What does an engineer do?

Engineers use math and science to design new artifacts and technologies that may be used to solve practical problems. While Barkley tried to create wings to help him fly, he followed the Engineering Design Process.

The Engineering Design Process has eight basic steps. These include:

• Identify the need or problem
• Research the need or problem
• Develop possible solutions
• Select the best possible solution(s)
• Construct a prototype
• Test and evaluate the solution
• Communicate the solution
• Redesign to improve your original design

Engineers use math and science to not only help us understand the world, but to apply what they know to solve problems. For example, engineers have used what they know about light to develop lasers and fiber optic technologies. They apply what they know about modern communications to improve telephones, fax machines, and electronic mail. Scientists also can design new artifacts and technologies just as engineers can explore how the world works. There isn't always a clear dividing line between science and engineering.

A child's natural curiosity about how things work is clear to any adult as that child works to improve the design of a paper airplane or take apart a toy to explore what's inside. Children are natural engineers and inventors, builders of sandcastles at the beach and forts under furniture.