When I tell someone that I am an engineering major, I generally get one of two reactions. The first is “Wow, you must be really smart then!” And the second tends to be along the lines of “Oh yeah, I’m more into science and math too. None of those soft flowery subjects, like English or philosophy.” Both of these statements really bother me: there are many extremely intelligent people in all fields, not just engineering, and there seems to be a pervasive idea that engineering and disciplines like English, philosophy or art are mutually exclusive.
This small example shows the sorts of attitudes and beliefs that are prevalent in how engineering used to (and is often still) being taught and practiced. Here, use your science and math knowledge, design and build a product, and just make sure it is good for the humans using it. Unfortunately, this sort of short-sighted thinking has caused many problems for the current generation of engineers who are recently graduated or soon to be graduated. From excessive carbon emissions to huge amounts of waste to declining natural resources, it is clear something needs to change. To tackle these problems, it is necessary to introduce the 21st century engineer.
The 21st century engineer may not look very different from current engineers on the outside, but there are many things that make the 21st century engineer distinct. Right off the bat, these new engineers understand that there is not this separation between science and the humanities. Rather, they realize that neither science nor the humanities can be fully harnessed and used effectively without at least a small influence of the other. 21st century engineers then look to embrace a holistic outlook and methodology when tackling engineering problems.
As the world continues to consume more and more resources and disparities between communities and countries continue to grow, the type of engineering that occurs needs to change as well. Engineering up until now has primarily been based around humans—what product do humans need, what would make humans’ lives more enjoyable, how can this product best be utilized by humans, etc. And this in and of itself is not a bad way to think. However, it cannot be the only way of thinking. It is important to realize the effects an engineered solution has on current and future societies. Is this solution going to develop a strong long term fix that will continue to support humanity into the far future? How will this solution help communities grow in a healthy, sustainable manner that benefits the whole community, not just a select few? This new engineering needs to focus instead on humanity, not just humans. It will go against conventional engineering and there will be pushback, but focusing on the bigger picture will allow 21st century engineers to persevere in their pursuit of a better world and a better future for humanity.
When engineers shift their way of thinking to a more well-rounded and balanced thought process and outlook, they will not only be more aware of the societal impact of their work but will also be able to develop more innovative solutions. Whether that solution is an unconventional use for a waste product to decrease the amount of garbage in the waste stream, or a deeper dive into a larger societal problem that is normally just analyzed at surface level, the work these new engineers do will have an expanded world impact, both in the present and the future.
Like I stated at the beginning, there are unique challenges facing the world right now that we haven't had before. It is up to 21st century engineers to spearhead the shift towards a whole systems design process, as they have the responsibility to be good stewards of the earth and of the people of the earth through their work.
