Rebranding Engineering

This article explains why it is important to remove the growing conception that engineering sciences can be treated as a commodity. It highlights that currently, non-engineers are making laws for engineers. These same people evaluate candidate’s statements on the issues and elect officials. An informed electorate—aware of the value of engineering for maintaining the bridges, safety of the cars, etc.—will demand that the public conversation supports and funds these issues. Until engineers’ community gets there, there will be a lack of support for major infrastructure and other long-term projects, budget attacks on funding for and support of research and development programs, and politicians who can ignore scientific facts and still get elected. If engineers’ community gets success in changing the public conversation, more engineers might be encouraged to run for public office. Scientific advisors within the State Department would get public attention and their opinions expressed in front page news articles. However, their efforts will bear only minimal fruit as long as the public conversation stays as it is now.