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THE ENGINEER IN THE ENGINEER IN SOCIETYSOCIETY

THREE CORE ASPECTS

(1)Who is the engineer?

(2)The engineer's role in society

(3)The history of engineering and the engineering profession

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(1) THE ENGINEER(1) THE ENGINEER

• One who translates into action the dreams of One who translates into action the dreams of humanity, traditional knowledge and concepts of humanity, traditional knowledge and concepts of sciencescience to achieve sustainable management of to achieve sustainable management of the planet through the creative application of the planet through the creative application of technologytechnology..

Science:Science:Well founded, testable knowledge about natural Well founded, testable knowledge about natural phenomena.phenomena.

Technology:Technology:Systems concerned with solving problems and Systems concerned with solving problems and meet needs in the real world.meet needs in the real world.

(2) THE ENGINEER’S ROLE IN SOCIETY

The scientist develops knowledge and understanding of the physical universe. Science is the pursuit of knowledge in its purest sense without any concern to the needs of the society.

Engineering connects pure science to society. It is a combination of both.

Unlike in science, in engineering the environment in which engineers plan, design, build, manufacture and operate continually changes and the role of the engineers has been fraught with challenges and uncertainties.

Throughout history, engineers have through creativity, analysis and pure guts met these challenges with success and unfortunately failures too.

(3) THE HISTORY OF ENGINEERING AND THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION

Why study the history of engineering?

Phases of the history of Engineering

Development of the engineering profession

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WHY STUDY THE HISTORY OF WHY STUDY THE HISTORY OF ENGINEERING?ENGINEERING?

• To understand why things happened.To understand why things happened.

• To make sense of the present and To make sense of the present and the future.the future.

• To understand the connections To understand the connections between engineering and other basic between engineering and other basic aspects of human society.aspects of human society.

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HISTORY OF ENGINEERINGHISTORY OF ENGINEERING

Consists of 3 overlapping phases:Consists of 3 overlapping phases:

• The Scientific Revolution.The Scientific Revolution.

• The Industrial Revolution.The Industrial Revolution.

• The Modern Industrial Era.The Modern Industrial Era.

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Phase 1: The Scientific RevolutionPhase 1: The Scientific Revolution• Started out at the end of the 16Started out at the end of the 16thth century. century.

• The rise of capitalism brought about strong The rise of capitalism brought about strong interest in the practice of the trades of the interest in the practice of the trades of the traditional artisan who transformed into modern traditional artisan who transformed into modern professionals especially in civil, mining, professionals especially in civil, mining, metallurgical and mechanical engineering.metallurgical and mechanical engineering.

• Machines powered by steam engines replaced Machines powered by steam engines replaced human muscles.human muscles.

• Practical thinking became scientific in addition to Practical thinking became scientific in addition to intuitionintuition

• Engineering colleges and professional societies Engineering colleges and professional societies emerged.emerged.

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The Scientific RevolutionThe Scientific Revolution

• At the end of the 16At the end of the 16thth century, observation & century, observation & experiment challenged experiment challenged centuries-old dogma to centuries-old dogma to present present a new view of a new view of nature.nature.

• Galileo (1564-1642) Galileo (1564-1642) developed the developed the telescopetelescope from from observation of Jupiter’s observation of Jupiter’s satellites. Concluded satellites. Concluded that the that the Earth revolved Earth revolved round the sunround the sun..

Galileo Galilee1564 - 1642

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The Scientific RevolutionThe Scientific Revolution• Francis Bacon (1561-Francis Bacon (1561-

1626) was an enthusiast 1626) was an enthusiast of industrial science – of industrial science – used used inductive approachinductive approach to draw conclusions from to draw conclusions from experimental data.experimental data.

• Rene Descartes (1596-Rene Descartes (1596-1650) emphasized 1650) emphasized deductive approachdeductive approach through mathematics. through mathematics. Advocated that science & Advocated that science & religion should be religion should be separated – separated – promoted promoted the advancement of the advancement of sciencescience..

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Phase 2: The Industrial Revolution Phase 2: The Industrial Revolution • Started in mid 18th Century.Started in mid 18th Century.

• ““The Machine Age” period:The Machine Age” period:- Machines replaced animal and human - Machines replaced animal and human

power.power.- Revolutionalised many areas of - Revolutionalised many areas of

production and everyday life.production and everyday life.

• Symbolised by mass production and Symbolised by mass production and transportation. Adam Smith (The Wealth of transportation. Adam Smith (The Wealth of Nations, 1776) – division of labour and Nations, 1776) – division of labour and standardisation for productivity of workers.standardisation for productivity of workers.

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• Prominent emergent disciplines:Prominent emergent disciplines:- Electrical Engineering.- Electrical Engineering.

- Chemical Engineering.- Chemical Engineering.

- Marine Engineering.- Marine Engineering.

- Aeronautical Engineering.- Aeronautical Engineering.

• Control engineering accelerated the Control engineering accelerated the pace of automation. pace of automation.

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• Industrial engineers designed and Industrial engineers designed and managed mass production and distribution managed mass production and distribution systems.systems.

• Graduate schools emerged.Graduate schools emerged.

• Tinkering became organised research.Tinkering became organised research.

• Individual inventions organised into Individual inventions organised into systematic innovations. systematic innovations.

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Some British Pioneer Engineers Some British Pioneer Engineers in the 2in the 2ndnd Phase Phase

• John RennieJohn Rennie (1716 – 1821) (1716 – 1821) - Built Canals, docks and bridges- Built Canals, docks and bridges

• John SmeatonJohn Smeaton (1724 – 1792) (1724 – 1792) - Built a lighthouse, bridges, engines, windmills.- Built a lighthouse, bridges, engines, windmills.

• Thomas TelfordThomas Telford (1757 – 1834) (1757 – 1834) - First president of the Institution of Civil - First president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, built canals, harbours, bridges, Engineers, built canals, harbours, bridges, roads.roads.

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• John McAdamJohn McAdam (1756 – 1836) (1756 – 1836) - Built roads.- Built roads.

• Sir Marc Isambard BrunelSir Marc Isambard Brunel (1769 – 1849) (1769 – 1849) - First chief engineer of New York. Designed- First chief engineer of New York. Designed gun factory. Pioneered mass-production.gun factory. Pioneered mass-production.

• Isambard Kingdom BrunelIsambard Kingdom Brunel (1769 – 1849) (1769 – 1849) - Designed first steamship to cross the - Designed first steamship to cross the Atlantic.Atlantic. • George StephersonGeorge Stepherson (1781 – 1848) (1781 – 1848) - Railway engineer, the first president of the - Railway engineer, the first president of the

Institution of Civil Engineers.Institution of Civil Engineers.

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John Rennie John Rennie John Smeaton Thomas Telford John Smeaton Thomas Telford (1716 – 1821 (1724 - 1792) (1757 - 1834) (1716 – 1821 (1724 - 1792) (1757 - 1834)

11stst President of ICE, 1820 President of ICE, 1820

Contributors to Industrial Contributors to Industrial RevolutionRevolution

1818

Marc Isambard Isambard Kingdom Brunel George Marc Isambard Isambard Kingdom Brunel George Brunel Brunel Stephenson Stephenson (1769 - 1849) (1806 - 1859) (1781 - 1848) (1769 - 1849) (1806 - 1859) (1781 - 1848)

Contributors to Industrial Contributors to Industrial RevolutionRevolution

1st President of 1st President of IMechE,1847IMechE,1847

1919

High Point of British IndustrializationHigh Point of British Industrialization

• The Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851 was a The Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851 was a celebration of British engineers and engineering, as it celebration of British engineers and engineering, as it marked the high point of British industrial ascendancy.marked the high point of British industrial ascendancy.

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Phase 3: The Modern Industrial EraPhase 3: The Modern Industrial Era

• From mid 19From mid 19thth Century, Engineering Century, Engineering sciences took great strides:sciences took great strides:

- - Material science & engineeringMaterial science & engineering brought advanced material with brought advanced material with performance undreamed of.performance undreamed of.

- - Astronautic engineeringAstronautic engineering conquered conquered outer space.outer space.

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- - Atomic powerAtomic power brought about the field of brought about the field of

nuclear engineering.nuclear engineering.

- - Microelectronics, communications andMicroelectronics, communications and

computer engineeringcomputer engineering joined forces to joined forces to

kick start the information revolution.kick start the information revolution.

- Maturing of graduate education.- Maturing of graduate education.

- Rise of large-scale R & D organised on- Rise of large-scale R & D organised on

the national level.the national level.

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At the turn of 21At the turn of 21stst Century: Century:

• Rapid development in information Rapid development in information technology.technology.

• Emergence of notable complex Emergence of notable complex technologies that required disciplinary co-technologies that required disciplinary co-operation and integration of knowledge:operation and integration of knowledge:- Biotechnology.- Biotechnology.

- Nanotechnology.- Nanotechnology.

- Environmental Technology.- Environmental Technology.

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Timeline of Modern TechnologyTimeline of Modern Technology

• 18511851 – Crystal Palace Exhibition – Crystal Palace Exhibition• 18691869 – Union Pacific Railroad across US, Suez – Union Pacific Railroad across US, Suez Canal openedCanal opened• 18761876 – Invention of telephone, 1 – Invention of telephone, 1stst internal internal combustion enginecombustion engine• 18781878 – Beginning of electric lighting – Beginning of electric lighting• 19001900 – Invention of radio – Invention of radio• 19031903 – Wilbur Wright’s propeller biplane flight – Wilbur Wright’s propeller biplane flight• 19131913 – Ford introduced moving assembly line – Ford introduced moving assembly line• 19141914 – Panama Canal opened – Panama Canal opened• 19261926 – Invention of TV – Invention of TV

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Timeline of Modern TechnologyTimeline of Modern Technology• 19301930 – Invention of gas turbine – Invention of gas turbine• 19421942 – 1 – 1stst electronic computer electronic computer• 19471947 – Invention of transistor – Invention of transistor• 19571957 – Sputnik launched – Sputnik launched• 19581958 – 1 – 1stst integrated circuit integrated circuit• 19691969 – 1 – 1stst man on the moon man on the moon• 19771977 – 1 – 1stst personal computer personal computer• 19811981 – Microsoft MS-DOS computer operating – Microsoft MS-DOS computer operating systemsystem• 19821982 – Compact disc – Compact disc• 19961996 – “Dolly” the cloned sheep was born on 5 – “Dolly” the cloned sheep was born on 5 JulyJuly

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Engineering Education & the Engineering Education & the Rise of the ProfessionRise of the Profession

• During the Industrial Revolution, engineer During the Industrial Revolution, engineer training in Britain involved paying a training in Britain involved paying a substantial substantial fee for a 5-year pupilage in an engineer’s officefee for a 5-year pupilage in an engineer’s office..

• Britain did not establish Britain did not establish engineering schoolsengineering schools (@ (@ London & Glasgow Universities) until 1840.London & Glasgow Universities) until 1840.

• Failure to recognize the need for systematic Failure to recognize the need for systematic science-based education for technologistsscience-based education for technologists allowed other countries to overtake Britain.allowed other countries to overtake Britain.

• Formal & informal associations of practising Formal & informal associations of practising engineers, manufacturers, & scientists allowed engineers, manufacturers, & scientists allowed exchange of ideas & experience in the general exchange of ideas & experience in the general development of the engineering professiondevelopment of the engineering profession..

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Engineering Education & the Engineering Education & the Rise of the ProfessionRise of the Profession

• One early leader of the engineering profession was One early leader of the engineering profession was JohnJohn SmeatonSmeaton, the 1, the 1stst Englishman to differentiate himself as a Englishman to differentiate himself as a “Civil” engineer (rather than military).“Civil” engineer (rather than military).

• In 1771, Smeaton & some colleagues formed the In 1771, Smeaton & some colleagues formed the Smeatonian society of Civil EngineersSmeatonian society of Civil Engineers..

• The The Institution of Civil EngineersInstitution of Civil Engineers (ICE) was formed in 1818 (ICE) was formed in 1818 to distinguish itself from other societies.to distinguish itself from other societies.

• In 1920, In 1920, Thomas ThelfordThomas Thelford, a leading engineer of that time, , a leading engineer of that time, became the became the President of ICEPresident of ICE..

• In 1928, he obtained the In 1928, he obtained the Royal Charter for ICERoyal Charter for ICE to give it the to give it the status as the leader of the profession.status as the leader of the profession.

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Engineering Education & the Engineering Education & the Rise of the ProfessionRise of the Profession

• Other major powers adopted a much more Other major powers adopted a much more structured approach to training engineersstructured approach to training engineers..

• In 1676, France set up a specialized army In 1676, France set up a specialized army corps of corps of engineersengineers..

• In 1747, France established the 1In 1747, France established the 1stst engineering engineering school, the school, the Ecole Nationale des Ponts st ChausseesEcole Nationale des Ponts st Chaussees..

• In 1794, the In 1794, the Ecole PolytechniqueEcole Polytechnique was established. was established.

• The engineering profession in France continues to The engineering profession in France continues to enjoy high social status.enjoy high social status.

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Engineering Education & the Engineering Education & the Rise of the ProfessionRise of the Profession

• US Military Academy at West Point, established in 1802, was US Military Academy at West Point, established in 1802, was the the first American military engineering schoolfirst American military engineering school..

• The The first non military engineering school in Americafirst non military engineering school in America, the , the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was established in 1823 in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was established in 1823 in New York.New York.

• The success of Rensselaer in attracting students forced other The success of Rensselaer in attracting students forced other established US universities to established US universities to introduce technical coursesintroduce technical courses..

• Germany established Berlin University in 1809 – prototype for Germany established Berlin University in 1809 – prototype for the the modern research university with academic rigor & modern research university with academic rigor & laboratory experimentslaboratory experiments..

• Germany also established Germany also established polytechnicspolytechnics – the 1 – the 1stst at Karlsruhe at Karlsruhe in 1825.in 1825.

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A Chronological Summary of the A Chronological Summary of the History of BiotechnologyHistory of Biotechnology

Date Event Implication(s)circa 10.000 BC Selective cultivation of crops begins Birth of agriculture

8-9000 BC Orchiectomy/castration of young bulls Growth/behaviour modification

5-9000 BC Domestication of cattle horses and other Birth of animal

live stock agriculture

circa 6000 BC Yeast used to make beer by Sumerians

and Babylonians

circa 4000 BC The Egyptians discovered how to bake

leavened bread using yeast. Other Birth of

fermentation processes established in fermentation-

ancient times include making yoghurt from based classical

milk using lactic acid bacteria, using molds biotechnology

to produce cheese; making tofu, producing

vinegar and wine by fermentation

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Date Event Implication(s)circa 1400 BC Artificial incubation of eggs Birth of poultry “industry”

circa 400 BC Hippocrates (460-377 BC) determined

that the male contribution to a child’s

heredity is carried in the semen. By Early insights into

analogy, he thought that there might reproductive biology

be a similar fluid in women, since children

clearly receive traits from each parent in

approximately equal proportion

circa 300 BC Embryo development systematized Birth of embryology

100-300 AD Indian philosophers first pondered the Early insights into

nature of reproduction and inheritance genetics

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Date Event Implication(s)600-1700 AD Selective breeding of horses, dogs, cats, Birth of embryology

and livestock species to produce animals

with desired traits systematized.

1651 Circulation of blood (Harvey) Modern physiological

Principles

1665 Plant compartments called “cells” (Hooke) Concept of “cells” born

1674 Simple lenses used to study microscopic Birth of microscopy

organisms (Leeuwenhoek)

1780 Successful artificial insemination of dogs “Birth of artificial

Insemination”

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Date Event Implication(s)1856 Existence of microbes demonstrated Germ theory confirmed

(Pasteur)

1859 On the Origin of Species published Theory of evolution

(Darwin)

1865 Principles of transmission of genetic Birth of genetics

traits elucidated using pea plants

(Mendel)

1891 First successful embryo transfer Birth of embryo

(Heape) manipulation technology

1900 Application of artificial insemination Increased pace of genetic

in food animal breeding (Ivanov) improvement for breeding

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Date Event Implication(s)1919 Term “biotechnology” coined (Ereky) “Biotechnology” in the

lexicon

1935 First virus discovered Vectors for generic

mutations

1944 DNA identified as the generic material Molecular basis of

heredity

1947 Elements of DNA found to be transposable Concept of natural

(McKlintock) genetic engineering

1949 Cryoprotectants used for cryopreservation Freezing/shipping of

of sperm gametes and cells

possible

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Date Event Implication(s)1950s Mammalian tissues/cells grown in Tissue culture technology

laboratory developed

1953 DNA described as “double-helix” of Gene structure described -

nucleotides (Watson and Crick) a key milestone in molecular

biology and modern biotech-

nology, and the birth of

genomics

1957 Liquid nitrogen cryopresevation Long-term storage of cells/

gametes

1961 Role of RNA and ribosomes in protein Enabled subsequent controlled

synthesis elucidated production of proteins

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Date Event Implication(s)1966 Microinjection technology developed Physical manipulation

of

genes

1972 DNA from one organism “recombined” “Recombinant DNA”

with that of another technology

1977 Human gene cloned (Itakura) Genes can be copied

1978 Commercial estrous synchronization Timed “artificial

in cattle insemination” and embryo

transfer

1980-1981 First transgenic mice (mice bearing Mammalian generic

foreign genes) engineering

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Date Event Implication(s)

1981 Transfer of murine embryonic stem (ES) Totipotent ES cells aid

cells transgenics

1983 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) described Rapid amplification,

(Mullis) detection and cloning of

genes

1985 First transgenic domestic animals produced Genetic engineering of

(pig) livestock

1987 Targeted gene disruption (gene “knockout”) Enabled studies and

development of therapies

for loss of gene function

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Date Event Implication(s)

1989 Targeted DNA integration and germline Potential for tissue

chimeras (mice) engineering and gametic

transmission of transgenes

1993 Recombinant growth hormone approved Pharmacologically enhanced

for dairy cows milk production

1993-1995 Functional nucleic acid vaccines introduced Potential for engineering

medicines and for disease

prevention

1996 Sheep cloned by somatic (body) cell transfer True mammalian cloning

possible

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Date Event Implication(s)

1998 Human embryonic stem cells derived Multiple therapies for genetic

and immunological disorders

1999 Draft of complete human genome Watershed events marking our

sequence published transition from the pre- to the

post-genomic era

2001 Human genome mapped

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