We’ve established that flying a drone over an active fire is not cool (and sometimes illegal), and that shooting down a drone (maybe) flying over your property is also not okay (and sometimes illegal). But what about drones being used in other public spaces? For example, what about flying over a group of people enjoying […]
Accessible innovation with 3D printing
3D printing has been making waves in almost all facets of the design engineering industry from life-saving medical devices designed for preemie babies to parts for military airplanes. In fact, a recent industry survey by Tech Pro Research showed that though only 12 percent of companies are actively using 3D printing, 48 percent of companies […]
Engineers aren’t (just) nerds
Engineers have a bit of a bad reputation as curmudgeonly, paper-pushing nerds. But they’re not all paper-pushing nerds. (The jury is still out on curmudgeonly.) Part of opening engineering up to students and finding a way to interest them in the the industry is dispelling the myth that engineering is boring. Among students (and in […]
This engineer graduated high school with her associate’s in engineering
I am a naturally nosy person. It’s actually a good trait for a writer to have since nosiness leads to great stories (but also restraining orders). As a naturally nosy person, I’m always interested in what other people do for a living. Yes, I understand that you’re a hand model, but what does that actually […]
Engineering Live: What happened to our fascination with space? (On Demand)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER The 1960s was arguably the most fascinating time in the world of space. Sputnik had been launched just a few years prior and the entire decade ended with the first moon landing. So what happened? Despite surges in enthusiasm during the Mars Rover landing and flashes of obsession with superstar […]
This inappropriate card game will fund STEM scholarships for women (and why that’s amazing)
It seems like everyone is trying to figure out how to get kids in STEM and how to keep them there. There is a particular interest in increasing the number of women in STEM professions–Ed. feel free to hit the comment sections to talk about what a horrible idea that is, but try to be […]
What happens when you design using an obsolete component?
A team of engineers might spend weeks, months, or even years creating the perfect design solution for a difficult problem in their field. They might have just the right components for the budget and design needs, but looming over the project is the potential threat of component obsolescence. It’s a struggle faced by all engineers […]
Driverless Cars Are Not High-Speed Trains
When talking about driverless vehicles, handwringing and fits that would be better received in a “the sky is falling” version of Chicken Little have become pretty commonplace. Despite the fact that cars driven by human beings would be much safer if operated by machines, many people argue against allowing this technology on the road will […]
My new New Year’s resolutions (sort of)
Happy New Year, engineers! January is usually a time of year where I reflect on the past and think about things that I should be doing in 2015. I say should mostly because I’ve never really used that gym membership (but I do come up with increasingly creative excuses), and my eating habits remain mostly […]
Male readers don’t think sexism in science exists
There are a lot of studies that attest to the gender gap in STEM fields and the sexism that exists in the hiring process. And I mean a lot of studies. For example, in 1999, a study showed that even with the same credentials, a male candidate was more likely to be hired than a […]