Engineering Your Future: A Brief Introduction to Engineering, 2009-2010 Edition

You can't make an educated decision about what career to pursue without adequate information. With its unique modular approach, this book gives you a broad introduction to the study and practice of engineering. In addition to presenting a variety of vital information, we've even made it interesting to read!

You might particularly find Chapter 3, on Profiles of Engineers, to be of great help to you in determining, based on `live reports from the scene,' what areas of engineering are most appealing to you.

The rest of the book provides you with a wide array of historical perspectives, thoughts about the future of the profession, tips on how to succeed in the classroom, the process of getting hands-on experience, and an introduction to design-a skill which is essential to the study and practice of engineering.

Engineers have had a dramatic impact on our world. Martha Sloan, a professor of electrical engineering at Michigan Technological University-and the first woman chair of the AAES-puts it in perspective for us: "In an age when technology turns fantasy into reality, engineers have played a pivotal role in developing the technologies that maintain our nation's economic, environmental and national security. They revolutionized medicine with pacemakers and MRI scanners. They changed the world with the development of television and the transistor, computers and the Internet. They introduced new concepts in transportation, power, satellite communications, earthquake-resistant buildings, and strain-resistant crops by applying scientific discoveries to human needs.

"Engineering is sometimes thought of as applied science but engineering is far more. The essence of engineering is design and making things happen for the benefit of humanity."

We hope that you, too, will find the field of engineering to be attractive, meaningful, and exciting-one that promises to be both challenging and rewarding, and one that matches well with your skills and interests.

Authors:
Dr. William C. Oakes is Associate Professor of Freshman Engineering at Purdue University.
Dr. Les L. Leone is Director of Cooperative Engineering Education at Michigan State University.
Craig J. Gunn is Director of Communications in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University.

Contributors:
Dr. John B. Dilworth, Professor of Engineering Ethics, Professional Ethics and Business Ethics, Western Michigan University.
Dr. Heidi A. Diefes, Assistant Professor of Freshman Engineering and Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University.
Dr. Ralph E. Flori, Jr., Associate Professor, Basic Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla.
Dr. Merle C. Potter, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University.
Michael F. Young, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University.