Gateshead Millennium Bridge by Gifford & Partners (engineers) & Wilkinson Eyre (architects)

SPE

EXCITING ENGINEERING

Is the

Charitable arm of the

Society of Professional Engineers.

Its OBJECT is to encourage young people to study the basic subjects which are necessary to enter the engineering professions.

Some people may not realise it, but the human race depends upon engineers for its continued existence. Of course, other professions are important but they all rely on a world which has been designed by engineers, using the word “engineers” in its broadest definition.

 

Engineers are vital to mankind but in addition, most engineers will agree that engineering is exciting. When one can say “I designed that” or “I made that work”, the self-satisfaction gained is worth a great deal. There is an element of artistry which is akin to the artistry of the great masters of painting, sculpture etc. It is a different field but it is the output of the human brain.

 

The picture of a bridge shown above is exciting in that the basic engineering principles have been used to produce something which is unique, beautiful, different and which works. The problems of creating a means of crossing a river whilst still allowing space for ships to pass, have been solved in a brilliant fashion. An engineer can also have the opportunity to design something which achieves its objects whilst using the minimum amount of the earth’s resources. There is a saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link so the aim must be to ensure that no part is stronger than it needs to be to fulfil its function and anyone who’s ideal is based on a “green philosophy” will realise that simply minimising the use of fossil fuels is only looking at part of the picture. What is needed are people who will take the trouble to think!

 

A young engineer may only be engaged on the design of some small part of a much larger project but the satisfaction derived from succeeding in that minor task can be just as exciting and the experience will be carried forward to larger tasks in the future. Even initial failure can be useful when one has thought through the reasons for the failure and arrived at an improved result which works!

 

The Society’s constitution defines professionalism as the concept in which the needs and requirements of the world in general and the client in particular must take preference over the engineer’s commercial benefit. In accordance with that principle, the Society has launched this charity to persuade young people that the interests of mankind and the world needs people who have studied the fundamental subjects upon which engineering is based and who are therefore in a position to commence the detailed training to enable them to become fully qualified engineers in whatever field of engineering attracts them. What is important however is that they will be able to have the satisfaction of a vital job well done and that is the key to happiness and contentment in life.

 

 

Method

 

 

EXCITING ENGINEERING