have tremendous positive impacts on society, others may not. Ethical considerations must be included in every step of the design, documentation and deployment process to help anticipate and mitigate negative consequences.”

Dr. Marcy and Rathbun’s insightful essay examines how to assist engineers facing ethical dilemmas. It proposes addressing the three fundamental issues regarding engineering ethics – namely engineering ethics education, ethical decision making in professional practice, and protecting the rights of engineers to make such decisions.

Essay Prompts About Engineering

It can be a challenge to think of ideas and questions when writing an essay, especially if the subject revolves on something as technical as engineering. Here are five essay topics about engineering that might be able to help you out.

At present, there are up to 21 types of engineers that’s making a difference in the world we live in. From biochemical engineers to software engineers, this essay topic can discuss each branch and tackle their area of expertise as well as the groundbreaking innovations they’ve provided over the last few years. If you can’t investigate all, you can prompt to choose one type and focus your research on there.

Looking for more suggestions? Check out our essays about technology for your next project.

As mentioned, all types of engineers are working day in and day out to improve our way of living. With 21 types of engineers to choose from, you can choose which branch will impact your or your family’s future. For instance, if you’re an environmentally-conscious individual, you can home in on the research done by environmental engineers. Alternatively, you can focus on picturing what the next high-rise buildings will look like or what are the medical advancements 10 or 20 years from now.

This can be a range of different things. It can be an essay topic on how easy or difficult acquiring an engineering degree can be based on personal experience. It can be about how to inspire your kids to become future engineers by piquing their interest in infrastructures, space exploration, and even video games in a way that they will understand.

Technological advancements have their ups and downs. We won’t be able to see it at first, but a crack in its foundation will show after years of usage. An investigative essay showing an innovation’s advantages and disadvantages might reveal the next scientific discovery of the century that will change the world’s future.

Consider writing a short essay about the merits of the engineering profession. These types of essays are good because they help aspiring engineers and students figure out if they want to work in this career path. It also encourages to writer to either reflect on their experiences or consult more knowledgeable experts. 

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Why Are Ethics Important in Engineering?

• 16 Feb 2023

Engineers are vital to shaping our world. Their decisions have far-reaching consequences—typically related to risk management. As such, it’s essential for engineers to hold themselves to a high standard.

In a survey published by the International Conference on Engineering Education (IEEE) , 92 percent of respondents said ethical issues exist in engineering and could be improved. This kind of sentiment has led companies to examine their ethical standards, particularly in relation to engineering leadership.

If you’re interested in learning about how ethics shape engineering, here’s an overview of the industry’s ethical standards, why they’re important, and the role they play in leadership.

Access your free e-book today.

What Are Engineering Ethics?

Engineering ethics are principles and guidelines engineers follow to ensure their decision-making is aligned with their obligations to the public, their clients, and the industry. The National Society of Professional Engineers’ (NSPE) code of ethics outlines the standards of ethical behavior engineers should follow in their professional lives. Those include:

• Protecting public safety
• Only performing tasks they’re qualified to do
• Being honest in public communications
• Remaining faithful and trustworthy to employers
• Acting with integrity

These principles are designed to help you, as an engineer, make ethical decisions in your work and promote responsible use of industry technologies.

7 Reasons Ethics Matter in Engineering

Trust is required between engineers and the public, which is why it’s crucial for you to understand the importance of acting ethically. Here are seven reasons why ethics matter in engineering.

1. Promotes Safety

The NSPE’s code of ethics requires you to prioritize public safety in your work.

For instance, you’re expected to notify employers and clients when their judgment is overruled because of dangerous circumstances or when documents don’t conform with applicable standards. Doing so can prevent harm to individuals and communities and ensure your work meets the highest safety and reliability standards.

In addition to ethical considerations, there’s a business case for safety in the workplace. Prioritizing safety not only protects employees and customers but also improves productivity and reduces costs associated with accidents and injuries. According to Liberty Mutual’s 2021 Workplace Safety Index , U.S. employers spend more than $1 billion per week on serious, nonfatal workplace injuries.

2. Enhances Quality

Engineering ethics are also critical to improving your quality of work. According to NSPE’s code of ethics, you should only perform tasks that closely align with your education and experience.

This is important when working toward an engineering leadership position. For instance, as an organizational leader , you’ll often manage individuals who are experts in areas you know little about. You’ll need to shift from a specialist to a generalist management style by focusing on relationships, adding value by enabling work, considering the bigger picture, and relying on executive presence. The goal is to enable specialists on your team to do their highest-quality work.

The “leader as architect” concept—discussed in the Harvard Business School Online course Organizational Leadership taught by HBS professors Anthony Mayo and Joshua Margolis—refers to your role in enabling work to happen rather than doing it yourself.

“Since leaders can’t personally make those conditions happen for each person every day across a big organization, they don the hat of the architect,” Mayo says in Organizational Leadership . “And their work is to use a set of organizational components to create and sustain motivation, competence, and coordination.”

3. Improves Public Opinion

Ethics also help improve public opinion about engineering professions.

For example, the NSPE’s code of ethics requires you to be honest in your public communications through objective, truthful statements free of private interest, deception, or misrepresentation. Honesty in public relations is crucial to building trust. It’s even more critical for you as an engineer because your decisions directly affect the public’s safety and well-being.

In an era where communication skills are increasingly valued, it’s crucial to act ethically in your interactions with the public. Doing so can help improve perceptions about the engineering industry and demonstrate your commitment to ethical, responsible behavior.

4. Safeguards the Company’s Interests

Adhering to engineering ethics can also help protect your company’s interests.

The NSPE’s code of ethics discourages you from disclosing sensitive or confidential company information without explicit consent, obtaining employment or advancement with improper methods, and unethically harming other engineers’ professional reputations.

By adhering to these principles, you can help protect your firm’s interests—as well as your team's—and ensure you contribute to its success.

5. Fosters Sustainability

Engineering ethics promote sustainability by requiring you to consider your work's long-term impact on the environment and society. Additionally, sustainability is vital to modern business because it can improve your organization’s reputation, increase growth opportunities, and boost financial performance.

If you struggle to understand sustainability's context in your role as an engineer, consider the triple bottom line , a concept that asserts businesses should go beyond financial performance and measure their social and environmental impacts. If you consider profit, people, and the planet in your daily work, you’re more likely to follow the industry’s ethical standards around sustainability.

6. Protects Other Engineers

Engineering ethics aren’t just meant to protect employers, clients, and the public. They also help protect individual engineers by discouraging all industry professionals from engaging in unethical or illegal behavior for their benefit.

The NSPE’s code of ethics specifically states that “engineers shall not attempt to obtain employment or advancement by untruthfully criticizing other engineers.” It also specifies that “engineers shall not attempt to injure, maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of other engineers.”

These guidelines are especially important when considering your team’s performance and productivity. Fostering an environment that promotes employee engagement can prevent negative dynamics from corrupting your workplace.

7. Secures Company Assets

Engineering ethics help ensure your team members and organizational leaders act in ways that protect your company’s intellectual property and confidential information.

The designs, inventions, and writings created by your team are often recognized as the property of either your client or the individual responsible for those assets. You must acknowledge such ownership agreements prior to beginning work. In doing so, you can prevent theft and misuse of your company’s assets and protect its investments.

The Importance of Ethical Leadership

Leading ethically is critical to long-term success in the engineering industry. Ethical leaders model honorable behavior, set an example, and foster cultures of integrity and respect.

“A leader needs to be adaptable and step out of their comfort zone if they want to foster a culture in which others do the same,” Mayo says in Organizational Leadership .

By adhering to the tenets of ethical leadership, you can hire individuals whose principles align with your organization’s values.

“You want to look for individuals whose values, attitudes, and skills are consistent with what your organization needs and cares about,” Margolis says in the course.

Elevate Your Organizational Leadership as an Engineer

Ethics are crucial in engineering. They not only promote quality work but also encourage you to operate safely and maintain a high standard of ethical responsibility.

As an organizational leader, you often dictate your company’s culture and values. Understanding engineering ethics—and the business skills needed to apply them—is essential to your success.

By furthering your education through an organizational leadership course , you can learn how to adapt to constantly evolving responsibilities and become an effective leader .

Do you want to learn more about how to lead ethically? Enroll in our online certificate course Organizational Leadership —one of our leadership and management courses —and develop in-demand business skills that can benefit your engineering career. If you aren’t sure which course is right for you, download our free flowchart to explore your options.

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What Makes Engineering Such an Important Part of Our Society?

Why engineering is important to society.

Engineering has been a fundamental part of human development and progress for centuries. From the ancient Egyptians building pyramids to the latest advancements in technology, engineering has played a vital role in shaping the world we live in. In this blog article, we’ll explore what makes engineering such an important part of our society.

Why Do We Need Engineering?

Engineering is a crucial part of our society because it provides solutions to the problems we face in our daily lives. Engineers use their knowledge, skills, and creativity to design, build, and maintain systems, structures, and technologies that improve our quality of life. From providing clean water and electricity to developing life-saving medical devices, engineering makes a tangible impact on the world around us.

How Do Engineers Impact Our Future?

Engineers play a key role in shaping our future. They design and build the infrastructure and systems that support our communities and economies. As technology continues to evolve, engineers are at the forefront of innovation, developing new and improved solutions to the challenges we face. From tackling climate change to improving healthcare, engineers are working to create a better future for everyone.

Influence of Engineering Across Various Sectors

Engineering has a significant impact on various sectors of our society, from construction and industry to technology, medicine, and communication. By designing and building new structures and systems, optimizing existing ones, and developing new technologies, engineers are shaping the world around us and improving our daily lives. From improving our health and safety to making it easier to connect with each other, engineering is making a profound impact on our world, and its influence will only continue to grow in the future.

Construction

Engineering plays a vital role in construction, as engineers design and plan the buildings , roads, and other structures that make up our communities. They ensure that these structures are safe, efficient, and sustainable, while also considering the economic and social impact of their designs.

Engineering contributes to the construction industry through:

• Design and Planning: Engineers use their expertise to design and plan construction projects, taking into account factors such as safety, functionality, cost, and sustainability.
• Safety and Structural Integrity: Engineers ensure that construction projects meet safety standards and have the necessary structural integrity to withstand the elements and wear and tear over time.
• Innovative Materials and Techniques: Engineers are always exploring new materials and techniques to make construction projects safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM): Engineers use BIM technology to create virtual models of construction projects, allowing for better collaboration and visualization of the project before it is built.
• Sustainability: Engineers play a key role in ensuring that construction projects are sustainable and minimize their impact on the environment. This includes using eco-friendly materials, designing energy-efficient buildings, and incorporating renewable energy systems.
• Cost-effectiveness: Engineers work to minimize costs while maximizing the quality and functionality of construction projects, making them accessible and affordable for everyone.
• Community Impact: Engineers consider the social and economic impact of construction projects on communities, ensuring that they benefit everyone, not just a select few.

Engineering is also critical to the industrial sector, as engineers design and develop the products and processes that drive economic growth and competitiveness. From improving manufacturing processes to developing new products, engineers are essential to the success of industry.

Engineering’s contributions to industry are numerous. A few of the most significant include:

• Manufacturing: Engineers are involved in the design and development of new manufacturing technologies and processes, from automation and robotics to 3D printing and beyond.
• Industrial Automation: Engineers are developing new automation technologies that are transforming the industrial sector, from improving efficiency and productivity to reducing waste and improving safety.
• Industrial Design: Engineers are involved in the design of products and equipment used in various industries, from consumer goods to heavy machinery.
• Supply Chain Management: Engineers are involved in the optimization of supply chains, from improving transportation and logistics to streamlining production processes.
• Energy and Utilities: Engineers are involved in the development of new energy technologies and systems, from renewable energy sources to energy-efficient systems.
• Process Control and Instrumentation: Engineers are involved in the design and development of process control and instrumentation systems, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of industrial processes.
• Materials Science: Engineers are involved in the development of new materials and the optimization of existing ones, from improving the strength and durability of materials to developing new materials with unique properties.

In the technology sector, engineers are the driving force behind the latest innovations. From developing new software and hardware to advancing the field of artificial intelligence, engineers are shaping the way we live and work through technology.

Engineering impacts the technology sector in several ways, including:

• Research and Development: Engineers play a key role in conducting research and developing new technologies, from hardware and software to artificial intelligence and robotics.
• Software Engineering: Engineers design and develop the software systems that power our digital devices, websites, and apps, ensuring that they are secure, efficient, and user-friendly.
• Hardware Engineering: Engineers design and develop the hardware systems that power our digital devices, from smartphones to laptops and beyond.
• Artificial Intelligence: Engineers are at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution, developing new algorithms and systems that enable machines to learn, think, and make decisions.
• Robotics: Engineers are developing and refining the robots that are transforming manufacturing, logistics, and other industries, making them more efficient and productive.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Engineers are designing and developing the systems and devices that make up the Internet of Things, connecting our physical and digital worlds like never before.
• Cybersecurity: Engineers play a crucial role in ensuring the security of our digital systems and networks, protecting against cyberattacks and data breaches.

In the field of medicine, engineers are working to improve health outcomes and save lives. They design and develop medical devices and technologies, from artificial organs to medical imaging systems, that help diagnose and treat diseases.

Here are some ways in which engineering impacts the medicine sector:

• Medical Devices and Equipment: Engineers play a crucial role in designing and developing the medical devices and equipment used in healthcare, from diagnostic tools to therapeutic devices.
• Biomedical Engineering: Engineers are using their expertise to solve complex biological and medical problems, from developing new prosthetics and implants to creating new diagnostic tools and treatments.
• Drug Development: Engineers are involved in the development of new drugs and therapies, from researching new compounds to designing and testing new delivery systems.
• Telemedicine: Engineers are developing new technologies that enable remote healthcare delivery, such as teleconsultations and remote monitoring systems.
• Medical Imaging: Engineers are advancing the field of medical imaging, from developing new imaging technologies to improving the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic tests.
• Robotics and Automation: Engineers are developing new robotics and automation technologies that are transforming the field of medicine, from automating routine tasks to performing complex surgeries.
• Personalized Medicine: Engineers are involved in the development of personalized medicine, using new technologies and data analytics to tailor treatments to individual patients.

Communication

Finally, engineering plays a crucial role in communication, as engineers design and maintain the networks and systems that connect us. From the internet to telecommunication systems, engineers are responsible for ensuring that we can communicate effectively and efficiently.

Here are some ways in which engineering impacts the communication sector:

• Telecommunications: Engineers are involved in the development of new telecommunications technologies, from designing and building new networks to improving the speed and quality of our communications.
• Wireless Technology: Engineers are developing and improving wireless technologies, from cell phone networks to Wi-Fi and beyond, making it easier for us to connect with each other on the go.
• Satellite Communication: Engineers are involved in the design and launch of satellites that enable global communication, from voice and data transmission to television broadcasting.
• Internet Technology: Engineers are involved in the development of new Internet technologies, from creating faster and more reliable networks to developing new applications and services.
• Social Media: Engineers are involved in the development of social media platforms and apps , from designing user-friendly interfaces to improving the security and privacy of user data.
• Streaming Media: Engineers are involved in the development of streaming media technologies, from delivering high-quality video and audio to developing new services like live streaming.
• Cybersecurity: Engineers play a crucial role in ensuring the security of our digital communications, protecting against cyberattacks and data breaches.

Engineering is a fundamental part of our society because it provides solutions to the problems we face, shapes our future, and impacts our lives in countless ways. From construction to medicine, engineering is essential to the progress and well-being of humanity.

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Importance of Engineering in the Society

Engineering is a very important discipline in the world of today. The importance of this area of specialization by many people is felt all over the world. In the current world we exist in, no country will succeed without the adoption of engineering practices. The importance of engineering in our world is numerous. This piece is just an introduction to the topic under discussion because splitting the topic in detail will occupy a large volume of text. What is engineering? Engineering is a profession in which scientific knowledge and mathematics, gained through study, experiment and practice are applied with intuition or judgment to develop ways to use economically, the materials or forces of nature for the benefit of mankind. So many authors have given their personal definitions on their understanding of the word " engineering ". This word has turned the face of the earth to look more interesting and accommodating. In the years back, there was nothing like electricity, which has made work easy and improves the standard of living. As of then, our forefathers were timid and live in the society that was not transformed through electricity. Because of the efforts of engineering, electricity has advanced and man utilizes it to achieve his goals in life. The Major Importance of Engineering The importance of engineering to be elaborated on are related to six key areas. These six key areas are the importance of engineering in: Agriculture simply put is the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals. This definition is as related to agricultural science. Due to the advancement in the agricultural practice, agriculture has developed a strong link with the field of engineering. It is because of the magnitude of this link that leads to the creation of agricultural engineering, which is among the branches of engineering. This engineering branch takes care of agricultural related affairs. In our today's world, hardly will you see a commercial agricultural farmer that does not make used of machines to increase the rate of his or her agricultural output. This importance added by engineering has really promoted the practice of agriculture all over the world. There are specific kinds of fertilizers for specific kinds of crops. These fertilizers in most cases are products of chemical engineers. They look into the chemical constituents of the manure and used the result generated from the scientists to know which will have good effects on crops and go into their productions. In the dry season, there is no rainfall, yet agricultural products are being supplied to markets where they are being sold to the consumers. The question is: how are these products made available irrespective of the fact that is usually no rainfall in the dry section of the year? Drilling engineers are among the people that make those products available as through the work they do generate water from beneath the ground. It is the water that is used to keep the crops growing through the irrigation system.

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Engineers create, design and build, bringing solutions to problems and transforming the environment for betterment of life. Engineers are responsible for the development of science and technology once they design tools, systems and instruments that make possible the acquisition of knowledge in a vast amount of fields. Engineering is responsible for the deep transformation of human relations in the first decade of the 21st century, changing also education paradigms as well as business. A new era in working environment has started, which characteristics are peculiar due to new communications, mobility and globalization. These aspects lead to the fact that now it is also important to train engineers with tools that enable them to act in a working environment that demands a very flexible and innovative mind in order to be inserted in and to keep up with the work market. Knowledge in Basic Sciences, Basic Sciences of Engineering and Specifics of Engineering are fundamental for the traini...

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Agricultural engineers made significant contributions to the farming community in the 21 century by improving efficiency of various farming operations, increasing farm incomes, and making life of a farmer more comfortable by mechanizing many of the labor intensive tasks of agricultural production. Mechanization of agriculture is considered to be one of the top 20 technological advancements of the 20 century. With the success of agricultural engineering profession in the 20 century to increase overall global food production, the future challenges of the 21 century still remain not only to feed the current population of 6.5 billion in 2009 but to feed an increasing population of 9.5 billion people in 2050. Despite huge gains in food production, there is still widespread hunger and malnutrition in the world. The problem of world hunger will not be solved until we solve the issue of poor man’s access to food and every farmer’s access to land, water, credit, and education on this planet....

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— In light of the current world economic and environmental crisis due in part to unsustainable development and poor financial planning, 21st Century engineers are faced with unprecedented challenges of developing a sustainable world in balance with the forces of nature to combat global environmental, social and economic crises. The European Union, the United States of America and a number of other countries have identified that smart solutions and highly skilled professionals are needed to survive climate change and create long-term prosperity. In this paper the role of enginnering in developing of india will be presented. The policy background to the current system of engineering education at bachelor's and graduate level in Ireland will be introduced and perceptions of engineering as a profession by society in general The crucial role of engineering for modern civilization is implicit in every aspect of our lives. Rapid progress in the development of the country post-independence has taken place through the application of engineering to different sectors: dams and irrigation systems which paved the way for green revolution; roads, civil construction of many types including building of major cities; sanitation systems; manufacturing industries; transport systems from trucks, buses, trains, ships, aircrafts, shipyards and airports,pharmaceutical industries, one can list many more.

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This report examines the need for Agricultural Engineering Extension to both small and large scale farmers and the purpose of Agricultural Engineering to the general public. Technology development and adoption are required on a larger scale than before if agricultural in the world is to reach the target of 4 percent a year growth as established by the World Bank report: from crisis to sustainable growth, a long-term perspective study. In particular, technological improvement needs to be directed at obtaining improved output from the same inputs rather than from more inputs. The strategy that the World Bank has relied on in recent years to stimulate technological improvement in Agriculture has placed major emphases on Agricultural Engineering Extension.

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Why is Civil Engineering Important?

Civil engineering is a technical discipline that forms the bedrock of infrastructural development. It serves as the driving force behind the evolution of cities. At the same time, it ensures the safety of structures and contributes to a sustainable future. But why is civil engineering important?

We will explore civil engineering’s profound impact on our world and its growing importance in modern society. It involves designing and constructing the infrastructure that sustains our daily lives.

So, let’s discover more!

Source: unsplash.com/ Photo Contributor: Mufid Majnun

Why Is Civil Engineering Important?

Civil engineering is crucial in the modern world, from towering skyscrapers to the bridges we traverse. But its significance goes beyond bricks and mortar; it helps create a foundation for progress. So, why is civil engineering important to society?

Here are the main reasons:

1. Infrastructure development

Civil engineering is the cornerstone of building and maintaining the infrastructure that supports modern society. Some examples of  civil engineering structures include ports, earthwork, roads, bridges, parks, airports, and public transportation systems. These networks are essential for moving people and goods, providing drinking water, handling waste, driving economic growth and connectivity.

2. Safe and sustainable living

We, as civil engineers, design structures and systems that ensure the safety and well-being of communities. We create flood control systems and sustainable urban planning. These efforts mitigate the impact of natural disasters and promote long-term sustainability.

3. Clean water and sanitation 

A fundamental human right is having access to clean water and adequate sanitary facilities. That’s why our civil engineers design water treatment plants and manage sewage systems and pipelines. This ensures that communities have safe and reliable access to these essential resources. Their contribution improves public health and enhances quality of life.

4. Environmental conservation

We are at the forefront of environmental conservation efforts. We integrate eco-friendly designs into projects, emphasizing renewable energy, green building practices, and responsible waste management, reducing our environmental impact.

5. Economic growth

Our civil engineering projects drive economic growth. They create jobs, attract investments, and foster development. Major construction projects also stimulate local economies and provide employment opportunities. Additionally, civil engineering acts as a catalyst for prosperity.

6. Innovation and technological advancements

The field of civil engineering is a hotbed of innovation. Our engineers continually push boundaries, introducing technologies like smart infrastructure, 3D printing in construction, and advanced materials. These innovations enhance efficiency and reduce environmental footprints.

How Does Civil Engineering Impact Society?

Civil engineers are the visionaries behind the systems that sustain your urban life. The cities rely on a complex network of roads, airports, and public transportation systems. These systems enable the efficient movement of people and goods.

Our architects of mobility carefully plan and design transportation systems. They strive for efficiency, safety, and accessibility. Our work goes beyond mere construction. It’s about connecting communities, reducing congestion, and fostering economic growth.

Furthermore, civil engineering has embraced its role in environmental conservation in an era marked by environmental concerns. Sustainable infrastructure projects are at the forefront of this mission.

Also, our civil engineers lead the charge in designing eco-friendly infrastructure that reduce energy consumption and developing green energy solutions that harness renewable resources. These initiatives contribute to a greener future. They reflect a commitment to responsible construction practices. In its pursuit of progress, civil engineering acts as a guardian of human well-being and environmental preservation.

Economic Growth and Stability

Job creation.

One of the most tangible impacts of civil engineering is its role as a job creator. The construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects generate a substantial number of employment opportunities. This contributes significantly to economic growth.

Our major projects, like bridges, highways, and public transportation, require a diverse workforce for planning and execution. These projects bring together many professionals, from architects and engineers to skilled tradespeople and laborers. Each of them plays a crucial role in ensuring our successful completion.

Moreover, job creation in civil engineering extends beyond construction. It encompasses ongoing maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to ensure the longevity and safety of existing infrastructure. This constant maintenance and improvement cycle provides numerous individuals with stable employment, fostering a thriving job market.

Investment opportunities

Civil engineering projects are not just about construction; they also offer attractive investment opportunities. For investors seeking long-term returns, civil engineering projects present a compelling prospect. These projects require substantial capital, making them appealing to individuals and entities looking to invest in tangible assets with enduring value.

Investing in civil engineering projects can lead to steady income streams and potential appreciation of assets over time. Infrastructure investments, such as toll roads, bridges, or utility systems, often provide reliable returns through user fees or government contracts. These revenue streams offer financial stability, making them valuable components of diversified investment portfolios.

Our civil engineering projects are important in stimulating economic stability . They create jobs and drive economic growth in local communities. We also foster an environment conducive to further investments.

Safe transportation

Picture your daily commute without the assurance of safe roads and bridges. Hence, civil engineering comes to the rescue by engineering transportation networks prioritizing safety. Civil engineers make our journeys smoother and more secure by reducing accidents and enhancing our daily commutes.

We design roadways with advanced features such as traffic signals, guardrails, and roundabouts to safeguard travelers. People can confidently navigate the cities thanks to civil engineering, knowing that their safety is a top priority.

Access to clean water and sanitation

Imagine a world where clean water is not a given. Our civil engineers work diligently behind the scenes to ensure that such a world remains unimaginable. We design systems that provide clean water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation. 

By doing so, we elevate public health and contribute to overall well-being. These include water treatment plants, sewage systems, and pipelines that transport clean water to your homes and communities. The result is improved public health, reduced waterborne diseases, and a higher quality of life.

Source: unsplash.com/ Photo Contributor: Bluewater Sweden

Challenges and Innovations

Addressing challenges.

As civil engineers, we continuously confront formidable challenges. These challenges include the ever-growing impact of climate change and rapid urbanization. In response, we are at the forefront of building resilient and sustainable communities.

We also integrate innovative strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as designing flood-resistant infrastructure and implementing eco-friendly building practices. The result is a world that can withstand time and environmental changes. This ensures a safer and more sustainable future for all.

Innovative solutions

We consider innovation a vital part of civil engineering, propelling the field into an exciting future. Recent years have brought remarkable advancements to the field, such as:

• 3D printing – This groundbreaking technology allows for the rapid construction of structures. It deposits material layer by layer, reducing waste and saving time and resources.
• Smart cities – Smart cities involve integrating technology and data to enhance urban living. Smart traffic management systems reduce congestion. Plus, intelligent waste management solutions optimize garbage collection routes. These innovations are transforming cities worldwide, making them more sustainable and livable.
• Self-healing materials – Researchers are developing materials that can repair themselves . For instance, concrete embedded with bacteria can heal cracks. This can extend the lifespan of structures and reduce maintenance costs.
• Drone technology – Drones provide aerial surveys, inspections, and data collection. They improve safety, reduce costs, and offer a more comprehensive view of project sites.
• Building information modeling (BIM): A building’s physical and functional attributes are represented digitally using BIM. It enables architects and engineers to plan, design, and manage construction projects efficiently. This reduces errors and optimizes resources.

Educational and Career Paths

Civil engineering is a dynamic field that offers various educational and career opportunities. Whether you’re a student contemplating your future or a professional seeking a career change, understanding the educational and career paths in civil engineering is essential.

How to become a civil engineer

Becoming a civil engineer requires a structured educational journey. Here’s how you can become one:

• Educational prerequisites – Begin with a strong science and mathematics foundation during high school. Physics, chemistry, and calculus courses can provide a solid basis for your future studies.
• Bachelor’s degree – Pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field. This typically involves a four-year undergraduate program. Ensure that relevant engineering universities in your country accredit the program.
• Internships and co-op programs – Consider participating in internships or co-op programs during your undergraduate studies. Many engineering firms and government agencies offer these opportunities. These provide valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities. 
• Professional licensing – You must obtain a professional engineer (PE) license. This usually requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and gaining several years of work experience under a licensed engineer’s supervision. Subsequently, you can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam for full licensure.
• Advanced studies – Some civil engineers pursue master’s or doctoral degrees to specialize in structural, geotechnical, or environmental engineering. These advanced degrees can lead to research or specialized career paths.
• Continuing education – Civil engineers must stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. Continuing education and professional development courses help maintain licensure and expand expertise.

Career opportunities in civil engineering

Civil engineering opens doors to many career opportunities. Here are some areas where civil engineers are in demand:

Structural engineering

Structural engineers design and analyze buildings, bridges, and other structures to ensure their safety and functionality. They work for construction companies, architectural firms, or as independent consultants.

Transportation engineering

Transportation engineers focus on designing and improving transportation systems, including roads, highways, railways, and airports. They collaborate with government agencies and private companies.

Environmental engineering

Environmental engineers address environmental issues like water and air quality, waste management, and sustainability. They often work for government agencies, consulting firms, or environmental organizations.

Geotechnical engineering

Geotechnical engineers assess soil and rock properties to support the design of foundations for buildings and infrastructure projects. They are essential in construction and geotechnical consulting companies.

Water resources engineering

Water resources engineers manage and develop water-related infrastructure, including dams, levees, and water treatment plants. They work for public utilities, government agencies, and private companies.

Construction management 

Civil engineers with expertise in construction management oversee construction projects, ensuring they stay on schedule and within budget. They often work for construction companies or as independent consultants.

Research and development

Some civil engineers pursue careers in research, academia, or technology development. They contribute to innovations that advance the field of civil engineering.

What Are Some of the Notable Civil Engineering Projects Ever?

Civil engineers have left an indelible mark on the world by creating iconic structures and projects that have had a global impact.

• Panama Canal – An artificial waterway connecting Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean. With a length of 51 miles, this is one of the biggest and most difficult engineering projects of all times. The construction began in 1904, and it took a whole decade to be completed. The Panama Canal was officially opened in August 1914 .
• The Golden Gate Bridge – This iconic suspension bridge in San Francisco, USA, is renowned for its stunning design and engineering. It connects San Francisco to Marin County and is an engineering marvel of its time.
• The English Channel Tunnel – Connecting the United Kingdom and France, the Channel Tunnel is an underwater marvel that involves complex engineering to facilitate high-speed train and vehicle transportation between the two countries.

Global impact of civil engineering marvels

• Panama Canal expansion – The recent expansion of the Panama Canal involved complex engineering to accommodate larger vessels. It has transformed global trade routes and boosted economies worldwide.
• High-speed rail networks – Civil engineers have played a vital role in developing high-speed rail networks in countries like Japan, China, and Europe. These networks have revolutionized transportation and reduced travel times.
• Sustainable infrastructure – Civil engineers worldwide focus on sustainability, creating environmentally friendly infrastructure that minimizes the impact on ecosystems and conserves natural resources.

What Lies Ahead in the Future of Civil Engineering?

As the world evolves, so does civil engineering. This dynamic field adapts to emerging needs and technologies, continuing to shape the world around us. Civil engineers are at the forefront of change. 

We guide the way toward innovative solutions that address contemporary challenges. From urban planning to disaster resilience, our civil engineering’s evolving role ensures that our communities remain resilient and adaptable in an ever-changing world.

We are convinced that the future of civil engineering holds immense promise, driven by advancements and trends poised to revolutionize the field. Artificial intelligence transforms how infrastructure is designed and maintained, making processes more efficient and cost-effective. 

Moreover, integrating renewable energy into infrastructure projects promotes sustainability and reduces environmental impact. Advanced materials promise structures that are not only stronger but also more eco-friendly.

These potential advancements and trends are the building blocks of a future where civil engineering is vital in creating a more resilient, sustainable, and technologically advanced world.

Source: unsplash,com/ Photo Contributor: Scott Blake

Why is civil engineering important? This article helps you realize the vital role civil engineering plays in city development and sustainability. It’s a key contributor to shaping the modern world. The field addresses challenges, embraces innovation, and adapts to evolving needs. All of which contribute to shaping resilient and sustainable communities. 

Looking ahead, artificial intelligence, renewable energy integration, and advanced materials are set to revolutionize civil engineering. It remains the foundation of progress, ensuring a brighter future for all. You may even feel inspired to pursue a career in this field!

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Why Environmental Engineering Is Vital for Our Future

Humanity has always engineered the environment around us. From the earliest days of wetland drainage and the need to acquire fresh water, to keep it flowing and keep it clean enough to drink, building cesspits to take away our waste and to stop pollution of vital waterways, we have always strived to maximize our sanitation and living conditions in order to expand and survive.

Shortage of Engineers

There is presently a shortage of STEM graduates coming out of our colleges and universities right across the western world and engineering is one of the core areas that has suffered the most. This means that with a good degree, there is a high likelihood of getting a good job fresh out of your studies. A master's degree then may be unnecessary for most people, but for the especially gifted who may be looking towards greater responsibility in future or to move towards the very top of the field, it may be advisable to do an advanced degree - all the way to the PhD. If you choose to go that high, you may be more involved in business or government policy than the “hands on” approach of the job of the bachelor's graduate. Environmental engineering is an applied science.

Learn more about environmental engineering careers .

Read about environmental engineering degrees ., history of environmental engineering, ancient world to industrialisation.

How far back were humans aware of the need for sanitation? It is generally believed that the first civilisation to have express concern for what happens to sewage waste and to develop more complex ways of moving it, and the first designers of sewer systems as we would understand them, was Republican Rome. Certainly, archaeologists interested in the study of sanitation will often turn to the largest Republic and later Empire the ancient world has ever known in order to understand urban development amongst other things, but the process goes back further than this to the Harappan Civilisation of the Indus Valley (3) . Their remarkable achievements included grid-planned cities with the most elaborate network of water supply and waste disposal. Larger houses had their own wells and the poorer abodes made do with communal water, but these were all connected - just as the sewer systems taking the waste away were connected (4, p7-15) . Surprisingly, they also had public toilets and baths. Cleanliness was of the utmost importance.

By the time we reach the Roman Republic, technology had developed into elaborate systems of water and sewage transportation for which we know the ancient world was famous. We have all heard about the aqueduct systems across the empire; the Romans knew that drought was a possibility in the Mediterranean climate that dominated most of the land of the empire so they built massive stone networks to carry water from areas where it was abundant to areas that could suffer in a drought. The Romans did not invent them, but they did enhance the technology and create monuments that far exceeded the examples they emulated (5) . The massive sewer system that still exists beneath the city of Rome today was used to drain the marshes to create farmland as well as to remove sewage from the houses and businesses in the city; it was built as early as the 7 th century BC, way before the Imperial era (6) .

Both the aqueducts and the sewers allowed Rome to expand their cities to the immense sizes that still hold us in awe today, so it is no surprise that we do not really see much change for some 1400 years after the fall of Rome. The beginning of environmental engineering arguably came with a great public work in London in the 19 th century (1) . Joseph Bazalgette was charged with overseeing the building work of a massive sewer system after what historians now call The Great Stink. The city was in the grip of a cholera epidemic with the conduits providing the basis of the sewer system then proving inadequate, leading to raw sewage pumped into the River Thames that also provided the majority of the city's drinking water (7) . Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli extracted a �3.5m budget from Parliament for the project. The completed project replaced all the pipes and improved the existing network, dramatically improving the city's health, ending the cholera epidemic (a disease that never returned to London after that) and leading to similar programmes in industrialised cities throughout the world. This was a time where free market capitalism was subject to no environmental regulation and was not encouraged to think about the people's health.

20 th to 21 st Century

The next leap forward would make us question the role of some pesticides used in farming methods. Rachel Carson was a highly qualified biologist , but not a famous one, when she released her book Silent Spring . It was a careful and lengthy study of the role of pesticides and their impact on the environment since the birth of intensive farming following World War II (8) . Carson presented evidence that delicate ecologies were being lost and could be lost in the future without the study of the role of certain pesticides, particularly DDT, and the correct action taken if proven harmful. At the time, the chemical was proving vital in the fight against malaria yet it was also proving damaging to crops and other wildlife too. Most alarmingly, Carson (and those who followed her work) noted that while DDT use was expanding, malaria-carrying mosquitoes were building up a resistance to the substance (9) .

Her book made governments take notice of the dangerous of industrial activity -President John F. Kennedy and his successor Johnson both focused heavily on a growing concern for the environment during their presidencies. They set the wheels in motion and the EPA came into being in 1970 during the Nixon era (10) who proclaimed the 1970s a “decade of environmental transformation”, enacting legislation to cover air and water quality. Couple this with environmental awareness in the general population and the (then) growing understanding of the effects of climate change meant that environmental engineering was born in this era. Since then, environmental legislation has sought to define environmental standards on clean water, air quality, solid waste disposal and pollution management (toxic and radioactive) - at state and national level (11) , and to define international standards. We are using an ever-increasing number of chemicals with toxic waste and the remit of the environmental engineer is to keep the environment safe for humans and for other forms of life.

Types of Environmental Engineering

Management of solid waste.

We are, and have been for a very long time, a consumer society and consumer societies generate a lot of waste. Food packaging, white goods, broken electronics and everything else that we dispose of is considered solid waste. In the western world, we recycle a lot of solid material, but not nearly enough and new technologies will bring problems of their own in reclamation, recycling or otherwise disposal of those material. In the developing world where recycling is limited or non-existent, this is expected to be a major problem as they seek to industrialise to the point that they too can join the developed world (12, p1-2) . Climate change is now a large factor in how fast these countries can develop. Environmental engineers of the future will be expected to provide answers and strategies for this form of waste disposal.

Landfill sometimes remains the only option for some materials, and how we manage these sites and the materials that go into them is something that environmental engineers work with every day. Recycling is big business and we are learning how to recycle material (and to do so safely) in order to better utilise the resources we have.

Water Supply

As the human population expands, we need access to an ever-increasing supply of water - whether that is drinking water, to keep our crops nourished so we can eat, to preserve local wildlife and the delicate ecosystem, water is vital to life. Over the last decade, we have been aware of the limits of water acquisition and retention. California has suffered drought , putting an enormous strain on water supplies in the south-western USA (13) . Europe too has suffered both drought (14) and flooding (15) and both scenarios bring problems of their own for Environmental Engineering. Drought affects food supply and increases fire risks in urban areas; flooding also affects food supply and the economy; businesses cannot open and local and national governments have a large bill for a clean-up operation, as well as putting an enormous strain on public services.

Environmental engineers already play a huge part in managing water supply - in droughts and in floods and outside of disaster areas, identifying where there are problem areas not getting enough water - irrigation or inadequate facilities.

Management of Water Waste

Environmental engineers ensure the smooth running of supplying us with water, and of taking it away from our homes and businesses. As mentioned earlier, humans have always needed to remove waste water as quickly and effectively as possible; it is good for our health and for the environment and today we produce so much waste water from our toilets, from our showers and baths, from swimming pools, from washed clothes and dishes - and that's just home use. We produce a lot of waste industrially too and disposal of these substances do not necessarily follow the same process; dangerous materials can leak into the environment and our drinking water so it needs careful handling.

The majority of this water goes to waste treatment facilities is filtered, processed and pumped back to us after a rigorous cleaning process (16) . Much of what you drink and use has been used over and over again for the same things and it's thanks to experts in this area that our water is so clean. They also tackle water pollution in all its forms.

Air Pollution Management

Air pollution has been a big issue since the 1960s and many countries introducing a Clean Air Act or equivalent. Some of the world's largest cities were big polluters until then; over the decades, the remit of the Environmental Engineer has changed. It used to be control and management of toxic materials and their effects on the environment - the 1980s was a big problem for Acid Rain (17) ; professionals in the air pollution category were fundamental to raising awareness of the problems cause and advising on legislation to reduce the output of relevant gases (sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide) into the atmosphere. Today, acid rain still has the potential to cause harm, but levels have been reduced by 70% in some parts of the world (18) .

Today, they are also concerned with greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in attempting to reduce the global output so that we may limit the temperature rise in the future. This is not their only area though; industrial pollutants are not limited to greenhouse gas emissions. Read more on air quality .

The Future of Environmental Engineering

The future is likely to see more technological development, population growth and a greater need for enough food for our growing population, housing and facilities to cater to our growing needs, new farming methods and so on. These are likely to see more areas needing management to avoid pollution or ecological damage; we will see new potential contaminants as well as a need to change conditions in some areas to cope with the changing climate. There will be an even greater need for environmental engineers to help us deal with the potential problems that this future will bring.

• http://www.livescience.com/48390-environmental-engineering.html
• http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes170000.htm
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/124907?seq=1
• https://www.academia.edu/5937322/Chapter_2_Sanitation_and_wastewater_technologies_in_Harappa_Indus_valley_civilization_ca._26001900_BC
• http://www.ancient.eu/aqueduct/
• http://www3.iath.virginia.edu/waters/Journal4Hopkins.pdf
• http://www.waterhistory.org/histories/london/
• http://orgprints.org/22934/7/22934.pdf
• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140224204808.htm
• http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations
• http://www.euractiv.com/sustainability/european-drought-cuts-food-outpu-news-514331
• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/winter-weather-uk-government-response
• http://water.worldbank.org/shw-resource-guide/infrastructure/menu-technical-options/wastewater-treatment
• http://www.epa.gov/region1/airquality/nox.html
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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Why include writing in engineering courses?

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Writing assignments incorporated into engineering courses allow students to both “write to learn” and “learn to write.” The concepts “writing to learn” and “learning to write” are integral to the study of how writing is used in all disciplines across the university. Writing studies scholars call this “writing across curriculum” because it promotes writing instruction in courses where students may not expect to encounter writing assignments and courses that students take throughout their undergraduate education.

When students write to learn, they are actively engaging with material by thinking through and articulating important concepts and issues addressed within the course. Writing in an engineering course will not only help students learn subject matter, but also enable them to synthesize and organize their thoughts to better retain information learned in the course. Furthermore, writing to learn enables students to make connections and understand the importance of the course beyond the classroom.

Assignments that emphasize “writing to learn” serve several purposes:

• Promoting a deeper understanding of course material
• Building critical thinking skills in students
• Showing students linkages to real-world applications
• Building students’ confidence in their ability to utilize technical content

Although the assignments provided in this resource primarily focus on “writing to learn,” students will also gain skills associated with “learning to write,” such as

• Developing design skills
• Practicing technical writing genres

For more information on “writing to learn” and “learning to write,” consult the OWL’s “Writing Across the Curriculum: An Introduction”

You might also check out the OWL vidcast, "An Introduction to Writing Across the Curriculum" on the Purdue OWL's YouTube Channel.

Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Create Writing Prompts

This page provides examples for how to modify a standard end-of-chapter homework problem to craft write-to-learn exercises at all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, a framework for classifying educational learning objectives.

Types of Writing Assignments

This page provides an overview and description of many types of writing assignments suitable for use in engineering homework and class activities.

Writing Tips for Students

This page provides instructors with quick tips that they can give their students to help them navigate the writing process, from the pre-writing to revising stages.

Assessment and Feedback of Engineering Writing Assignments

These resources describe easy-to-implement grading and feedback schemes for engineering writing assignments. Grading is one of the key obstacles to implementing writing in engineering courses as class sizes may be large, or instructors/TAs may teach multiple sections. Therefore, this section also provides techniques for quicker streamlined grading practices.

This work was supported by a Research Initiation Grant in Engineering Education (RIGEE) grant from the Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Division of the National Science Foundation (grant no. EEC-1340491). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

The importance of communication skills for engineers

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Engineering graduates require an ever-increasing range of skills to maintain relevance within the job market. Communication skills are a vital component of this, recognized by both academia and industry alike. Learning how to communicate effectively is an essential element that technicians or in-training engineers can learn to prepare them for their future careers.  

Strong communication skills in engineering have become imperative as the engineering industry continues to evolve. A report compiled by Marc J Riemer, who worked for UNESCO’s International Centre for Engineering Education as an assistant editor for their publications, was named ‘ Communication Skills for the 21st Century Engineer ‘. He writes:

“There is ample evidence that graduate engineers lack the required standard of communication skills, particularly when compared to the needs of the industry internationally. Communication skills are a regular feature of an engineer’s job in industry; some graduates employed in industry have identified that education in communication skills needs to be improved, given the demands encountered in industry”.

An engineer’s role is complex and technical. However, not everyone they work with has the expertise to understand. From employees in other departments to project clients, effective communication skills are a necessity to explain ideas and projects to a larger audience. These skills are critical to ensuring that all project participants are on the same page and have a common goal.

When navigating your engineering career, communication skills should be treated just as important as technical knowledge. Especially if one hopes to work towards a role as a manager or team leader. Engineering managers communicate with clients and their own supervisors about new projects. They also relay project parameters and deadlines to their reports, all while providing updates to their managers and clients. Poorly delivered messages can turn into misunderstanding, frustration, tension or even a disaster.

So what can engineers today do to work on their communication skills?

10 tips on how to use communication effectively as a team leader

• Use positive language to unite the team.
• Be clear, deliberate and concise
• Show your appreciation for good work
• Carefully select language when critiquing
• Show genuine interest in conversations
• Set clear and achievable goals
• Avoid slang and colloquial language 
• Be precise and to the point. Ensure there is no room for misinterpretation.
• Be measured in your responses, and think before you speak.
• Speak authoritatively and demonstrate your knowledge during the project

To help engineers hone their communication skills and become a more effective team leader, EIT created the Professional Certificate of Competency in Project Management for Engineers & Technicians.

The course focuses on the critical project-related activities that engineers and technicians will see on a project: scheduling, cost control, risk management, and more. The course focuses on what elements of the project can be managed by software, leaving more time to develop the individual into a suitable leader.

However, conflict and failure in engineering teams may at some point be unavoidable. Dean of EIT, Dr Steve Mackay, says the trick to dealing with conflict in engineering is dealing with it as quickly as possible.

“Conflict can sometimes be a good thing, but sometimes it gets out of control. A psychologist named Fritz Heider once said that whenever you have a failure, you always attribute it to external things. Whenever you have success, of course, it’s always due to you. You’ll always feel that you are responsible for your own success,” Dr Mackay explained.

“Whenever you have a conflict in your team, you need to focus on the issue and not the person. A team leader should be the glue that keeps a project running like a well-oiled machine, not dividing the team-up.”

In EIT’s Professional Certificate, there are practical exercises for students so that they can apply themselves to hypothetical situations that they will see in their current and future workplaces. Students will learn how to introduce appropriate quality management procedures to a project and learn how to keep projects on track. Importantly, they will be trained in what leadership styles to utilize so they can learn how to keep team members creative and motivated – ensuring team productivity in an engineering environment.

The importance of effective communication in engineering industries cannot be overstated. Clear communication is the dividing line between a project that runs smoothly and one that is dogged by delays and chaotic working conditions.

Visit the course page to inquire about the Professional Certificate of Competency in Project Management for Engineers & Technicians today.

Works Cited

WIETE Home Page , www.wiete.com.au/.

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Importance Of Genetic Engineering In Different Aspects

Published 05 Jun 2024

The importance of genetic engineering obtains the ability to produce various products from other organisms. It is a strategy used to break up and join collectively genetic material, mainly DNA from exclusive organic species, and also to introduce the resulting crossbreed DNA into an organism in order to achieve a new genetic collaboration (Rosenberg, 2017). According to (Satyajit Patra and Araromi Adewale Andrew, 2015), it typically makes a specialty of its significance starting from increasing plant and animal meals manufacturing, diagnosing disorder conditions, medical remedy improvement, as well as manufacturing of effective vaccines and other beneficial tablets.

In agricultural, medicine, and environmental fields, genetically engineered vegetation that naturally gives proper protection against insects and specific disorders or tolerance to selective herbicides is critical equipment that supplements diverse integrated pest management (IMP) (Jennifer. A. Anderson et al., 2019). In addition, the article (Ackerman, 2019) stated that Dean DellaPenna identifies wheat, soy, and peanuts as free allergens; bananas that provide immunizations; and vegetable oils so loaded with therapeutic elements that specialists “prescribe” them for patients in danger of malignant growth and coronary illness. As mentioned (Cerier, 2018), practically all the insulin efficiently delivered for diabetics is produced through a proper procedure, including genetic engineering. Medications for hemophilia, blood clotting, and many more additionally depend intensely on genetic engineering as it performs immunotherapy for creating disease medicines. Moreover, with the advancement of genetic engineering, bacteria with the excessive capability to put off environmental pollution are widely used in the fields of ecological recovery, resulting in bioremediation in a more possible and green manner (Lina Liu et al., 2019). As indicated by (Afzal H et., al, 2016), Biotechnology has enormous applications in ecological cleanup for human wellbeing. Defiled soil, water and air are being cleaned by utilizing microorganisms or typical plants in a proper procedure of bioremediation.

Read also: Genetic engineering assignment help at your disposal. Contact EduBirdie today!

Despite all the importance of genetic engineering in different aspects, there is always a drawback that the inventor produces. There are cases in the United States and Europe in which children develop an allergy to peanuts, and also some researchers stated that there are serious health issues like immune problems, changes in major organs, and infertility (Charu Verma et al., 2011). Furthermore, it may influence human well-being, causing sicknesses to disturb biological equalization, annihilating certain species, causing medication and herbicide opposition, and lowering the hereditary and environmental assorted variety (Goodwill, 2014). As eloquently stated by (O’Donnel, 2018), most likely, the richest ones are the only people who will benefit from genetic engineering because they can extend their lives, limit illnesses, and enhance their children's health status to ensure they are healthy. The wealthiest in the public eye will flourish while the poor will cease to exist.

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Engineering — The Importance of Science in Engineering For Human

The Importance of Science in Engineering for Human

• Categories: Engineering Humanity

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• How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

Published on January 2, 2023 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 11, 2023.

What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic .

There are five key steps to writing a literature review:

• Search for relevant literature
• Evaluate sources
• Identify themes, debates, and gaps
• Outline the structure
• Write your literature review

A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes , and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

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Table of contents

What is the purpose of a literature review, examples of literature reviews, step 1 – search for relevant literature, step 2 – evaluate and select sources, step 3 – identify themes, debates, and gaps, step 4 – outline your literature review’s structure, step 5 – write your literature review, free lecture slides, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions, introduction.

• Quick Run-through
• Step 1 & 2

When you write a thesis , dissertation , or research paper , you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:

• Demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context
• Develop a theoretical framework and methodology for your research
• Position your work in relation to other researchers and theorists
• Show how your research addresses a gap or contributes to a debate
• Evaluate the current state of research and demonstrate your knowledge of the scholarly debates around your topic.

Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Writing literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.

• Example literature review #1: “Why Do People Migrate? A Review of the Theoretical Literature” ( Theoretical literature review about the development of economic migration theory from the 1950s to today.)
• Example literature review #2: “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines” ( Methodological literature review about interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition and production.)
• Example literature review #3: “The Use of Technology in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Thematic literature review about the effects of technology on language acquisition.)
• Example literature review #4: “Learners’ Listening Comprehension Difficulties in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Chronological literature review about how the concept of listening skills has changed over time.)

You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Before you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic .

If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions .

Make a list of keywords

Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search.

• Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok
• Body image, self-perception, self-esteem, mental health
• Generation Z, teenagers, adolescents, youth

Search for relevant sources

Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:

• Your university’s library catalogue
• Google Scholar
• Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
• Medline (life sciences and biomedicine)
• EconLit (economics)
• Inspec (physics, engineering and computer science)

You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search.

Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources.

You likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question.

For each publication, ask yourself:

• What question or problem is the author addressing?
• What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
• What are the key theories, models, and methods?
• Does the research use established frameworks or take an innovative approach?
• What are the results and conclusions of the study?
• How does the publication relate to other literature in the field? Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

Make sure the sources you use are credible , and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.

You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download.

Take notes and cite your sources

As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review.

It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism . It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography , where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.

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To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:

• Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results): do certain approaches become more or less popular over time?
• Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
• Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources disagree?
• Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that changed the direction of the field?
• Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?

This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge.

• Most research has focused on young women.
• There is an increasing interest in the visual aspects of social media.
• But there is still a lack of robust research on highly visual platforms like Instagram and Snapchat—this is a gap that you could address in your own research.

There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).

Chronological

The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order.

Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred.

If you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic.

For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access.

Methodological

If you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods , you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:

• Look at what results have emerged in qualitative versus quantitative research
• Discuss how the topic has been approached by empirical versus theoretical scholarship
• Divide the literature into sociological, historical, and cultural sources

Theoretical

A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework . You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts.

You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research.

Like any other academic text , your literature review should have an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion . What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review.

The introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review.

Depending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.

As you write, you can follow these tips:

• Summarize and synthesize: give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
• Analyze and interpret: don’t just paraphrase other researchers — add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
• Critically evaluate: mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
• Write in well-structured paragraphs: use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons and contrasts

In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance.

When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services !

This article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review.

Scribbr slides are free to use, customize, and distribute for educational purposes.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:

• To familiarize yourself with the current state of knowledge on your topic
• To ensure that you’re not just repeating what others have already done
• To identify gaps in knowledge and unresolved problems that your research can address
• To develop your theoretical framework and methodology
• To provide an overview of the key findings and debates on the topic

Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute.

The literature review usually comes near the beginning of your thesis or dissertation . After the introduction , it grounds your research in a scholarly field and leads directly to your theoretical framework or methodology .

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2023, September 11). How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/literature-review/

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Review of soil creep characteristics and advances in modelling research.

1. Introduction

2. data source and analyzation method, 2.1. analysis of annual publications, 2.2. bibliometric analysis on countries, 2.3. analysis of organizations co-occurrence, 2.4. analysis of keywords co-occurrence, 3. soil creep characteristics, 4. creep influencing factors, 4.1. microstructural features, 4.2. moisture content, 4.3. stress path, 5. creep models, 5.1. empirical models, 5.2. component models, 6. the issue and prospects of soil creep, 7. conclusions, conflicts of interest.

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Liu, Y.; Huang, F.; Cao, Y.; Jin, F.; Wang, G.; Hou, W. Review of Soil Creep Characteristics and Advances in Modelling Research. Buildings 2024 , 14 , 1668. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061668

Liu Y, Huang F, Cao Y, Jin F, Wang G, Hou W. Review of Soil Creep Characteristics and Advances in Modelling Research. Buildings . 2024; 14(6):1668. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061668

Liu, Yanchao, Feng Huang, Yanhui Cao, Fang Jin, Guihe Wang, and Wei Hou. 2024. "Review of Soil Creep Characteristics and Advances in Modelling Research" Buildings 14, no. 6: 1668. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061668

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Giant root-rat engineering and livestock grazing activities regulate plant functional trait diversity of an Afroalpine vegetation community in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

• Asefa, Addisu
• Reuber, Victoria M.
• Miehe, Georg
• Wraase, Luise
• Wube, Tilaye
• Farwig, Nina
• Schabo, Dana G.

Disturbances from rodent engineering and human activities profoundly impact ecosystem structure and functioning. Whilst we know that disturbances modulate plant communities, comprehending the mechanisms through which rodent and human disturbances influence the functional trait diversity and trait composition of plant communities is important to allow projecting future changes and to enable informed decisions in response to changing intensity of the disturbances. Here, we evaluated the changes in functional trait diversity and composition of Afroalpine plant communities in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia along gradients of engineering disturbances of a subterranean endemic rodent, the giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus Rüppell 1842) and human activities (settlement establishment and livestock grazing). We conducted RLQ (co-inertia analysis) and fourth-corner analyses to test for trait-disturbance (rodent engineering/human activities) covariation. Overall, our results show an increase in plant functional trait diversity with increasing root-rat engineering and increasing human activities. We found disturbance specific association with traits. Specifically, we found strong positive association of larger seed mass with increasing root-rat fresh burrow density, rhizomatous vegetative propagation negatively associated with increasing root-rat old burrow, and stolonifereous vegetative propagation positively associated with presence of root-rat mima mound. Moreover, both leaf size and leaf nitrogen content were positively associated with livestock dung abundance but negatively with distance from settlement. Overall, our results suggest that disturbances by rodents filter plant traits related to survival and reproduction strategies, whereas human activities such as livestock grazing act as filters for traits related to leaf economics spectrum along acquisitive resource-use strategy.

• Functional trait dispersion;
• Habitat filter;
• Habitat heterogeneity;
• Disturbance;
• Subterranean rodent