What s An Engineer? A presentation brought to you by the Education Outreach Program at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland
What is the difference between a Scientist and an Engineer? Engineers and scientists are often confused in the minds of the general public. Scientists explore nature in order to discover general principles. Engineers apply established principles drawn from mathematics and science in order to develop economical solutions to technical problems.
What Does an Engineer Do? An Engineer uses science, technology, and mathematics to design useful things for the benefit of people.
What Types of People Like Engineering? People who like to work with cutting edge technology Creative people People who like to solve problems People who like teamwork People who want to make things better People who want to help humanity
Is Engineering Just About Science and Math? NO!!! Engineers are good communicators they need to speak and write well to share their ideas and designs with peers and customers. Engineers are team players... they understand that working with people with different backgrounds and experiences will result in a better design. Engineers have broad skill sets many engineering jobs cross engineering disciplines. For example, an aviation structural engineer may have a civil engineering degree. Biomedical engineering combines biology, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering skills.
What Do Engineers Look Like? YOU!
Do You Recognize These Engineers? The Apprentice Dr. Randal Pinkett Engineering degrees from Rutgers, Oxford and MIT Astronauts Neil Armstrong Aerospace Engineer Judy Resnick Electrical Engineer Bill Nye The Science Guy Television personality, Mechanical Engineer Lonnie Johnson Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degrees Invented the Super Soaker
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Aerospace Engineering Improve the safety of the space shuttles and Navy aircraft Build a more spacious airliner Create satellites that detect drought around the world Design robots that collect samples on other planets, revealing insights about our galaxy Develop parachutes, using new materials to improve their performance
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Chemical Engineering Design environmentally friendly cleaning products Develop materials to prevent corrosion on Navy ships Develop chemotherapy that has fewer side effects Turn seawater into drinking water Develop ways of mass producing vaccines to ward off epidemics Reduce pollution by developing cleaner sources of energy
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Computer Engineering Create software that detects brain tumors earlier Design a feather-light laptop Develop software for Navy airplanes Develop user-friendly blogging software Oversee the computer network for a telecommunications company Predict the strength of earthquakes through computer simulation
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Electrical and Electronic Engineering Invent better MRI scanners, allowing doctors to see even more clearly inside a patient s body Develop better means of detecting underwater threats to Navy ships Create special effects for the movies Design cell phones that work more reliably and have more features Develop artificial retinas for the blind Work on satellite communications systems that connect people around the world
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Mechanical Engineering Design smart toys for kids Design unique prototype parts for Navy airplanes Develop cars that are more fuel efficient Produce hypoallergenic air conditioning for hospital operating rooms Create prosthetic hands that allow a person to type and write Build aerospace vehicles to trek across planets and moons, collecting samples
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Naval Architecture Engineering Design merchant ships, warships, drilling platforms and pleasure boats even cruise ships! Find new ways of making boats and ships do their job better (cargo, salvage, drilling, exploration, ) Find new ways to make places that support ships work better (ports, docks, platforms, ) Design more innovative and efficient power and propulsion systems (go faster on less fuel) Find new materials for building ships (new metals, composites, plastics, )
What Kinds of Engineers are there? Systems Engineering Design and build complicated systems out of many parts (airplanes, cars, computers and software, medical, environmental, ) Make sure all pieces of complex systems are built correctly so they come together in the right way at the right time Solve complicated problems to make sure that systems do what they were designed to do, are reliable, and continue to improve
What do Engineers do at Patuxent River? All new or modified Navy and Marine Corps aircraft are tested at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River. The engineers at Pax River do important work for our country by ensuring the aircraft and equipment our service men and women depend on will: Keep them safe And enable them to perform their mission successfully. Pax River hires many types of engineers. Next is an example of the day in the life of an aerospace engineer:
There are many other types of Engineers! Agricultural Industrial Ocean Architectural Manufacturing Petroleum Biomedical Materials Software Civil Mining / Geology And Many More!! Environmental Nuclear
Why Be an Engineer? Interesting work and job satisfaction Great variety electrical, biomedical, environmental, chemical and more! Solid foundation for other careers such as law and management Opportunity to benefit society by solving humanitarian and environmental problems Financial security
Start Preparing Now! Preparing for college begins early! Recommended Course Work from Try Engineering organiza7on Math (4 Years): Algebra I and II Geometry Trigonometry Calculus Science (4 Years): Biology Physics Chemistry (Other options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ecology, Astronomy, and Earth Sciences.) Language Arts (4 Years): English Electives in this area includes Speech/Debate, Communications/Media, and Journalism.) Foreign Language (3 Years): Your choice, based on what your school offers.
Additional preparation for College Success Take AP or Honors courses when offered Do well on standardized tests Join engineering or science clubs Get involved in other extracurricular activities that will help you build valuable skills for the future Apply for a summer job at an engineering facility or gain experience through a non-paid internship Apply for a government fellowship at www.asee.org
Local engineering degree pathways College of Southern Maryland Two year program Transfer 60 credits to University of Maryland s engineering school University of Maryland at the Southern Maryland Higher Educa7on Center Junior and Senior Year Comple7on Blend of teleconference, classroom and campus format Coopera7ve Educa7on Opportunity with NAWCAD Patuxent River Earn While You Learn
Where Can You Find More Informa3on? Na7onal Defense Educa7on Program hqp://www.ndep.us hqp://www.ndep.us/llabspax American Society for Engineering Educa7on hqp://www.asee.org Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) hqp://www.navair.navy.mil/jobs Engineer Your Life hqp://www.engineeryourlife.org Society of Women Engineers hqp://www.swe.org hqp://aspire.swe.org
Education Outreach Resources Education Outreach Coordinator Kathy Glockner (301) 342-2281 Kathryn.glockner@navy.mil Education Outreach Coordinator Karen Lane (Calvert County only) (301) 706-0245 Karen.lane.ctr@navy.mil www.ndep.us/labs/patuxentriver Higher Education and Research Partnerships Dr. Paul Hoffman (301) 342-9361 Paul.hoffman@navy.mil References: American Association of Engineering Education and Try Engineering