What is Engineering?

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Engineering combines the fields of science and maths to solve real world problems that improve the world around us. What really distinguishes an engineer is their ability to implement ideas in a cost effective and practical approach. This ability to take a thought, or abstract idea, and translate it into reality is what separates an engineer from other fields of science and mathematics. Consider some things you use in your everyday life: Buildings, roads and bridges, vehicles (cars, planes and boats), computers and other electronic devices. Not a single one of them would exist without engineers! You wouldn’t have been able to drive to work, check your Facebook status or even use the toilet this morning!

What Does A Typical Engineer Do? Engineers are problem solvers, organizers, communicators, calculators and designers. They are capable of clearly defining a problem and its relevant constraints (such as time, cost, etc.) and providing a simple solution. A senior engineer will usually perform less technical work (calculations and designs) but instead focus on managing a project or team of engineers.

10 Great Reasons to Be an Engineer!

LOVE YOUR LIFE & LIVE YOUR LIFE TOO!
Engineering is an exciting profession, but one of its greatest advantages is that it will leave you time for all the other things in your life that you love!
BE CREATIVE
Engineering is a great outlet for the imagination – the perfect field for independent thinkers.
WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE
Engineering takes teamwork, and you’ll work with all kinds of people inside and outside the field. Whether they’re designers or architects, doctors or entrepreneurs, you’ll be surrounded by smart, inspiring people.
SOLVE PROBLEMS, DESIGN THINGS THAT MATTER
Come up with solutions no one else has thought of. Make your mark on the world.
NEVER BE BORED
Creative problem solving will take you into uncharted territory, and the ideas of your colleagues will expose you to different ways of thinking. Be prepared to be fascinated and to have your talents stretched in new ways.
MAKE A BIG SALARY
Engineers not only earn lots of respect, but they’re highly paid. Even the starting salary for an entry-level job is impressive!
ENJOY JOB FLEXIBILITY
An engineering degree offers you lots of freedom in finding your dream job. It can be a launching pad for jobs in business, design, medicine, law, and government. To employers or graduate schools, an engineering degree reflects a well-educated individual who has been taught ways of analyzing and solving problems that can lead to success in all kinds of fields.
TRAVEL
Field work is a big part of engineering. You may end up designing a skyscraper in London or developing safe drinking-water systems in Asia. Or you may stay closer to home, working with a nearby high-tech company or a hospital.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Everywhere you look you’ll see examples of engineering having a positive effect on everyday life. Cars are safer, sound systems deliver better acoustics, medical tests are more accurate, and computers and cell phones are a lot more fun! You’ll be giving back to your community.
CHANGE THE WORLD
Imagine what life would be like without pollution controls to preserve the environment, life-saving medical equipment, or low-cost building materials for fighting global poverty. All this takes engineering. In very real and concrete ways, engineers save lives, prevent disease, reduce poverty, and protect our planet.