Why Engineering Will Save The World

The word ‘engineering’ comes from the latin words ‘ingeniare’, meaning to create and ‘ingenium’ meaning cleverness. That is, to a T, what engineers do: create clever solutions to complex problems. And it would appear that we have a fair few problems. Climate change, healthcare, accessibility to food and water, just to name a few… Eek.

But the good news is, here is how engineering is looking for solutions. Here is how engineering will save the world.

Climate Change

Engineers are here to find solutions around global warming and give mother nature the big ol’ hug that she deserves. Chemical engineers can focus on developing alternative technologies to combat acid rain, lead pollution and the greenhouse effect. They may look at renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.

The Hornsdale Power Reserve

in South Australia, for example, acts as a giant shock absorber, soaking up energy when there’s too much being produced, and pumping it back into the system when there isn’t enough.

It’s delivered more than AU $150 million in electricity cost savings in its first two years of operation! The Project Management Institute recently recognised this as one of the world’s most influential projects of the past 50 years!!! Goes to show how Aussies are leaning towards renewable energy to save the world.

Environmental engineers assess and manage the effects of human and other activity on the natural and built environment as well as the environment on humans. These workers are involved in matters such as global warming, automobile emissions, ozone depletion issues, waste disposal and pollution control. They’re also the lords of recycling.

Take a geez at Nzambi Matee who has created a lightweight and low-cost building material that is made of recycled plastic with sand to make bricks that are stronger than concrete material. Her startup company Gjenge Makers is recycling close to 500 kilograms of plastic waste a day! That is incredible!

Healthcare

Biomedical engineering focuses on designing, creating and maintaining devices and computer systems for use in healthcare. This can include things like artificial limbs, organ implants, or diagnostic equipment.

This has contributed to the development of revolutionary and life-saving concepts like prosthetics, such as dentures and artificial limb replacements, surgical devices and systems, such as robotic and laser surgery and implanted devices, such as insulin pumps, pacemakers and artificial organs.

Biomedical engineers may be able to develop a cure for cancer or create instruments to help give paralysed people more mobility!

This is one industry where you’re not only changing the world but changing it for those who need it most. Think about the Cochlear implant, for example. This Aussie creation by Professor Graeme Clark has brought hearing to more than 180,000 deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide.

Resource Accessibility

Everyone should have access to food and water. Obviously. Water scarcity, whether due to physical shortages or lack of access, is already a massive problem. But, it’s escalating thanks to population growth, rapid urbanisation, and climate change.

For example, more than 40,000 Indigenous Australians in 694 locations nationwide rely on groundwater for water supply, and face extreme challenges in accessing clean drinking water. The recent Project Gilghi in the Northern Territory sought to improve Indigenous health and access to sustainable clean drinking water by creating a breakthrough hybrid off-grid containerised water treatment plant. It innovatively combines renewable energy requirements with water treatment and sanitisation.

Thanks to engineers on this project, Project Gilghi produces up to 28kL of water per day!! What an amazing start! When it comes to food, producing sufficient food is becoming increasingly difficult as the world's population grows and grows. Engineers are working on solutions for food shortages through sustainable farming which grows food in an indoor environment, increasing the amount produced. Smart farms are also being created. Automation is a factor in smart farming; it opens the potential to speed up the farming process and eliminate human error. Smart farms can also use drones to plant seeds, spray crops and keep real-time analysis of fields.

If you feel like being a capeless hero yourself and saving the world, your next step is to suss out our “Engineering Your Future” Academy. It’ll teach you everything you need to know about engineering. With modules covering topics such as the different fields of engineering, what Aussie engineers are working on now, your study ops; from uni and TAFE to scholarships and cadetships, and what your career could look like, you’ll be ready to kickstart your career and create some clever solutions. 😉