Engineering Humour

Three Engineers

There are three engineers in a car going for a drive. The first is a mechanical engineer, the second an electronics engineer and the third is a software engineer.

Fortunately, the mechanical engineer is driving because the brakes fail as they are going downhill. The mechanical engineer eventually brings the car safely to a halt and gets out to examine the hydraulic systems.

The electronics engineer gets out and checks the body computer, ABS system and the power train CAN bus.

The software engineer stays in the car and when queried about it says that they should all just get back in the car and see if it happens again!

The Optimist, The Pessimist and The Engineer

The optimist says, “The glass is half full”.

The pessimist says, “The glass is half empty”.

The engineer says, “The glass is twice as big as it needs to be”. 

Engineer Speak

What is said	What it means
A number of different approaches are being tried.	We don't know where we're going, but we're moving.
An extensive report is being prepared on a fresh approach to the problem.	We just hired three guys. We'll let them kick it around for a while.
Developed after years of intensive research.	It was discovered by accident.
Modifications are underway to correct certain minor difficulties.	We threw the whole thing out and are starting from scratch.
Preliminary operational tests were inconclusive.	The darn thing blew up when we threw the switch.
Test results were extremely gratifying.	It works and, boy, are we surprised!
The design will be finalised in the next reporting period.	We haven't started this job yet, but we've got to say something.
The entire concept is unworkable.	The only guy who understood the thing just quit.
We need close project coordination.	We should have asked someone else. Alternate: Let's spread the responsibility for this.

     

Citation:
 "Engineering Humour | Engineering Jokes | Engineering Funny Stories | Engineering Cartoons | Engineering Humor | Engineering Funny Pictures | Engineering Videos." Engineering Humour | Engineering Jokes | Engineering Funny Stories | Engineering Cartoons | Engineering Humor | Engineering Funny Pictures | Engineering Videos. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sep. 2015.

-Hongyuan X.

Making An Alarm Clock From Scratch

About a week and a half ago, a news story about a 14 year old in Texas getting arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school made national headlines. High school student Ahmed Mohamed made a simple electronic clock as a school project, and brought it to school to show off to his friends and teachers. Instead of praise, he was arrested for bringing a "bomb" to school, as the adults at the school didn't recognize it and just assumed it was one (the charges were later dropped).

Fortunately nothing like that has ever happened to me, but it did remind me of a similar project I have done in the past. About a year ago, I found a video on YouTube by a user called "skiwithpete" who was in the process of creating his own speaking alarm clock. He was doing this by connecting a Raspberry Pi to his iHome speaker, which would then read him the weather forecast and the current value of bitcoin, along with other features he planned to add later. A Raspberry Pi is a tiny, credit card sized board that has an entire computer built onto it. It is marketed toward programming hobbyists who use them to create projects like this.

A Raspberry Pi Model A

At the time of watching the video I wasn't using my Raspberry Pi for any projects, so I decided I would try to do something similar. I figured I could have it read the current temperature and weather forecast for the day, and also let me know if it's a holiday that day. Sometimes when I wake up I read online news stories, so I also wanted it to do that for me. With those things in mind, I started writing my code. Some of it was a little bit complicated for me, and I ended up having to borrow a little bit of Skiwithpete's code because of this, but in the end I finally got it to work. I had it programmed to go off at a set time every morning, where it would play a short tune to wake me up, tell me the date and time, the current temperature, the weather later that day, the weather at my family's cottage (if it was a weekend), and it would then read the top 5 headlines from the BBC news website and a one sentence summary of each article.

Up until a few months ago, that was how I woke up every day. During my last month of high school I re-purposed the same Raspberry Pi to create a radio station for a school project, and somewhere in the process I lost the data and the code for the alarm clock. Overall, the convenience of having that information provided to me when I woke up and the pride I was able to take in my own work made it a very fun and rewarding project, and I just might recreate my alarm clock one day in the future.

-Erik B.

Sources:

Raspberry Pi Model A. Digital image. SparkFun. SparkFun Electronics, 5 Oct. 2013. Web. 27 Sept. 2015. <https://cdn.sparkfun.com//assets/parts/8/2/1/1/11837-03.jpg>. 

skiwithpete. “(old) Raspberry Pi: Make a Speaking Alarm clock (now with Google text-to-speech Voice)” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 26 Jul. 2014. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.

Worland, Justin. "School Defends Calling Police on Student Who Built Clock." Time. Time, 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.  

How We Help?

As stated in previous blogs, the engineering world is rising quickly. With things constantly changing in our modern world, engineers are crucial to keep things up to date. This blog is not saying that all other fields are useless but it's a large part of our future. One of the main reasons I decided to pursue in the field of engineering was because the jobs are needed.
        One of my main fears in high school was going into a college major where I would have hard time finding a career outside of school. With engineering I am confident that I will not  have a problem with a first year job if I can continue the long rewarding journey. Especially coming out of Michigan State, engineering companies will be approaching the successful engineering class rather than the student having to go out to them.
       Although this is looking very far into the future, it gets me excited to graduate from MSU. It also gives me drive to finish my studies when times get rough. During my college career, I am bound to go through a failed test or a missed assignment but with the reward of engineering, it will give me motivation to stick with my studies and crank out what needs to be done. Although this is looking very far ahead it excites me for the future and encourages me to excel at MSU.

-Dominic W.

Works Cited

• MSU engineering website

Prompt #2

Defining ethics.

Engineering ethics is defined as the field of applied ethics and system of moral principles that apply to the practice of engineering. The field examines and sets obligations for engineers to the society, to their clients and profession. In simpler terms, engineering ethics are the guidelines helping engineers do the right thing throughout their profession.

The National Society of Professional Engineers developed the Engineering code of ethics that require honesty, impartiality, fairness, and equity, from all practicing engineers. It also emphasizes that engineers must be dedicated to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. Engineers must perform under a standard of professional behavior that requires adherence to the highest principles of ethical conduct. The fundamental canons of the code of ethics as listed by the National society of professional engineers state; Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: 

1. ·      Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
2. ·      Perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. ·      Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
4. ·      Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
5. ·      Avoid deceptive acts.
6. ·      Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.

LeMessurier , a structural engineer for the Citicorp building –fourth tallest skyscraper in New York, was faced with a big problem when upon being asked by an engineering student about his design realized that the building might collapse when certain strong winds came in a certain direction. He discovered a flaw in his initial calculations. Citicorp was such a gigantic building that telling people about the flaw in design would cause mass panic. LeMessurier could have kept quiet of committed suicide but he did not. As an engineer he had to do the right thing. He communicated with his client about the design deficiencies and proposed a remediation by reinforcing the building. LeMessurier has gained respect for his ethical conduct even in circumstance of costing mistakes. Such is expected of all practicing engineers.

More often than not-and usually not under the best of circumstance-the engineering ethics are vaguely understood. Whenever there is a disaster like a space ship exploding during takeoff or plane crashing, all fingers point to engineers but it should also be understood that failure in rocket launching and construction can also happen due to other factors that require as much investigation.

Ethics is indeed a crucial part of professionalism.  It helps the men and women who create anything that does not exist naturally to know how to do things right and to do the right thing. Thanks to ethics, doing the wrong thing is not an option in Engineering.

-Panashe M.

Sources:

"Code of Ethics." Code of Ethics. National Society of Professional Engineers, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics>.

Fleddermann, Charles B. Engineering Ethics. 4th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

"Engineering Ethics." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 7 May 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_ethics>.

What is Materials Science Engineering?

I as an engineering student at Michigan State University am currently majoring in materials science engineering. Now a lot of people may not know what a materials science engineer is and or does, and many people probably haven't even heard of this type of engineer. This major requires a lot of math and science, a lot like the other engineering majors. Materials science engineering is the study of all the materials we see around us every day. It's basically the study of what everything is made of. 

What do materials engineers do? Materials engineers work with many different types of materials including metals, alloys, polymers/plastics, ceramics and composites. Materials engineers may sometimes get help from other professionals such as plastic engineers, metallurgists, ceramists, process and quality control engineers, and many others. They develop, test and look at materials that are used to make a mass of different products, from tennis rackets to computer parts. Materials engineers choose different materials for different things based on the strength, and properties, like how they conduct heat or electricity, for what preforms best for the thing that is being produced.

What it takes to become a materials engineer? Really enjoying mathematics and science is key to becoming a materials engineer. Materials engineers must have a bachelor's degree in materials science or engineering. Different companies and employers look for engineers with a little experience, like those who have taken different engineering programs. Employment for this field has had little to no change from 2012 to now 2015 and is projected to have little to know change from now until 2020. Materials engineers are needed for various jobs such as normal industries and industries who are concentrated on new scientific products.

Materials engineering is really an interesting way to use science and mathematics, and I'm very excited to learn more and eventually get a job in this field.

-Alex Brown

Sources:
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/materials-engineers.htm>.

"What Is Materials Science and Engineering?" Monash University Engineering. Monash University, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <http://eng.monash.edu.au/materials/about/>.

"What Is Materials Engineering?" Materials Engineering. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. <https://engineering.purdue.edu/MSE/AboutUs/WhatsMaterials/index.html>.

Prompt #7

There are thousands of professions in the world and although people may not know initially, at one point or another they are attracted to a certain one. Everyone has their own interest and different ideas and this is what causes controversy between working fields. Engineering is known as a more difficult field that has a harder work load so many people think they are incapable of succeeding. This may be true on some levels but there are also engineers that believe that other professions are much more complicated than theirs. I read an article of an anonymous writer talking about how engineering is the wrong field to go into. Ever since I was a kid, I have been interested in the field of engineering so looking at this article was surprising to me. I understand that everyone has their own opinions but I was really curious to see what about the engineering field that this writer disliked. After reading the entire article it made me look at engineering differently. No longer was I looking at the positives but I also looked into some of the negatives. First of all, the writer stated that as many people say, the course work is too rigorous. I expected to see that in the article but one thing I did not expect to see was how dependable our society is on engineers. Our world is constantly evolving and because of this engineers are crucial. There are always jobs for engineers to be doing so even after college, the field requires a lot of work hours which could become stressful. Another thing the author mentioned was that just because the pay is good does not mean that the job is right for you. He stated that he would rather go to the dentist than be at work and that is a position that I think no one wants to be in. He also said that after graduating, he still had no clue what certain things at work meant and with how broad of a field engineering is, that does not surprise me. Yes, this article made me take new things into perspective but I still feel strongly that engineering is the correct path choice for me.

-Dominic W.

Source

http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Definitely-Chose-The-Wrong-Career/1298624

What is Computer Science?

For the past few decades, computers have been an ever increasing part of our daily lives. For a long time they existed solely as desktop machines, but today they can be found in our phones, our cars, our TVs, and now even in our watches. This trend is only going to continue, and our dependency on computers and the software within them is going to be much greater in the future. Who is driving this innovation? What kind of person is responsible for creating all these new technologies?

The answer to that question is a person generally called a Computer Scientist. These could be programmers, system administrators, database architects, software developers, or a number of other jobs in the field of Computer Science. These are the people who build new apps and software, maintain servers that make up a cloud network, create websites, maintain large databases of information, and much more. These people usually have strong analytical skills, the ability to use logic and reason, and do well with mathematics.

While the job duties of these kinds of people may vary, their field is the same: Computer Science. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Computer Science as "a branch of science that deals with the theory of computation or the design of computers". It is a field of science that mainly focuses on the theoretical, algorithmic ways computation works. Many college courses on Computer Science put an emphasis on programming, which has led many to believe Computer Science is simply programming. The truth is that it is simply the understanding of how computers work, and how to get them to work to benefit us in our daily lives. It is by no means a simple or easy to understand science, but is an essential part of our society in the 21st century.

-Erik B.

Sources:
 Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015. 

Useful Resource for Engineering Students In MSU

Academic Advisers

Perhaps the most valuable resource we provide to you is our academic advisers.  You should visit your adviser each semester to check your progress toward your degree and get valuable insight and information on your academic and life goals.  The College of Engineering  employs academic advising professionals with advanced degrees in counseling, education, university administration and related fields. Our academic advisers  are available to help you plan an academic program that meets your educational and professional goals and to provide you with information you need to make wise educational and personal decisions. Advisers can help you explore engineering majors and career options and direct you to important campus resources for assistance with test-taking, study skills, career planning and much more.  Find adviser contact information here.

Tutoring

The College of Engineering, and MSU in general, provides multiple access points for students to get assistance with coursework, through tutoring and/or supplemental instruction.  Besides the many MSU resources available, such as theMath Learning Center, the Writing Center and the Office of Supportive Services, to name just a few, the College'sGuided Learning Center (GLC) in the Diversity Programs Office (DPO) has, for about 15 years, provided peer tutoring.  Also, the CoRe Experience provides tutoring in the residence hall in which the students in the program live. Currently, supplemental instruction for students in key math and science courses is also being provided through an NSF grant from the STEP program.

Women in Engineering

The Mission of the Women in Engineering Program is to encourage women of all backgrounds to pursue careers in Engineering.  We strive to collaborate with others in the College and the University to provide an environment that is conducive to all students' success, providing opportunities for academic, personal and professional growth, and to serve the needs of all our constituents.  While the Women in Engineering Program (WIE) is open to all students regardless of gender, WIE's focus is to recruit and retain women of all backgrounds as they pursue a degree in engineering at Michigan State University.  Click here to visit the Women in Engineering site. 

Scholarships and Research Opportunities

The MSU College of Engineering offers more than 300 scholarships to undergraduate students each year for a total of approximately $500,000 in amounts ranging from $100 to $13,000. There are separate selection processes for obtaining scholarships for incoming freshmen and current engineering students. Learn more...

Student Groups & Organizations

Engineering students have a plethora of student groups with which to participate.  Most every field of study in engineering has a related group at MSU which regularly holds meetings, seminars, brings in guest lectures and has many other activities.  Visit the Student Groups and Organizations web site for information on various groups.

Joining a student group is a great way to find people with similar interests and make like long friends!

In addition to engineering-related student organizations, there are a wide variety of student government, Greek life, and other groups in which students can participate.

-Hongyuan Xue

Work cited

• "MSU Web Accessibility & Brand Standards." MSU Web Accessibility & Brand Standards. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2015.