Articles
Two separate events have recently impressed upon me some of the most important trends affecting engineering. Both are typical of the type of changes that happen outside of the profession and industry, within wider society.
Last month I was at a conference on engineering for developing economies. There were some great presentations about initiatives in places such as Africa, where the need for competent engineers is great. Among these, a young Muslim woman, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, gave a thought-provoking and entertaining presentation on process safety.
Not only is an engaging presentation on process safety an achievement in itself, for a young Muslim woman to do so in front of an audience of predominantly male and middle-aged engineers was a triumph. Abdel-Magied, who is a mechanical engineer and works on offshore rigs in Australia, was competent, confident and crushed stereotypes. Rather than complain about lack of gender diversity, she presented topical learning about cognitive bias, diversity and safety that any engineer would benefit from hearing. Her presence on stage at a major international conference in London was legitimate and more than hints at the more diverse future for the profession.
At the end of last month, the new Chinese sponsor for Bloodhound, Geely, was announced at the supersonic car’s technical centre in Bristol. The news brings to the fore the shift in the power base of industry and engineering that has been happening for several years.
China’s engineers and its major industrial companies are becoming more international in their outlook. Geely, which is China’s largest privately-owned carmaker, joins a roster of companies lending their technology, expertise and financial support to the historic project. The sponsorship puts Bloodhound on a better financial footing than ever before and makes the world record attempt possible. In return, the exposure Geely will get from being the main backer of the car will be phenomenal.
The sponsorship also serves to illustrate how China is no longer just a place where manufacturing is outsourced to, the so-called “workshop of the world”. China’s engineers, backed by the country’s financial clout, are participants in global engineering, whether through nuclear power, railways or cars.
Both diversity and China’s growth in engineering prowess are factors outside of the technological trends that directly cause the profession to evolve. Engineers don’t work in isolation from society, and our survey about ethics shows that readers are aware of their responsibilities as engineers. And we look at progress in the marine renewable energy sector, addressing another societal challenge.
You don’t have to look far to see where engineering impacts on society. Where society impacts engineering can perhaps be harder to detect. But the relationship between engineering and society is a two-way process, and acknowledging this will help the profession to stay relevant and move with the times.
Contact: Ben Sampson, PE Editor, at Unit G4, Harbour Yard, London SW10 0XD. ben.sampson@caspianmedia.com