Transcript Social Context of Design

Engineers, Design, and Society
Presented by
Massachusetts Society of
Professional Engineers
10 Post Office Square
8th Floor South
Boston, Massachusetts, 02109
617-692-2940
What Does an Engineer Do?
 Designs
some stuff.
 Collects a paycheck.
 Has a family.
 Coaches baseball.
 Retires one day.
 Reads Dilbert comics.
What do they REALLY do?
In today’s society, the engineer is integral to progress.
 If you are only oiling the wheels of progress, maintaining
the status quo, you are a technician.
 If you are thinking about how to make a better wheel,
you’re an engineer.
 The difference between the engineer and the scientist is
we apply the knowledge of the theoretical uncovered by
the scientist.

How much stuff do I have to learn?
Actually, you never stop.
 Once you get through college, many professions employ
their own specialized formulas and applications that you
need to learn to be useful.
 A college degree tells employers that you are capable of
learning and motivated enough to tackle difficult jobs.
 You aren’t really useful for about 6 months to 2 years
once you begin your career.

If it is that difficult, why would
anyone want to be an Engineer?
 To
answer this let’s look at some engineers who
have made a difference:
 Edison
 Bell
 The
Wright brothers
 George Westinghouse
These men have changed the world and the way we
live our lives.
How does Engineering compare to…
A Doctor…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A Lawyer…
Has a Hippocratic
Oath.
Is involved with
health issues.
Spends years
studying.
The State gives them
a medical license if
they can pass their
board exam.
Can belong to a
medical society.
Can add MD to their
name.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Upholds a code of
ethics.
Is involved with
legal issues.
Spends years
studying.
The State gives
them a license to
practice law if they
pass the bar exam.
Can belong to a
legal society.
Can add Esq. to
their name.
Professional Engineer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Upholds a code of
ethics.
Is involved with
design issues.
Spends years
studying.
The State gives them
an engineers license
if they can pass the
FE/PE exams.
Can belong to an
engineering society.
Can add PE to their
name.
And the differences are…
 Doctors
 Can
work on charity cases
 Open clinics in poor neighborhoods.
 Have an effective input into public policy.
 Lawyers
 Can
do work pro bono.
 Open legal offices in poor neighborhoods.
 Espouse arguments regarding public policy.
Engineers, on the other hand…
Since there is not seen the same compelling social need on
the part of the indigent for design services,
 Engineers will work in other ways to have an effect:

Spend years working on an idea on their own time.
 Design ways and means to make life better for all people.
 If the truth be known, the data needed to decide public policy
was collected on a system designed by an engineer.
 Volunteer on projects whose goals include implementing
technology.

An Engineer has an obligation to…
 Stay
current in their field.
 Be aware of new developments.
 The effects and possible applications of new ideas.
 Share their knowledge.
 Serve on civic committees that can benefit from
their specialized knowledge.
 Look for ways to apply their knowledge in new
avenues.
What is your motivation to be an
Engineer?
I
like to figure out how things work.
 I’m intrigued by the computer.
 I’m pretty good at math.
 I know an engineer and they seemed….
 I have some ideas that might make a difference.
 I’d like to try working on something to make life
easier or better for people.
Suppose I want to become an Engineer?
If you are in high school:
 Take every math and science course your school
offers.
If you are in college:
 You’ll need to pick a major that will prepare you
for a career in a field that best suits your interests.
Career Choices
Here is a partial list:
 chemical, civil, environmental, electrical, mechanical,
structural, agricultural, aeronautical/aerospace, fire
protection, manufacturing, industrial, nuclear, petroleum
and safety.
 If you are not sure, just major in general engineering.
 Once you graduate then you can think about…
How do I become a Professional
Engineer?
It’s a two phase process involving education and
experience. Each State has slightly different rules so
check locally.
 If you have graduated (or are about to) from an
undergraduate engineering program (or related sciences)
at an ABET accredited college, your submission of a
transcript enables you to take the FE exam.
 The experience is a reprisal with documentation and
supervisor verification of your engineering work record
for a minimum four-year period after the FE exam and
before taking the Professional Engineers exam.

Becoming a Professional Engineer
Register with the local registration board (or examination
service) and complete an application.
 Take and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
(FE), an 8 hour test on general engineering topics.
 A recommended step is to next join your local State
Society of Professional Engineers.
 Obtain 4 years of on-the-job training as an engineer.
 Take and pass the Professional Engineers exam, a second
8 hour exam geared to your specific field.

First Steps
 Here
in Massachusetts for application processing,
examination administration and score reporting of
the engineering and land surveying examinations
contact:
 Professional Credential Services, Inc. (PCS) at
 1-877-ENG-EXAM or www.pcshq.org.
 Engineering Examination Services, a division of
PCS, coordinates the examinations.
Important Dates
 Examination
dates:
 October and April with applications due by March
1st for the October exam and May 1st for the April
exam.
 The first time examination fee for either exam is
$175.
The Board of Professional Registration
PCS lets the Registration Board know you are eligible to
take the exam, administers the exam, then notifies the
Board if you passed the exam and the Board authorizes
you the issuance of your license.
 Division of Professional Licensure
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710
Boston, Massachusetts 02118
Phone: (617)727-9957 Fax: (617)727-1627
 http://www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/en

Motivation
 No
one can say for sure what the future will bring
nor what your contribution to the shape of that
future will be.
 Why limit yourself to a short-sighted vision when
you can aim for the stars.
 Would
you rather be the bug or the windshield?
More Information
Visit the National Society of Professional Engineers at
www.nspe.org
 Aptitude tests can help you decide on a career goal. Visit
your local high school guidance counselor or
 Take some time, go sit under an apple tree and do a selfassessment of your life…you know where you are at, the
question is: where do you want to go?
 Once that’s finished, prioritize the list so you tackle the
goals in order of their importance. A long range goal will
involve many preparatory steps and a variety of paths.
Enjoy!

Massachusetts Society of
Professional Engineers
A member society of…