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RomanGiglio
Mrs.Lawrence
Complit4
11/28/15
P.4
Engineering:CreatingourFuture
Atitsheart,engineeringisaboutusingsciencetofindcreative,practicalsolutions.Itisa
nobleprofessionQueenElizabethII.
Engineeringisoneofthemostinfluentialfieldsofworkinhumanhistory.Engineering
takesmajorrolesintechnology,waranddailylife,butithasnotonlyaffectedourlifestyle,ithas
alsoaffectedourenvironmentandhealthinthemostharmfulofways.Scientificevidencefor
warmingoftheclimatesystemisunequivocalsaystheInternationalPanelonClimateChange,
accordingto
Climatechange:Howdoweknow?
byLauraTenenbaum,Thereisnoquestion
thatincreasedlevelsofgreenhousegasesmustcausetheEarthtowarminresponse.Itismore
thanobviousthatwehavedestroyedourozonelayerandpollutedtheairwebreath.Accordingto
CarsandGlobalWarming,
bytheUnionofConcernedScientists,Ourpersonalvehiclesarea
majorcauseofglobalwarming.Collectively,carsandtrucksaccountfornearlyonefifthof
all
U.S.emissions,emittingaround24poundsofcarbondioxideandotherglobalwarminggasesfor
everygallonofgas.Eventhoughcarshurtourenvironmenttheseemsthatnothingisreally
stoppingit.WestillseetheUnitedStateswithoceansofcarscloggingupenormousroads,cars
arebecomingmoreecofriendlybutthetitleofecofriendlyjustbringsthepriceupandaway

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fromtheaverageperson,butnotallcarcompaniesaretryingtobeecofriendlyVolkswagen,
knownforitshippielook,hasspitouthundredsofthousandsofdieselcarsthataccordingtothe
BBCNewsarticle,VWEmissionsScandal:MoreCarsFoundtoCheatTests,cheatedthe
emissionstesttogetawaywithhavingfortytimestheallowednitrogenoxideemissionrate.Not
allenhancementsthroughengineeringarehelpfultowardslife,some,liketheVWdiesel,have
workedtowardsdestroyingtheenvironmentastheresultofgreedybusiness.
Thisgenerationofpeoplehavetheobligationtoprotecttheenvironmentandfixthe
mistakesandthemessofourpreviousgenerations.Theenvironmentandecosystemintheworld
hasbeendiminishingrapidlyoverthepastcoupleofcenturiesbecauseofthehowwefailedto
takecareofourenvironmentwhenwefueledourinventionsandmachineswithfossilfuelsand
releasedtonsofcarbondioxideandnitrogenoxideintoourozone(Tenenbaum).Recently,
Volkswagen,oneoftheworldsmosttrustedcarbrandswascaughtcheatingontheemissions
test.Accordingto
Volkswagen:ScandalExplained
byRussellHotten,Theenginesemitted
nitrogenoxidepollutantsupto40timesabovewhatisallowedintheUS.Withouralreadytorn
apartozone,thiscouldhavebeenahugefactorintoglobalwarmingandothernaturaleffectstoa
damagedozone.Foroverthepastdecadecarcompanieshavebeenpouringmoneyintodeisel
thinkingitwasacleanerandmoreefficientfuelbutscientistlaterfoundthatitmaybemore
efficient,butithitstheenvironmentandpeopleshealthveryhard.
AccordingtotheEPA(EnvironmentalProtectionAgency)website,dieselreleasesvery
smallparticlesthatwillpassthroughonesnoseandlodgethemselvesstraighttothelungs
causinglungcancer,bronchitisandasthmarelatedattacks.Thesesmallparticlesalsocontribute

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tosmog,hazeandozonedamages.Nationwide,particulatematter,especiallyfineparticles,is
responsiblefor15,000prematuredeathseveryyear,whichisadisturbingamounttooverlook.
WithVWrecallingalmost500,000carsintheUSalone,ithassetaside6.5bn(4.7bn)
tocovercosts.ThecarmakerhassaiditwillbeginrecallingcarsinJanuary.Butthat'sunlikelyto
betheendofthefinancialimpact.TheEPAhasthepowertofinethecompanyupto$37,500for
eachvehiclethatbreachesstandardsamaximumfineofabout$18bn.
Thisisnotthefirsttimebusinessmenhaveabusedthepoweroftechnologyforwealthfor
thepriceofablindeye.TheIndustrialRevolutionkickedoffaround1760s.Factoriesbrought
peopletobiggercitiesbysupplyinganalmostendlessamountofjobs,givingpeopleanincentive
tohaveasmanykidsaspossibleforagreaterincome.Theworldpopulationbegantogrow
exponentially.Importantinventionsincludingthetelegraph,thetire,thesteamengineand
cannedfoodimprovedlifetoamoretechnologicalandsophisticatedstate.Thetelegraph
connectedtheworld,thetireletpeopletravelsafelyontheirown,thesteamenginepowered
factoriesandboats,andcannedfoodskeepfoodscleanandpreservedforfiveormoreyears.
AccordingtotheHistorychannelwebsite,Whileindustrializationbroughtaboutanincreased
volumeandvarietyofmanufacturedgoodsandanimprovedstandardoflivingforsome,italso
resultedinoftengrimemploymentandlivingconditionsforthepoorandworkingclasses.This
waswhenurbanlifecametobePeoplelivedinbigcitiesandmanufacturingbecameamass
productionjobinsteadofapersonal,handmadejobs.Withthecreationofmassproducedgoods,
theeconomyshiftedtowardssupplyanddemandwhichfueledtheideaofmakingthemostprofit
outofeverysecondofmanufacturingtomakethemostsupplyforthedemand.Withthis,the
commonfolkwereworkingandsocialclasseswereformedincontrarytoestates,meaningthat

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peopleworkingtowardstheirownsuccessopposedtobeingbornintowealth.Withnewfound
wealthandworkcameconsequences.Theindustrialrevolutionbroughtsupplyanddemandbut
theworkplacewentcorrupt,alllowerclassworkerswereslavestocorporationssotheowners
canmakethemostefficientworkplace.Theseweredarktimesforthecommonworkingclassbut
asaresultwehadanamazingboostintechnology.
AccordingtotheCreatingTechnologywebsite,thewordengineeringcamefromthe
eleventhcenturyfromthewordingeniator,meaningonewithingenium,theingeniousone.
TheideacamefromengineersbeingTheforerunnersofengineers,practicalartistsand
craftsmen,proceededmainlybytrialanderror.Yettinkeringcombinedwithimagination
producedmanymarvelousdevices.IknowthatIamagoodfitforthistitlebecauseIsolve
problemsandIalwaystinkerwithelectronicsandtrytocraft.Aerospace,mechanical,and
structuralengineeringallhavethiscreativeaspectthatreallyenticesme.
Iwentthroughafifteenhourinternshipwithtwodifferentengineers,onewasattheLyon
AirMuseumwithGaryMcKee,whereweusedcarsandWorldWarTwoaircraftandvehiclesas
examplestoengineeringproblemsThesecondwasattheKPFFstructuralengineeringfirmwith
BillThorpewhereheshowedmetheworkthatastructuralengineerdoes.InthefirstinternshipI
learnedthatinWorldWarTwothearmydidntcareaboutthedamagetowardstheenvironment
becausealltheyfocusedonwaswinningthewar.Hundredsofthousandsofwarpanes,bombers,
cars,trucks,tanks,androcketswerebuiltallspittingoutenormousamountsofcarbondioxide
emissionsthroughtheburningofgas,gunpowderandthetoolsrequiredtomassproducethese

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toolsforwar.Then,totoptheenvironmentaldamage,thenuclearbombsweredropped.
Accordingtothearticle
EffectsofNuclearWeapons,

Whenanuclearweaponexplodesintheair,thesurroundingairissubjectedto
greatheat,followedbyrelativelyrapidcooling.Theseconditionsareidealforthe
productionoftremendousamountsofnitricoxides.Theseoxidesarecarriedintothe
upperatmosphere,wheretheyreducetheconcentrationofprotectiveozone
Againengineeringandscienceareabusedtohurtpeopleandtheenvironment,thisis
whatIplantoworkagainstasanengineer,thisismymotivation.
Tobeanengineer,Illhavetoworkthroughphysicsandmathcourses,mystrongesttwo
subjects.IncollegeIplangetaMastersDegreeineithermechanical,aerospace,orstructural
Engineering.AftercollegeIplantoworkforalargecompanylikeNASAorBoeingandthen
movetowardsasmallcompanyonceIknowthebusiness.Finallyafteranotherfiveorsoyears,I
willsaveupenoughmoneytostartupmyownengineeringfirmorfactory.BythenIshould
knowmywayaroundinthebusinessandIcanstartmyownfirmandsucceed.Ivetaken
personaltoursatCNCmachineshopsandtheownersallsaidthattheyhadagreattimewith
thesemachines,theycanmakeanypiecewiththeerrormarginthesizeofhalfthewidthofa
hair.IbelievethatIcanhelpmakeadifferenceinthisworldbyadvancingtechnologyand
makingthecommonpersonslifestylemoreecofriendly.
InmystructuralengineeringinternshipwithBillThorpe,Iwenttoafairlylargestructural
engineeringfirmandlearnedthebasicconceptsofcreatingbuildingsdesignedbyarchitects.
Withthiscamehowengineersusecomputerprogramslikeautocadeveryday.Thistaughtme

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whatitmeanstobeanengineer,ittakesdeterminationandcountlesshoursofrepetitive
computerworkbetweenplanninganddiscussionontheproject.Engineerswouldsitaroundona
computersusingdifferentformsofcomputeraideddesignprogramsandcompletetheplan.On
thesecomputeraideddesignprograms,orcadprograms,theusermustputeveryindividualspot,
size,weight,andangleeverythingisgoingtobe,thisshowedmethededicationandtimethat
goesintotheseprojects.Whatreallysurprisedmewashowfunandsatisfyingthejobis,youare
giventhisplanorideaandyougettomakeitintoreallife,thisisthekindaworkthatIenjoy.It
wasinterestingtoseealargeamountofpeoplealllovetheirjobandlifestyleevenaftersomany
yearsofworking.WithMr.ThorpeIlearnedtheworkthatengineersdoonaneverydaycycle
andIthoughtitcouldbeinterestingandfuntodoasacareer.Ivespentcountlesshoursoftime
creatingthings,programmingrobotsandmicrochips,andtinkeringwithelectronics.Talkingto
Mr.Thorpeandotherengineersatthefirm,theyallsaidthattheyenjoytheirjobandtheyhave
funwithwhattheydo.
Becominganengineerisnosimpletask,engineersarerequiredabachelorsofscience,
mastersdegreeordoctrines.Accordingto
EngineeringCareersandtheEducationYoullNeed
,
Mastersprogramsaredesignedtoexpandanddeepentheknowledgeandskillsacquiredasan
undergraduate.Master'sdegreeprogramsinengineeringrequiretwoyearsoffulltimegraduate
study,andDoctoralprogramsrequirefivetosevenyearsofgraduatestudy,whilePhD
programsaregenerallydesignedforpeopleprimarilyinterestedinresearchandeducationinthe
engineeringfield.Ivediscussedtheeducationprocessforengineeringmajorswithmymentors
andtheybothsaythatabachelor'sdegreeisnotenoughtoreallyadvanceandsucceedinthejob.
WithabachelorsdegreeyoucangetanofficejobwhilewithamastersdegreeorPhDyoucan

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manageandruncompanies.IplantoworkforthemastersdegreebecauseIwanttoadvancein
thebusinessandreallyknownthesubjectinsteadofgettingthebareminimumtowork.
Accordingto
AerospaceEngineering
ontheBureauofLaborStatisticswebsite,
Aerospaceengineersdesignaircraft,spacecraft,satellites,andmissiles.Inaddition,theytest
prototypestomakesurethattheyfunctionaccordingtodesign.Theyalsodirect,coordinate,test
andmanufactureproducts.Atypicalworkdaywillincludeanengineerapplyingscienceand
technologytotheirdesignsandtests.Mostworkwithdesignsandtestingisinagroupwitha
supervisingengineer(prospects).Ihavetotakeclassesthatworkoffofchemistry,physics,
algebra,trigonometryandcalculus.ForanentryleveljobIllneedabachelorsdegreeaccredited
bytheAccreditationBoardforEngineeringandTechnology(ABET),apassingtheFundamental
Engineering(FE)exam,relevantworkexperienceandapassingscoreontheProfessional
Engineeringexam(BLS:AerospaceEngineers).Theaveragesalaryforanaerospaceengineerin
2012is103,720(BLS:AerospaceEngineers).Thephysicsandsciencethatsupporttheway
spacecraftandplanesworkamazesme
Mechanicalengineeringisverysimilartoaerospaceengineeringinthesensethatittakes
chemistry,physics,algebra,trigonometryandcalculus,butitworksonamorebroadterms.
Mechanicalengineersworkundermostengineeringfieldsfrompiecesonenginestothe
mechanismthatpowersawatch.ToworkforanengineeringfirmasamechanicalengineerI
needto:receiveatleastabachelor'sdegree,aProfessionalEngineer(PE)license,passingscore
ontheFundamentalsofEngineering(FE)exam,relevantworkexperienceandfinallythe
ProfessionalEngineeringandpracticeexam.Mechanicalengineeringiswhatleanthemost
towards.WithamechanicalengineeringdegreeIcanworkanywherefromcarmanufacturingto

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theheartpumpmachinesthatcanextendalifeforanothertenfifteenyears.ButwhatIwantto
focusonisthecarengines,whereIcanhelpdesignandbuildmorefuelefficientorelectriccars.
Structuralengineeringistheengineeringforbuildingsandotherstructures.Theycan
workonbuildingsfromhospitalstowalkwaysinacommunityparks.Accordingto
Howto
BecomeaStructuralEngineer:CareerPathGuide
ontheAcademicInvestwebsite,Thosewho
becomestructuralengineerstypicallyenjoysuchschoolsubjectsasmathematics,science,
computing,art,geographyanddesign.Beforegoingtocollegetobecomeastructural
engineeringIshouldhaveastrongbackgroundingeometry,trigonometry,andcalculusandon
topofthatknowthebasicsaboutbuildings(AcademicInvest).Incollege,Ifirstneedtogeta
degreeineithercivilorstructuralengineeringbeforegettingajoborworkingonamasters
degree.Structuralengineersdomostoftheirworkusingcomputeraideddesignprogramsand
somefieldwork.Structuralengineerswillvisittheconstructionsitestotestsoilsandoversee
construction.StructuralengineeringfirmsrequiretheProfessionalEngineering(PE)licenseto
beginworking,whichIcangetbyfirsttakingtheFundamentalsofEngineering(FE)examand
havingrelevantworkexperience(AcademicInvest).Architectureandconstructionofbuildings
alwaysamazedmebecauseitisanartthatistoooftenoverlooked.Themaththatgoesbehind
makinganystructureamazesme.
Manyuniversitiesandcompaniesofferprogramstohelpstudentstoreceiveadegree.At
someuniversities,astudentcanenrollina5yearprogramthatleadstobothabachelorsdegree
andamastersdegreeuponcompletion.Agraduatedegreewillallowanengineertoworkasan
instructoratauniversityortodoresearchanddevelopment(BLS:AerospaceEngineers).There
areotherwaystogetamastersdegreeaccordingtomymentor,GaryMcKee,anengineer

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workingonfuelintake,studentscanjointhemilitaryasanengineerorgetabachelorsdegree
andsignaworkcontract.Aworkcontractiswhensomeonesignsacontractwithacompanyto
allowthestudenttofinishhisorhersmastersdegreewithpaidtuitionaslongastheycome
backandworkforthesaidcompany.
Engineershavedesignedandbuiltmachinestohelpourlivesovertheagesbutweve
turnedablindeyetowardsnature.Eversincetheindustrialrevolution,thewholeworldhasbeen
burningcoalandfossilfuelsintotheair,tearingholesinourozoneandcreatingsmogandhaze.
Notonlydoesthisaffecttheenvironmentbutitaffectsustoo,thesefumesarehurtingourlungs
causingcanceranddiseases.Thisisntsomethinganyonecanjustclean.Theonlywaytosolve
thisistoreinventtheengine,reworkthesystemintobeingmoreefficientandecofriendly,and
thatiswhatIamgoingtodoasanengineer,protecttheenvironment.

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WorksCited
"IndustrialRevolution."
History.com
.A&ETelevisionNetworks,n.d.Web.12Nov.2015.
<http://www.history.com/topics/industrialrevolution>.
"MechanicalEngineeringSchools,DegreesandCareers."
MechanicalEngineeringSchools
.All
EngineeringSchools,n.d.Web.12Nov.2015.
<http://www.allengineeringschools.com/engineeringcareers/career/mechanicalengineering/>.
"HistoryofEngineering."
CreatingTechnology
.CreatingTechnology,n.d.Web.
<http%3A%2F%2F
www.creatingtechnology.org%2Fhistory.htm
>
"MechanicalEngineer."
JobOverview
.N.p.,n.d.Web.02Nov.2015.
"VWEmissionsScandal:MoreCarsFoundtoCheatTestsBBCNews."
BBCNews.
N.p.,10
Nov.2016.Web.02Nov.2015.
Makortoff,Kalyeena."WhatYouNeedtoKnowabouttheVolkswagenScandal."
CNBC.
N.p.,
22Sept.2016.Web.
"EngineeringCareersandtheEducationYou'llNeed."
LearnAboutEngineerCareersandthe
EducationYou'llNeed
.N.p.,n.d.Web.02Nov.2015.
"Summary."
U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics
.U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,n.d.Web.01Dec.
2015.<http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architectureandengineering/aerospaceengineers.htm>.
BureauofLaborStatistics,U.S.DepartmentofLabor,OccupationalOutlookHandbook,201415
Edition,AerospaceEngineers,ontheInternetat
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architectureandengineering/aerospaceengineers.htm
(visited
November29,
2015
).
BureauofLaborStatistics,U.S.DepartmentofLabor,OccupationalOutlookHandbook,201415
Edition,MechanicalEngineers,ontheInternetat
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architectureandengineering/mechanicalengineers.htm
(visited
November29,
2015
).

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Tenenbaum,Laura."ClimateChangeEvidence:HowDoWeKnow?"
ClimateChange:Vital
SignsofthePlanet
.Nasa,n.d.Web.Nov.Dec.2015.<http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/>.
"TheEffectsofNuclearWeapons."
EffectsofNuclearWeapons
.N.p.,n.d.Web.01Dec.2015.
<http://www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/index.shtml>.
"CarEmissionsandGlobalWarming."
UnionofConcernedScientists
.N.p.,n.d.Web.01Dec.
2015.<http://www.ucsusa.org/cleanvehicles/caremissionsandglobalwarming#.Vl09NHarSM8>.