Engineers use the engineering design process to arrive at a solution. The following description is a guideengineers do not necessarily follow the engineering design process step- by-step. It is a cyclical process in which you can begin at any step, or move back and forth between steps numerous times. The engineering design process is a great way to work through any challenge that involves creating something that did not exist before, such as making breakfast, planning a trip and, especially, designing a city of the future. Identify the Problem Are you trying to: fx something that does not work? make something better? create something thats never been done (wouldnt it be great if)? Learn the Specs Engineers have to work within project requirements and constraints. Before you start any project, understanding the specs will save you lots of time and will help determine the solution. Ask questions such as: Are there any physical constraints? (size, weight, environment, materials) Who or what is the user? What do they need? Who is the customer? What do they want? What will it cost? What is the budget? Brainstorm Solutions Come up with as many possible solutions as you can. Then ask: How well do these ideas meet some or all of the requirements? What trade-offs can you make? Design It Ask, which idea do I think is really possible? Ask, what problems do I need to solve for my solution to work? Develop a plan. Make a sketch of your solution. Make lists of materials and resources you will need. Research answers to questions. Test It and Improve It Test your solutions using computer simulations and scale models. Decide what works, what doesnt work, and what could work better. Modify your design. Test it again. Build It Assess your designis it the best it can be? Follow your plan and create it. Once you complete the Build It stage, you can go back and start the process over again to rene your solution or respond to changing requirements. Share It Presenting your work to others is a great way to get feedback on your solution. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM LEARN THE SPECS BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS DESIGN IT TEST IT AND IMPROVE IT BUILD IT SHARE IT THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS 8 F U T U R E C I T Y E D U C AT O R H A ND B O O K Engineering Careers What makes engineering a great career? Read on Ten Reasons to Love Engineering* 1. Love your work, AND 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! 2. Be creative Engineering is a great outlet for the imagination the perfect eld for independent thinkers. 3. Work with great people Engineering takes teamwork, and youll work with all kinds of people inside and outside the eld. 4. Solve problems that matter Come up with solutions no one else has thought of. Make your mark on the world. 5. 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. 6. Make a big salary Engineers not only earn lots of respect, but theyre highly paid. Even the starting salary for an entry-level job is impressive! 7. Enjoy job exibility An engineering degree offers you lots of freedom in nding your dream job. It can be a launching pad for jobs in business, design, medicine, law, and government. 8. 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 hospital. 9. Make a difference Everywhere you look youll see examples of engineering having a positive effect on everyday life. 10. Change the world In very real and concrete ways, engineers save lives, prevent disease, reduce poverty, and protect our planet. Engineering Jobs Here are just a few of the jobs you could be doing as an engineer: Develop rockets that collect comet samples Create satellites that detect drought around the world Design environmentally friendly cleaning products Develop chemotherapy that has fewer side effects Monitor the quality of a citys water supply Ensure that a school can withstand an earthquake Create special effects for the movies Design artifcial retinas for the blind Develop state-of-the-art cell phones Develop better methods of recycling plastic Create ways of restoring wetlands Design ergonomic offce space Ensure worker safety in factories with dangerous equipment Design a lighter bike frame Produce biodegradable plastics Invent clothing that repels mosquitoes Design smart toys for kids Create more fuel-effcient cars Design instruments that can map the ocean foor *This information is used with permission from Engineer Your Life. Learn More To discover more about careers in engineering, visit: discoverE.org engineeryourlife.org pbs.org/designsquad tryengineering.org asceville.org nasa.gov