Celebrating Engineering

The question, “Why don’t engineers celebrate their accomplishments” was posed to me by a friend of mine who is a marketing specialist, not an engineer.

It is natural for humans to celebrate. We create holidays and watch sports and play games and marvel at the extraordinary talents of other people. We measure talent, success, and perseverance in many creative and valid ways. What if society wants to celebrate engineers but we don’t show up to the party because we’re too busy being invisible? Maybe we first need to figure out how we will celebrate ourselves. It is nothing to be ashamed of.
Dan Robles, P.E.
Edmonds, WA

As an electrical engineer, I’m fully aware that the general public is not interested in all the effort involved in designing an electrical system. As long as the lights come on when the switch is flipped, most people are satisfied. I’m okay with knowing that I did the best I could in designing a system within the owner’s budget, that conforms to all applicable governing authorities and is safe for the public and the maintenance personnel. Other engineering disciplines whose designs are much more recognized by the general population, such as structural engineers, will understandably have their accomplishments celebrated a little more, provided the bridge doesn’t collapse, but I assume they, too, are okay with just knowing they did well in their respective designs. Although we probably wouldn’t refuse recognition from others for our accomplishments, engineers just don’t generally seek that kind of praise.
Walter Gerard, P.E.
Dallas, TX

Engineers try to let their accomplishments speak for them, but this typically goes unnoticed by the general public. That is until something goes wrong, and then we are very noticed. Two examples come to mind, the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the Deepwater Horizon blowout with subsequent oil disaster. Somehow, engineers need to let people know what problems we solved before the project completes to allow them to appreciate our particular approach to our work.
V. Alan Werner, P.E., F.NSPE
Renton, WA

I believe we do celebrate our accomplishments, perhaps not that publicly, but among ourselves as to what we design and create. We take great joy in that as engineers.

Publicly, the public’s perception of us is that we are very smart and rich. How many doctors, lawyers, politicians, craft labor, and the general public have told me that. I believe that is something to celebrate. Something we should be happy for.

And how do we become more visible to the public? You go out into the public forum, such as social clubs, chambers of commerce and explain a technical item of interest in a very simple format, at the level the general public can understand. You need to become a modern day “Mr. Wizard.” Unfortunately, not many engineers can do that and thus lies the problem.
John Pollock, P.E.
Cleburne, TX

NSPE HQ @NSPE Oct 25

How cool is that? Thanks for sharing! Cheers!