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				TryEngineering Search: Results You searched for: for   1-2968 of 2968 <prev | 1 | show pages | next> Life of an Engineer Become an Engineer Life of an Engineer Engineering Majors Life of an Engineer Life of an Engineer Links Links Life of an Engineer Mark C. Reuss, E.I.T. Civil Engineer Life of an Engineer John Harding Computer Engineer Life of an Engineer Tom Cruz Electrical Engineer Life of an Engineer Thomas Niederkorn Chemical Engineer Life of an Engineer Jennifer Moore Materials Engineer Life of an Engineer Rebecca Steinman Nuclear Engineer Life of an Engineer Sarah Bergagnini Electrical Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Samuel Russell Sorenson Computer Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Brett Grunert Civil Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Lori Laird Biomedical Engineer Life of an Engineer Bradley Hartman Computer Scientist Life of an Engineer Julie A. Pollitt, P.E. Aerospace Engineer Life of an Engineer Jessica Ewing Mechanical Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Aravinda Paranagama Electrical Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Renee Dorsey Electrical Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Gus Anderson Electrical Engineering, United States Life of an Engineer Rina Mostert Electrical Engineering, South Africa Life of an Engineer Ross Sabolcik Computer Science, United States Life of an Engineer Jody Gerstner Electrical Engineers Life of an Engineer Madeline Vega Electrical and Computer Engineer Life of an Engineer Tasha Lopez Chemical Engineer Life of an Engineer Sue Miller-Sylvia Mechanical Engineer Life of an Engineer Paulette January Computer Scientist Life of an Engineer Lisa Edge Materials Engineer Life of an Engineer Cheri Warren Electrical/Power Engineer Life of an Engineer Arieta M L Gonelevu Renewable Energy/Electrical Engineer Life of an Engineer Kathlene West, P.E. Power Engineer Life of an Engineer Maja J Matarić Computer Science Life of an Engineer Muhammad Inam Ul Haq Electrical Engineering, Pakistan Become an Engineer Aerospace Engineering Aerospace engineers create machines, from airplanes that weigh over a half a million pounds to spacecraft that travel over 17,000 miles an hour. They design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the manufacture of these products. Become an Engineer Architectural Engineering Architectural engineers apply engineering principles to the construction, planning, and design of buildings and other structures. They often work with other engineers and with architects, who focus on function layout or aesthetics of building projects. Become an Engineer Architectural Engineering Technology Architectural engineering technologists often work in architectural offices and assist in the building planning, design, construction, and operations or maintenance planning. Become an Engineer Bioengineering Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology, and medicine — and improves human health through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice. Become an Engineer Chemical Engineering Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design and construction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals, polymers, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety industries, among others. Become an Engineer Civil Engineering Today, civil engineers are in the forefront of technology. They are the leading users of sophisticated high-tech products - applying the very latest concepts in computer-aided design (CAD) during design, construction, project scheduling, and cost control. Become an Engineer Civil Engineering Technology Civil engineering technologists help civil engineers to plan and build highways, buildings, bridges, dams, wastewater treatment systems, and other structures, and to do related research. Become an Engineer Computer Engineering Computer engineers analyze and evaluate computer systems, both hardware and software. They might work on system such as a flexible manufacturing system or a "smart" device or instrument. Become an Engineer Computer Engineering Technology Computer Engineering Technologists work in many industries at tasks including analog and digital design, microprocessor hardware and software applications, network administration and design, and digital communications. Become an Engineer Computer Science Design of next generation computer systems, computer networking, biomedical information systems, gaming systems, search engines, web browsers, and computerized package distribution systems are all examples of projects a computer scientist might work on. Become an Engineer Electrical Engineering Electrical engineers have made remarkable contributions to our world. Electrical Engineers helped invent the computer, DSL, cellular phones, microchips, and solar panels - to name just a few! Become an Engineer Electrical Engineering Technology Electrical and electronics engineering technologists help to design, develop, test, and manufacture electrical and electronic equipment such as communication equipment, radar, industrial and medical measuring or control devices, navigational equipment, and computers. Become an Engineer Environmental Engineering Using the principles of biology and chemistry, environmental engineers develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues. Become an Engineer Environmental Engineering Technology Environmental engineering technologists work closely with environmental engineers and scientists in developing methods and devices used in the prevention, control, or correction of environmental hazards. Become an Engineer Forest Engineering Become an Engineer Industrial Engineering Industrial engineers determine the most effective ways to use the basic factors of production — people, machines, materials, information, and energy— to make a product or to provide a service. They are the bridge between management goals and operational performance. Become an Engineer Industrial Engineering Technology Industrial engineering technologists study the efficient use of personnel, materials, and machines in factories, stores, repair shops, and offices. They prepare layouts of machinery and equipment, plan the flow of work, make statistical studies, and analyze production costs. Become an Engineer Manufacturing Engineering Manufacturing engineers are involved with the process of manufacturing from planning to packaging of the finished product. They work with tools such as robots, programmable and numerical controllers, and vision system to fine tune assembly, packaging, and shipping facilities. Become an Engineer Manufacturing Engineering Technology Manufacturing Engineering Technologists work in teams with others to develop tools, processes, machines and equipment to make quality products at a reasonable cost. Become an Engineer Materials Engineering Materials Engineering is a field of engineering that encompasses the spectrum of materials types and how to use them in manufacturing. Materials span the range: metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), semiconductors, and combinations of materials called composites. Become an Engineer Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering is one of the largest, broadest, and oldest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers use the principles of energy, materials, and mechanics to design and manufacture machines and devices of all types. They create the processes and systems that drive technology and industry. Become an Engineer Mechanical Engineering Technology Mechanical engineering technologists help engineers to design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products, and other equipment. Become an Engineer Nuclear Engineering Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems for national laboratories, private industry, and universities that derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation for society. Become an Engineer Other Engineering Degree Areas In addition to the main engineering fields covered within this section, there are several other accredited engineering fields to consider. Become an Engineer Other Engineering Technology Degree Areas In addition to the main engineering technology fields covered within this site, there are many ABET accredited engineering technology programs in other areas. Become an Engineer Software Engineering Computer software engineers apply the principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that enable computers to perform their many applications. Become an Engineer Chemical Engineering Technology Chemical engineering technologists usually are employed in industries producing pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and petroleum products, among others. They work in laboratories as well as processing plants. Become an Engineer Bioengineering Technology Bioengineering Technologists focus on biomedical equipment. They may work on designs or applications, or may be responsible for installation planning, operation, or maintenance for biomedical equipment. Ask an Expert Q: I'm a high school student who is reasonably good in math, but it is not my favorite subject — is engineering still for me? Engineering is more than just math! It is finding new and better ways to do things; it is using science/logic/reasoning to answer and solve problems. Math was not my favorite subject in school either but, it was something I could do. Learning to apply the math tools that you learn is what makes math more interesting. Most engineers do not do extensive mathematical work themselves; when they need to solve serious mathematical problems they often work together with professional mathematicians and statisticians. I know of very few engineers who actually apply college mathematics directly in their daily routine (though there are some, mostly in research and development positions). The reason that engineers learn mathematics is primarily so that they can understand models of systems and environments which use mathematical notation (for example, how a building reacts to an earthquake of certain magnitude). Another reason for mathematics in the engineering curriculum is for engineers to be able to speak to professional mathematicians when they need their help. However if math is not your cup of tea you will still find plenty of design and implementation challenges that use your creativity and imagination without relying too much on formal math. Ask an Expert Q: I hear that it's tough for a woman to make it in engineering is this so? Success in engineering is based on ability and determination, not gender. The fraction of women among career engineers is lower than what most universities and companies would like to see, and large efforts are being made to invite young women to try engineering and enjoy the creativity and challenging environment that engineering offers its practitioners. Many schools, government agencies and private companies have created programs targeted to attract women into engineering, and the participation of women in engineering has been growing (albeit quite slowly) in the last 20 years. Today, there are more programs than ever designed to attract women into engineering as well as help them succeed in the engineering environment. Don't let gender deter you from doing what you want to do. If you want to do it, go for it! For more information see http://www.engineergirl.org/ and http://admissions.tufts.edu/?pid=242&c=252 Ask an Expert Q: I'm really interested in the environment… as an engineer would I have a chance to work outside? There are different fields of engineering. Some specifically focus on the environment, such as environmental engineering, but even those that do not have "environmental" in the title often affect the environment and require work outdoors. Engineers and scientists are actively engaged in studying environmental issues such as global warming and alternative fuels, and some work on projects focused on environmental cleanup and environmental protection. If you are looking for an engineering career that lets you enjoy the outdoors, some types of engineering tend to offer more field work than others. Environmental and civil engineering fields usually have more field(outdoor) time than others, as does electric-power engineering, which is a sub discipline of electrical engineering. Many engineers spend time performing field test to prove that the designs they (or their teams) have developed will work. The impression that engineers spend all of their time in front of a computer screen in a cubicle is not true! Ask an Expert Q: Which area of engineering has the best salary potential? Engineering is like most other careers in that it is impacted by economic, social, and political issues of the day. The engineering disciplines that are paying the best today may not be the same that are paying best when you graduate. There are websites available that have salary information that you can research the differences in salaries for different jobs in engineering. One website with salary information is: www.wageaccess.com/ncs/engineering.asp See also our answer to the question "Which areas of engineering are most in demand?" Ask an Expert Q: Which areas of engineering are most in demand? Areas of engineering that are in demand usually mirror those engineering positions that have the highest salaries. At present you can find information about salaries in sites such as http://engr.oregonstate.edu/students/jobs.html and in the salary tables available here: http://www.careerjournal.com/salaryhiring/industries/engineers/index.html On the other hand remember that over the long haul salary trends are cyclical (majors that were in high demand during one decade tend to become less attractive in the next decade and then "come back"). Moreover, the individual differences between engineers within a discipline are often larger than the differences between average salaries in different disciplines. If you are very good in any of the engineering fields, you will find yourself in high demand almost independently of the discipline. Demand considerations should probably be secondary in your choice of field to considerations of interest and the kind of work you want to do. Ask an Expert Q: How did you choose the school you went to for your degree? I'm having a hard time deciding…help! Try to determine the kind of engineering degree that you would like to achieve. Research the schools that offer degrees in that engineering discipline and if the school is in the United States verify the program is ABET accredited. From the list of schools that are ABET accredited and offer the engineering discipline you desire to earn, utilize other factors to narrow the search. You have to decide what factors are important to narrow the search such as: tuition, distance from home, engineering societies represented at the schools, class sizes, internships/co-op opportunities, etc. Your school selection blends your educational/career goals, personal desires, and financial obligations. If you are having a difficult time talk with your parents, guidance counselor, and an engineers in the fields you are interested in pursuing. One resource you can use in your decision is the feature Find a University which is part of this site (tryengineering.org). This feature allows you to provide basic parameters on the schools you are looking for, and get a list of institutions that match these criteria. You can then visit the web sites of the schools that were found during your search, and get more information. I also found that once you narrow the list, it pays to look for the student newspaper on line - after looking at several issues you usually get a very good sense of the "hot button" issues at that school, and can detect "red flags" such as high crime rate or an unhappy student body. If you know what engineering major you are interested in, search for a website of the student branch of the relevant engineering association at that school. This may help you identify a contact - a student who studies there with whom you can talk over the phone or exchange e-mail. It is amazing how much information you can get in this way. Ask an Expert Q: How hard are the courses…I hear it's really tough! Some courses are tough. I look forward to these classes because they are usually the ones that are the most interesting. Before coming to college, I did not have an exceptional mathematical or engineering background. This has made some classes more challenging but not impossible. I find that the students that do well, even in the harder classes, are those that work hard and are interested in the material. Good time management is also important. There is a lot of material that students need to learn in order to understand the basic tools used in engineering (math, physics). Not everyone is able to learn this material and those who can learn it usually need to work hard at mastering the basics. Later courses are challenging since they build off of what you’ve already learned. Note for students coming out of high school: it will be much easier if you have taken AP level physics, calculus, and chemistry. This will lay a good foundation of understanding that will continue to be applied. Ask an Expert Q: My friends tell me that it's better to find a roommate who is also studying engineering if I go into engineering — do you find this is true? Depends on your personality. However, I would say 95% of the time it is probably true. As an engineer we are doing a lot of work all the time. When you are with another engineer, you can typically work together and hang out together. I don’t believe that it is necessary, but it is not a bad idea at all. It is very helpful to have others that you can study with. Whether that means studying in your room with your roommate or some other spot on campus with other classmates is up to you. There are always places available to study with others. Studying with other students can often be helpful. For most of my career as a student, I’ve studied on my own. It wasn’t until I came to my university that I realized how useful it can be to talk with other students about the way they understand the material. Helping others learn a particular topic has also been surprisingly helpful in solidifying the concepts for myself. However, I don’t have a roommate nor do I live on campus and prefer it that way. I study with other students in the library. Having an engineering roommate helps to keep each other working on engineering rather than getting distracted. However, if you aren't the same type of engineering, after sophomore year there are not as many benefits since you will no longer be taking courses together. It is more important to get connected with people within your type of engineering. However, having cross discipline friends is handy for taking on projects that are not as easily tackled by a bunch of people that only know one way of doing things, like senior design can be. It is more important being with someone who operates on a similar schedule so that rest and leisure can be pursued together. Lastly it is nice to have a close relationship that is not based on engineering since it is nice to get away from that sometimes, but living with someone who has half the work load can be very frustrating though. Ask an Expert Q: Did you decide which engineering discipline to study during your first year in college? Or later? Answer #1 I was involved heavily in FIRST Robotics through high school, which gave me an insight into the different disciplines and my own inclination towards each of them. Because of this, I decided to study electrical engineering while I was still in high school. It is not uncommon to remain Engineering Undecided for the first year, and generally does not affect course selections until at least the second year. Answer #2 I transferred to my university as a sophomore. I had already decided that I wanted to do either Electrical or Computer Engineering. I know various graduate students in both fields and knew that the projects they were working on seemed interesting to me. During that school year, I spoke with many graduate students, started working for a professor, did research on my own, and took various classes that all contributed to helping me make a decision. At the end of my sophomore year, I was sure that I wanted to do Electrical Engineering. For most engineering disciplines, the curriculum for the first two years is the same so deciding immediately isn’t necessary. I decided my discipline in high school, after discussing my options with faculty as several different universities, while searching for my school. Ask an Expert Q: Why did you decide to study engineering, and do you find the coursework allows much hands-on work? I was involved in programs during high school that enabled me to see that I really enjoyed what engineering was all about: problem solving, mathematics, physics …. I realized that engineering would not only be something that I would like, but also a field that I would excel in to a greater degree than other majors. For the time I have been taking classes, I have found a fair amount of hands-on work through the labs that are performed. As in all things, however, it is possible to skate by without taking advantage of these opportunities. Doing so, I feel, is not a good idea; not only is it a waste of tuition dollars, but you lose out on practical experience, something that nearly all companies are looking for. I enjoy math and science and creating and always had a desire to create new things. The way I’ve taken classes ends up being about 1 course a term that has hands on work. Usually this is a lab-based course, whether computer lab or experiment based labs. Keep in mind learning computer programs is hands-on and what engineers do in the workplace. Co-Op did allow for in the field experience which was great and taught me more about engineering than the hands-on work in class ever could. The mix of both classes and co-op has been the best part of my education. I showed an aptitude towards math and science, and I love building things (such as legos). There is always some hands-on work in the curriculum, but it is more substantial and rewarding in the later years. Ask an Expert Q: If you had to do it all over again, would you be studying engineering? Absolutely. So far, the satisfaction I have received from my education has been ample motivation to desire to go through it all again. Sure, I could do many other things, I could have majored in an easier science, or been an art major, but I know that I would not have had the ability to reach my true potential in any of those fields in the same way I have seen with engineering. Yes. I find that I am passionate about engineering and this is manifested in conversations with people about how things work, looking at everyday things in terms of dynamic or static systems, and looking forward to learning more about engineering topics. Ask an Expert Q: How did you choose the school you went to for your degree? I'm having a hard time deciding…help! When you’re faced with a decision of where to go, look at the opportunities that you’ll have at each school. A strong co-op program (internships during your undergrad years) was one element that I strongly desired, as it provides actual job experience even before graduation. If you have an idea of the specific engineering discipline you’d like to study, look for schools that have strong departments, professors and perhaps research opportunities in that field. The best advice I’ve been given on finding a school is to do a lot of research. Of course, you’d want to find out the obvious information: is it a good engineering school, do they have a good graduate program, do they offer engineering disciplines I am interested in? However, it’s a really good idea to look at individual professors at different schools, find out what their research is, what kind of papers they are publishing; are they doing work that you find interesting? First was looking for a school with a good reputation in the degree I was looking to get. I considered the pros/cons of schools I was considering. I sought advice from people who where older than me who know me well (parents, teachers, coaches). I asked my friends their opinions of schools I was looking at. I decided on a major. Looked at the schools. Made a decision matrix defining what is important and how well each school fared in an ideal situation. Factors I considered were, Do they have my major? How much does it cost after financial aide? Am I guaranteed a spot in my major or am I in danger of not being accepted into my specific program after coming to the university? Do they have an honors program? Do I like the dorms? Do they have sand volleyball courts? Do they inspire me? Is it close to home but not too close? Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between Computer Engineering and Computer Science? How does one decide which one to choose? The main fields available to individuals with interest in computers and computing are Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Both are wide and fascinating fields. Computer Science deals with the theoretical and practical aspects of information processing and computation on computer systems. It includes fields like the theory of algorithms and data structures, programming language theory and practice, complexity of algorithms and tasks, computer graphics, databases, and artificial intelligence. This is not a complete list, but you can easily sees it transcends programming. The current version of the Wikipedia article on Computer Science (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_science) is a good place to get some appreciation of the diversity and excitement of this field. Computer Engineering is a discipline which resides at the intersection of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Computer Engineers are often described as Electrical Engineers with specific training in computer hardware and in the interaction between hardware and software. Examples of the products created and developed by Computer Engineers are the mobile phone and the various play stations and computer and video games that have become so popular in the last 10-15 years. Some of the fields that are unique to Computer Engineering include design of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) systems for computing hardware, and of essential components of computers such as memories and electronic circuitry, including analog circuits and digital hardware. Recently the design and operation of computer networks and communication networks (such as the Internet) have become an integral part of Computer Engineering. Presentations on Computer Engineering are available here: http://www.tcd.ie/Engineering/about/what_is_eng/computer_eng_intro.html and here: http://www.ecs.umass.edu/ece/tessier/courses/221/lecture/lect40-engin112.pdf So... what should you do? My recommendation would be to enroll in a school that has both Computer Engineering and Computer Science programs, and go through the freshman year in one of the two programs. Use this year to get a better understanding of sub-fields and areas of interest. You will gain such understanding from your classroom experience and from talking to professors and peers. There is a high likelihood that through this process (perhaps coupled with a summer internship or a co-op assignment) you will get a better sense of what is your area of interest within these two rich and multi-faceted disciplines. Still, you should always remember that these fields are constantly evolving and that no decision you make now about courses and course tracks is likely to have a critical long term impact on your career. New areas and sub-disciplines are likely to come and go, and part of the excitement of the computing disciplines is that they offer new challenges and take significant turns and new directions every five years or so. The only safe prediction about Computer Science and Computer Engineering is that they will continue to be important, interesting, challenging, and rewarding for many decades to come. Ask an Expert Q: I write from India; currently I am in my last year of pre-university schooling. I am very interested in engineering, and especially automobile engineering. I am really interested in designing automobiles. What are the top engineering schools in the world where I could pursue these interests? (1) Automobiles are designed mostly by mechanical engineers, though increasingly electrical and computer Engineers are responsible for important subsystems. (For a bibliography on Automobile Engineering, see the collection assembled by T.J. Misa: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~tmisa/biblios/automobile.html) (2) Almost all good mechanical engineering programs have an automobile design component, and if you choose one of the highly ranked mechanical engineering programs you can hardly go wrong. (3) The abbreviated US News and World Report rankings of engineering programs are available here: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankengineering_brief.php (4) A graduate program ranking (US) is available here (schools with strong graduate programs in mechanical engineering often have very good undergraduate programs in mechanical engineering as well): http://www.infozee.com/channels/ms/usa/mechanical-engineering-rankings.htm (5) An automated search for mechanical engineering graduate programs in the US is available here: http://www.phds.org/rankings/mechanical-engineering/ (6) For a comprehensive list of accredited mechanical engineering programs in the United States please visit http://www.tryengineering.com/university.php?country=United+States&tuitionscope=both (7) For a comprehensive list of accredited mechanical engineering programs in Canada please visit http://www.tryengineering.com/university.php?country=Canada&state=&program=Mechanical+Engineering&studentbody=&setting=&tuition=&tuitionscope=both (8) For other countries and parts of the world, see the site of the ASME "Worldwide Mechanical Engineering Department Websites," here: http://www.asme.org/Education/College/Worldwide_Department_Websites.cfm (8) Here are links to universities that have undergraduate, graduate, or research programs in automobile and automotive engineering. UCE Birmingham (UK) http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/automotive-engineering University of Hertfordshire, School of Aerospace, Automotive and Design Engineering (UK)http://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/subjects/automotive_engineering/undergraduate.cfm Loughborough University, Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering (UK) http://www.lboro.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/courses/dept/tt/aue/index.htm See also: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/esri/vehicle-road-safety/ The University of Sussex (UK) http://www.sussex.ac.uk/automotive/ (For a comprehensive list of schools in the UK with Automobile Engineering programs see the web page of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in Britain: http://www.imeche.org) Jilin University (China) http://en.jlu.edu.cn/University/AcademicClassAction_getInfo.aspx?acMasterName=AcademicPrograms Tsinghua University, Department of Automotive Engineering (China) http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/docse/yxsz/thdae.html Hamburg University of Applied Science (Germany) http://www.fzt.haw-hamburg.de University of Ontario Institute of Technology (Canada) http://www.uoit.ca/calendar/0506/EN/main/programs/104984/automotive_engineering_112.html University of Windsor (Canada) http://www.uwindsor.ca/mame University of California Berkeley (US) http://vehicle.me.berkeley.edu/ Clemson University (US) http://www.clemson.edu/ces/departments/me/graduate/automotive/index.html George Washington University (US) http://www.ncac.gwu.edu/ University of Michigan (US) http://automotiveeng.engin.umich.edu/ University of Michigan - Dearborn (US) http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/IDP/mse_ase/ Ohio State University (US) http://car.eng.ohio-state.edu/ University of Wisconsin-Madison (US) http://powertrain.engr.wisc.edu/ Madras Institute of Technology (India) http://www.mitindia.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=70 University of Bogazici (Turkey) http://www.boun.edu.tr/graduate/additional_programs/automotive_engineering.html Ecole Polytechnique de l'universite d'Orleans (France) http://www.univ-orleans.fr/polytech/index.php?rub=formations&page=gae Ask an Expert Q: I am a student in an engineering university in China. What are the qualities of a great electrical engineer? The best way to learn about the qualities of great electrical engineers is to read biographies and autobiographies about engineers. As you read these books you may begin to see common elements emerge that have contributed to the success of these individuals. You may also discover that the qualities of greatness are not unique to engineers but also appear in many people who others consider to have achieved greatness. Some of the obvious qualities you may have already discovered are that engineers are creative, imaginative and innovative. Other qualities include: Honesty – Great engineers are honest with themselves, their families, their colleagues, their customers and the public. For an engineer this is particular true with regard to being honest with original work. Greatness is demonstrated by giving credit to colleagues when appropriate and not making false claims on the work of others. Initiative – Those who achieve greatness do not wait for the others to take action. They identify needs, explore issues related to problem resolution and pursue options for to address the needs. Perseverance – Great engineers pursue their theories and ideas to find the best solution to a problem. It is always convenient to make a discovery but generally discoveries are based on a great deal of prior work that may have been considered, by some, as failure. From failure comes success. Attention to detail - Data used for design is checked to ensure its accuracy and reproducibility, and to verify that it is the appropriate data to apply to a particular design. Great engineers make accurate statements about their work and the work of others. Consideration of the needs of other people – A key driver of innovation is satisfying the needs of people. Some attempts to generate problem solutions treat needs superficially and do not consider how a design will be used. This is evident with many modern electronic devices where the input and output keys are so small that many people can not use them effectively. Ask an Expert Q: I'm doing my comp sciences engineering and I'm having a lot of trouble about deciding my career ahead. Can you please tell me what are the different aspects of computer science engineering....I mean apart from software do I have any other direction to lead my career? My answer is divided into two parts. First I provide a broad overview of the fields you are asking about, namely Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Second I make suggestions about your choices and about approaches to these disciplines in school. The main fields available to individuals with interest in computers and computing are Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Both are wide and fascinating fields. Computer Science deals with the theoretical and practical aspects of information processing and computation on computer systems. It includes fields like the theory of algorithms and data structures, programming language theory and practice, complexity of algorithms and tasks, computer graphics, databases, and artificial intelligence. This is not a complete list, but you can easily sees it transcends programming. The current version of the Wikipedia article on Computer Science (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_science) is a good place to get some appreciation of the diversity and excitement of this field. Computer Engineering is a discipline which resides at the intersection of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Computer Engineers are often described as Electrical Engineers with specific training in computer hardware and in the interaction between hardware and software. Examples of the products created and developed by Computer Engineers are the mobile phone and the various play stations and computer and video games that have become so popular in the last 10-15 years. Some of the fields that are unique to Computer Engineering include design of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) systems for computing hardware, and of essential components of computers such as memories and electronic circuitry, including analog circuits and digital hardware. Recently the design and operation of computer networks and communication networks (such as the Internet) have become an integral part of Computer Engineering. Presentations on Computer Engineering are available here: http://www.tcd.ie/Engineering/about/what_is_eng/computer_eng_intro.html and here: http://www.ecs.umass.edu/ece/tessier/courses/221/lecture/lect40-engin112.pdf So... what should you do? My recommendation would be to enroll in a school that has both Computer Engineering and Computer Science programs, and go through the freshman year in one of the two programs. Use this year to get a better understanding of sub-fields and areas of interest. You will gain such understanding from your classroom experience and from talking to professors and peers. There is a high likelihood that through this process (perhaps coupled with a summer internship or a co-op assignment) you will get a better sense of what is your area of interest within these two rich and multi-faceted disciplines. Still, you should always remember that these fields are constantly evolving and that no decision you make now about courses and course tracks is likely to have a critical long term impact on your career. New areas and sub-disciplines are likely to come and go, and part of the excitement of the computing disciplines is that they offer new challenges and take significant turns and new directions every five years or so. The only safe prediction about Computer Science and Computer Engineering is that they will continue to be important, interesting, challenging, and rewarding for many decades to come. Ask an Expert Q: Right now I am in my final year in electronics and communication engineering. I have great interest in R & D sector. I have already published around 20 papers in various conferences. But as far as a career in the R & D sector is concerned, I have not found any opportunities. I have been offered a well paying software job. What should I do? Should I take the software job? We do not know much about you (for example where you reside and what degree you are getting) and there are many other personal factors that enter the question you ask about the specific software job. Still, here are some general thoughts. First, you may ask yourself why you are not getting the R&D job you are seeking - you may not have the requisite education (some R&D enterprises require a graduate degree, some insist on a Ph.D. or D.Sc.); you may be concentrating on specific sub-fields that are too narrow and not in demand; you may be in a country/economy that does not have strong overall demand for R&D engineers right now. The answer to this question should inform your long-term strategy. For example if you expect a B.Sc. degree or equivalent in the near future, your longer-term plans should include graduate education. Second, do not give up. You may find that a job outside the R&D circle can be a good stepping stone to an R&D job later, or you may find that what looked initially as a "software job" can evolve in time (and with appropriate "lobbying" of customers and supervisors) into a research and development enterprise. Analyze the situation, take actions to improve your marketability in the R&D enterprise, and keep trying. Informed persistence almost always pays off. Ask an Expert Q: Sir or Ma’am, I'm a first year engineering student willing to make some working models. I want to know how I can make a FM transmission set. Please let me know in a simple style so that I can make it on my own without involving any tedious circuits or so. Here are several Internet links where designs such as the one you appear to seek are described. We have not checked these designs ourselves and they are provided only for your reference and to ease your search. http://tacashi.tripod.com/elctrncs/smplfmtr/smplfmtr.htm http://shufflehacks.blogspot.com/2005/12/build-your-own-imouse-fm-transmitter.html http://www.ee.washington.edu/conselec/Sp96/projects/mst/final/fnlrpt.htm http://sound.westhost.com/project54.htm Please be aware that operation of FM transmitters and listening to some FM broadcasts may be governed by various laws. Some activities (such as transmission beyond a certain range or interception of phone calls) are strictly illegal in most jurisdictions. Make sure you have consulted the appropriate authorities before operating home made transmitters and receivers. Ask an Expert Q: I am about to select a major in engineering and would like to know the best major to select in order to excel in Nanotechnology. I hear that Nanotechnology holds enormous promise and can be helpful in areas from cleansing the air to treating bacterial infections. What schools, domestic and international, would you recommend? Nanotechnology is a relatively new collection of fields, all characterized by analysis, design and synthesis of structures whose dimensions are roughly 1 to 100 nanometers. The term Nanotechnology has been used recently within diverse fields such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, and sub-disciplines such as robotics. Nanotechnology was invoked in many different projects and sub-disciplines, including the design of new senors and actuators, drug delivery mechanisms, tissue engineering, design of semiconductor and optoelectronic devices, and a host of consumer goods applications. This is not a comprehensive list - you may be able to learn more in the Nanotechnology Now website (http://www.nanotech-now.com/) and in the portal of the Institute of Nanotechnology (http://www.nano.org.uk/whatis.htm). Opinions on the future of Nanotechnology vary. Some students of the field make bold predictions about a technological revolution that will be invoked by Nanotechnology. Others predict a more moderate rate of progress, involving gradual emergence of useful products and processes based on Nanotechnology. At the other extreme there are skeptics who claim that Nanotechnology is just a new fashionable name for old fields which have been studied for a while. There is certainly enough interest, energy, projects, investments and expectations in Nanotechnology to mark this field as one of the most dynamic and promising in science and engineering. The multidisciplinary nature of Nanotechnology means that many universities perform Nanotechnology research and provide education in this field through existing departments, such as Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, BioScience, Chemistry, and Physics. Most of the serious work in Nanotechnology requires solid basis in other disciplines and is done at the graduate level by individuals who already have a Bachelor of Science Degree in a core area of Science or Engineering. We recommend that prospective students who are interested in Nanotechnology consider obtaining their degrees in a core area of Science or Engineering first, and then seek graduate-level education in Nanotechnology. One way to do that is to select an undergraduate program in Science or Engineering within a school where significant research and study in Nanotechnology already take place, and seek activities (such as independent study and senior design projects) that expose the student to Nanotechnology. It appears that within a College of Engineering the most appropriate choices for individuals seeking later specialization in Nanotechnology would be Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. How does one find institutions with high level of activity in Nanotechnology? One way to do so is to scan some of the journals in the field such as Nanotechnology, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, and the Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology to see where the authors are coming from. Stand-alone B.Sc programs in Nanotechnology (or with strong Nanotechnology flavor) are available in the following institutions, among others: University of Toronto (Division of Engineering Science, Toronto, Canada); University of South Wales (Sidney, Australia), Pennsylvania State University (see http://www.gonano.psu.edu/education/, US), Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia), Louisiana Tech University (US), Drexel University http://www.nano.drexel.edu/) and Michigan Technological University (a minor in Nanotechnology, US). To find information search on line by using the name of the university and the search term "Nanotechnology". Stand-alone M.S. and Ph.D. programs are available in the following institutions, among others (all in the US) : University of Albany New York (College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering), University of Washington, Rice University, Arizona State University (training within existing Ph.D. programs), and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. A comprehensive list of programs in Nanotechnology in academic institutions is provided here:http://www.nanotech-now.com/academic.htm Here is how a similar answer was recently answered in "Google Answers": http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=36661 Ask an Expert Q: Let me please know the potential of Nanotechnology education, and the list of universities offering Masters and Doctoral degree in Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a relatively new collection of fields, all characterized by analysis, design and synthesis of structures whose dimensions are roughly 1 to 100 nanometers. The term Nanotechnology has been used recently within diverse fields such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, and sub-disciplines such as robotics. Nanotechnology was invoked in many different projects and sub-disciplines, including the design of new senors and actuators, drug delivery mechanisms, tissue engineering, design of semiconductor and optoelectronic devices, and a host of consumer goods applications. This is not a comprehensive list - you may be able to learn more in the Nanotechnology Now website (http://www.nanotech-now.com/) and in the portal of the Institute of Nano technology (http://www.nano.org.uk/whatis.htm). Opinions on the future of Nanotechnology vary. Some students of the field make bold predictions about a technological revolution that will be invoked by Nanotechnology. Others predict a more moderate rate of progress, involving gradual emergence of useful products and processes based on Nanotechnology. At the other extreme there are skeptics who claim that Nanotechnology is just a new fashionable name for old fields which have been studied for a while. There is certainly enough interest, energy, projects, investments and expectations in Nanotechnology to mark this field as one of the most dynamic and promising in science and engineering. The multidisciplinary nature of Nanotechnology means that many universities perform Nanotechnology research and provide education in this field through existing departments, such as Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, BioScience, Chemistry, and Physics. Most of the serious work in Nanotechnology requires solid basis in other disciplines and is done at the graduate level by individuals who already have a Bachelor of Science Degree in a core area of Science or Engineering. One way to find institutions with high level of activity in Nanotechnology is to scan some of the journals in the field such as Nanotechnology, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, and the Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science & Technology to see where the authors are coming from. There is a continuing debate about the merit of stand alone educational programs in Nanotechnology. Some believe that such programs are essential to expand a dynamic field, others prefer that Nanotechnology remain a specialization within existing programs. Stand-alone B.Sc programs are available in the following institutions, among others: University of Toronto (Division of Engineering Science, Toronto, Canada); University of South Wales (Sidney, Australia), Pennsylvania State University (see http://www.nanotech-now.com/academic.htm Here is how a similar answer was recently answered in "Google Answers": http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=36661 Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of Electrical Engineering in Pakistan. I have yet to decide amongst the 4 majors offered by my university: Communication and Electronics, Power and Software. I have aptitude in Communication and Power. The major deciding factors for me will be which one of these two fields has more demand and higher salary! Can you please guide me? Which one should I opt? Thanking you in anticipation, Umer. We doubt that anyone really has the ultimate answer to your question, because demand and salaries in engineering disciplines are often cyclical. Fields that were in high demand in one decade tend to fade in the next, and vice versa. Some fields just go away - made obsolete by new technology and environmental considerations (think about vacuum tube circuit design). Other flourish due to influx of new ideas and new efficiencies (think about the effect of the Internet on network design). Predicting which field is the next to become obsolete and which one is about to bloom is notoriously hard. In most Electrical Engineering 4-year programs offered in Pakistan the first three years are common to all students, while the last year requires specialization (e.g., a track in Power or in Electronics and Communications or in Computer Engineering). The difference between the various graduates is therefore not that dramatic, and it is conceivable that a graduate of one track (say, Electronics and Communications) would still be able to function successfully in areas that are closest to another track (say, Power). In this light you should not view your decision on specialization as overly critical - it is not that hard to switch back later by engaging in continuing education and reading. The two fields you are interested in, Communications and Power, are likely to be in high demand for an extended period of time in Pakistan. We believe that the continuing rapid development of the country and its growing infrastructure needs would be good for both fields. Hence both power engineers and communication engineers are likely to have rewarding long-term careers in Pakistan in the next few decades. Historically, employment in Power tended to be somewhat more stable and the field considered more technically conservative. The Communication field saw more dynamic technical changes in the last two decades, but also more fluctuations in supply and demand of engineers and engineering services. As a result, in the past 10-20 years communication engineers tended to do a little better than power engineers in nominal salaries, but a little worse in terms of job security. Whether these trends will continue is anybody's guess. Overall, from the viewpoint of long-term employability and salaries, we think these fields are more or less the same. Ask an Expert Q: How much homework do you have? It would be a good idea to plan on at least two hours of study time per credit hour, thus a major course would require approximately six hours of study every week. The best way to handle homework and assignments is to assign time for them on a regular time slot in your weekly schedule and use this period of time to read ahead if you have completed all the official assignments. Periods closer to the middle of the term may require more preparation time due to midterm exams, and you may want to plan ahead by reducing to a minimum other non-obligatory activities during these 2-3 weeks. One good way to manage assignments is to set up half an hour every weekend at a set time to assess all the assignments expected in the next two weeks so that by the beginning of the week you have a good forecast of the expected effort and its distribution over the week. Ask an Expert Q: Can one implement Steganography in MATLAB? Steganography (Greek, covered or hidden writing) is the practice of incorporating hidden messages within overt messages. The aim is that only the intended recipient of the hidden message would know of its existence within the overt message, and have the means to read it. Other recipients or interceptors of the overt message would get no obvious clue that the "innocent"-looking (or sounding) message carries a secret. Steganography became very popular in the technical literature recently, because in principle it may allow individuals who wish to communicate in secret to do so over public communication channels. For example, individuals may hide messages in pictures posted on the Internet. The literature on Steganography has grown significantly in the last decade. Here are some web pages that discuss Steganography http://www.petitcolas.net/fabien/steganography/ http://www.securityfocus.com/infocus/1684 http://www.acmqueue.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=241&page=1 For a Steganography tool table see: http:www.jjtc.com/Steganography/toolmatrix.htm For some cool tools, see http://wwwrn.inf.tu-dresden.de/~westfeld/f5.html http://steghide.sourceforge.net/ http://www.cosy.sbg.ac.at/~pmeerw/Watermarking/ Here are some papers and books on the subject [1] R. J. Anderson, "Stretching the limits of steganography," in Information Hiding, Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 1174, 1996, pp. 39–48. [2] R. J. Anderson and F. A. P. Petitcolas, "On the limits of Steganography," IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol. 16, pp. 474–481, May 1998. [3] W. Bender, D. Gruhl, N. Morimoto, and A. Lu, "Techniques for data hiding," IBM Syst. J., vol. 35, no. 3–4, Feb. 1996. [4] Y.-Y. Chen, H.-K. Pan, and Y.-C. Tseng. (2000) A secure data hiding scheme for binary images. CSIE Dept., Nat. Chiao-Tung Univ. [Online]. Available: http://www.csie.nctu.edu.tw/~yctseng [5] E. Franz et al., "Computer-based steganography," in Information Hiding, Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 1174, 1996, pp. 7–21. [6] D. Gruhl and W. Bender, "Information hiding to foil the casual counterfeiter," in Proc. Workshop Information Hiding, IH'98, Portland, OR, Apr. 1998. [7] S. Katzenbeisser and F. A. P. Petitcolas, Information Hiding Techniques for Steganography and Digital Watermarking. Norwood, MA: Artech House, 2000. There are many software packages that allow users to practice and investigate steganographic techniques. These include algorithms implemented through MATLAB. We have not checked these codes ourselves so you will need to examine the following links carefully before you use them in an application or project. Blanco, D.; Ng, E.; Ice, C.; Grandy, B. Steganography Matlab Code, Connexions Web site. http://cnx.org/content/m13182/1.2/, Dec 14, 2005. Salle P. Model-Based JPEG Steganography Demo,http://redwood.ucdavis.edu/phil/demos/mbsteg/README.txt and http://redwood.ucdavis.edu/phil/demos/mbsteg/mbsteg.htm, October 2003 Petitcolas, F. A. P., Downgrading Matlab Code, http://www.petitcolas.net/fabien/steganography/image_downgrading/code.html, 25 March 2005 (see also links here http://www.petitcolas.net/fabien/software/) Singal, S. Matlab code for steganography (described as "very simple" and "crude"), see http://www.saurabh.com/writings/Steganography.pdf and http://www.saurabh.com/writings/stegowork/stegocode.pdf A list of other MATLAB algorithms for Steganography is available here: http://www.computer-technology-find.com/Steganography/matlab-steganography.html Ask an Expert Q: I am in my final year of undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering and looking for a good idea of a final-year project, preferably in Electronics. The spectrum of good projects is very wide and you may be able to discover a good project by performing an Internet search using "senior design" and "electronics" as the key words. Here are three senior design projects we would like to see... (1) The passive bi-ped: a design for a robotic walking machine that requires very little power when it descends downhill, using mostly gravitational energy for walking. (2) A system that determines the position of a soccer ball position - something like this (Scoring Goals) http://www.mdeie.gouv.qc.ca/index.php?id=745#c100782 (3) A system that allows instrumented food containers (such as those of frozen foods) to communicate directly with household appliances (refrigerator, toaster, microwave oven) and exchange handling and cooking instructions. Ask an Expert Q: I want to know more about Electrical Engineering as a course of study. Can you also supply a list of textbooks? Here are several on-line sources on Electrical Engineering. An overview of Electrical Engineering is available on our own site: http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php?major=Electrical+Engineering The Sloane Career Cornerstone Center provides a thorough description of Electrical Engineering, including career path forecasts and historical overviews. Find it here: http://www.careercornerstone.org/eleceng/eleceng.htm A reasonably good article about Electrical Engineering is provided by Wikipedia. However you should be aware of the ability of anyone to modify Wikipedia entries at any time, so proceed with some caution. The article is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_engineering A time line of the history of Electrical Engineering is offered by the Thinkquest on line library, here: http://library.thinkquest.org/27826/htmldocs/english/frame.htm There are many books that introduce Electrical Engineering and areas within the field. Here are two we happen to like: (1) Darren Ashby: Electrical Engineering 101 : Everything You Should Have Learned in School but Probably Didn't (Newness; Elsevier 2005) ISBN-13: 978-0-75067-812-4; ISBN-10: 0-7506-7812-7 (2) Benoit Boulet: Fundamentals of Signals and Systems (Charles River Media, September 2005) ISBN-10: 1-5845-0381-5 Ask an Expert Q: I am a sophmore in College, I know that I want to study engineering, but can't determine from: Electrical or Mechanical. I am not sure what exactly an electrical or mechanical engineer does, so as an engineer would you provide me more information to so that I can steer myself into the right direction? Thank you, I appreciate your help. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering are mature and well developed disciplines that continue to evolve and expand dynamically into new fascinating and challenging sub-disciplines. Historically, Mechanical Engineering came first. Many early Electrical Engineering curricula started (in the second half of the Nineteenth Century) as options for Mechanical Engineers in their last year of study, or as advanced study for Mechanical Engineers. These early Electrical Engineering programs were focused on electric power, motors and generators. A FEW WORDS ABOUT MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Here are a couple of definitions of Mechanical Engineering: (1) Mechanical Engineering is concerned with the design, construction, and operation of power plants, engines, and machines. It deals mostly with things that move. One common way of dividing mechanical engineering is into heat utilization and machine design. The generation, distribution, and use of heat is applied in boilers, heat engines, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Machine design is concerned with hardware, including that making use of heat processes. The definition source. (2) Mechanical Engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the design and construction and operation of machinery. This definition is given by wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn. Our Favorite definition comes from Wikipedia: (3) Mechanical engineering is the application of physical principles to the creation of useful devices, objects and machines. Mechanical engineers use principles such as heat, force, and the conservation of mass and energy to analyze static and dynamic physical systems, in contributing to the design of things such as automobiles, aircraft, and other vehicles, heating and cooling systems, household appliances, industrial equipment and machinery, weapons systems, etc. This definition comes from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering To see some of the disciplines in Mechanical Engineering you may want to visit one of the many directories for the discipline (e.g., http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Engineering/Mechanical_Engineering/). Among the areas that are covered within Mechanical Engineering are Combustion Science; Fluid Dynamics; Manufacturing; Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS); Mechatronics; Sensors and Actuators; Thermal Engineering; Biomechanics; and Tribology (the science of Friction). A leading professional society in Mechanical Engineering is ASME. To learn more about what Mechanical Engineers do, you can visit on this site (Tryengineering.org the following areas: Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineer profile A FEW WORDS ABOUT ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Here are some definitions of Electrical Engineering: (1) Electrical Engineering is the branch of engineering science that studies the uses of electricity and the equipment for power generation and distribution and the control of machines and communication. This definition is given at wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn (2) Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline that deals with the study and application of electricity and electromagnetism. Its practitioners are called electrical engineers. Electrical engineering is a broad field that encompasses many subfields including those that deal with power, control systems, electronics and telecommunications. This definition appears at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_engineering. A partial directory for Electrical Engineering sub disciplines is available here . Among the fields that Electrical Engineering covers are Circuits, Computer hardware design, Communications, Optical Engineering, Power Engineering, Instrumentation for Aerospace systems and Biomedical devices, Semiconductors, Control, Sensors and Actuators, Robotics, Navigation, and Signal and Image Processing, Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS); and Mechatronics. A leading professional society in Electrical Engineering is IEEE To learn more about what Electrical Engineers do, you can visit on this site (Tryengineering) the following areas: Electrical Engineering and Electrical Engineer profile OVERLAP AND “SELECTION CRITERIA” You will undoubtedly notice that a significant overlap exists between Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Some areas exist at the “boundary” of the two disciplines, and practitioners from both fields participate in their development. Examples for such areas include Robotics, Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS); and Mechatronics (the word Mechatronics comes from “Mechanics” and “Electronics”.) We believe that both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering are rewarding and exciting fields. If a specific sub-discipline of Mechanical Engineering such as Tribology appeals to you above all (or most all) others, you will probably be better off selecting Mechanical Engineering as a course of study. If you believe that a specific sub-discipline of Electrical Engineering such as Computer Hardware Design is your passion, you will probably be better off selecting Electrical Engineering. If you did not yet develop such strong attraction to one of the distinct sub-disciplines, you will probably do as well by selecting Mechanical Engineering as you will do by selecting Electrical Engineering. The structure of academic programs in these two subjects is similar, the analytical and numerical methods are close and often identical, and in the workforce Electrical and Mechanical engineers often work side by side on closely related tasks. Ask an Expert Q: Am I able to obtain financial support from anyone for the study of engineering? There are many possible resources for financial aid for engineering students, though details and the extent of available help vary from country to country. Some useful information (including links to countries outside North America) is available on our own site - please check here: http://www.tryengineering.org/university.php?page=tuition The United States Federal government runs a website on financial aid available here: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp The Students.gov website also has a good section for US students, entitled "pay for your education". Financial aid for students in Canada is reviewed here: http://www.campusaccess.com/campus_web/educ/e2fin.htm Referrals for financial aid for non-US students are provided by eduPass here: http://www.edupass.org/finaid/databases.phtml An Internet search with specific modifiers (such as your country, or an ethnic group you belong to, or specialty you are interested in) can yield useful results. For example if you are interested in Fire Protection Engineering or Environmental Engineering, using these key words in a search (combined with "financial aid for students") can yield much more relevant and useful results than a general hunt for student financial aid resources. Another example: if you are Native American residing in the United States you will find specialized web pages like this one: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/natamind.phtml Ask an Expert Q: I am a holder of a B. Eng degree from a notable university in Nigeria. I wish to further my education by applying for graduate studies in Information Technology but I am not sure I can get admission to a university in any country by September 2006. I will probably need a scholarship or financial aid in order to be able to attend. Given that this answer is written in July 2006 it may indeed be unrealistic to hope to be admitted by September 2006 - deadlines for submitting admission documents for most universities are now passed. Regardless of this situation, you should look ahead, and do some research about schools (mostly outside Nigeria, it seems) that have graduate level programs in Information Technology. Look for programs that are conducted in a language that you master, concentrate on countries and schools that have a tradition of admitting and supporting foreign students, and seek opportunities to contact with students from Nigeria who are studying there now, or have graduated recently; they may have valuable information and tips about admission requirements, availability of good thesis advisers and mentors, program quality, and financial aid opportunities. Unfortunately, financial aid for international students is not readily available, for example the Association of International Educators reports that more than two-thirds of non-US students studying in the United States pay for their education using their own or their family's money. One way to advance (and finance) your studies is to acquire a research assistantship from an established researcher in your field. This is not easy, since committing an assistantship to a new incoming student is not as common as it was before - but it is still possible. The key is to identify professors who are active in research in a field relevant to your interests, and impress them that you have read their work, understood what they are trying to accomplish, and possess both the background and intellectual strength to advance their field of study as their research assistant. Needless to say this route requires significant effort on your part, but we know of quite a few students whose path started by demonstrating their potential ability to contribute to a developing research program. Some academic and non-academic institutions offer financial aid to international students though the available stipends are highly competitive. For instance Lincoln University in Pennsylvania has a small program of financial aid to international students (http://www.lincoln.edu/financialaid/is.html). Some universities that encourage international participation may have leads or advice that could be relevant (e.g., International University Bremen). Other universities have exchange student agreements with Nigerian universities (we know that the University of Ibadan had a few agreements of this kind) and these may serve as a vehicle to arrange for some period of study abroad. There are various agencies worldwide who provide assistance to international students (see for example the list on http://fletcher.tufts.edu/admissions/financialaid.shtml#us-foreign and on the website of the SIT: http://www.sit.edu/graduate/finaid/international_add_sources.html). You should realize however that the competition over these funding sources is quite high, and success would require demonstration of strong capabilities, as well as patience and persistence. Ask an Expert Q: What are the most frequently asked questions that you get from students? and counselors, if they are different for each please specify. Since TryEngineering is a new portal we do not have a large sample yet upon which to base an answer. It appears, though, that most questions come from students in engineering programs, and most want to know what the differences are between various disciplines (Mechanical vs. Electrical Engineering; Computer Engineering vs. Computer Science etc.) It will be interesting to revisit this question in six months. (This answer is written in late June 2006.) Ask an Expert Q: My question is about the accreditation process. In my university we offer a Systems Engineering program, and we would like to know what are the ABET criteria for this engineering program. Our program is oriented to software and the integration of hardware and software to solve problems in different organizations. I want to know if we can get substantial equivalency for our Systems Engineering program from ABET, and what criteria to meet. For the benefit of our readers let us clarify a few terms first. ABET Inc. (www.abet.org) is a US based accrediting body which provides US academic programs in engineering, applied science, computing and technology with evaluation services that usually result in these programs being accredited by ABET. Upon request, and with the consent of local accrediting bodies, ABET may provide services to non-US academic programs. One of these services is an accreditation-like process that may culminate in ABET declaring that the non-US program is substantially equivalent to similarly-named programs that are accredited by ABET in the United States. Your question is about Systems Engineering, an area which has been the subject of some discussion in ABET recently. Programs entitled Systems Engineering (without additional modifiers) are currently accredited in the US by ABET using the general criteria for Engineering programs (there are no specific program criteria for Systems Engineering, the way ABET developed them, for example, for Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering). The documents that you may want to review (all available on www.abet.org), are the following: (1) All documents on the website http://www.abet.org/international.shtml posted under the title "Information for International Institutions" (2) ABET ACCREDITATION POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL Effective for Evaluations During the 2006-2007 Accreditation Cycle The URL is: http://www.abet.org/Linked%20Documents-UPDATE/Criteria%20and%20PP/A004%2006-07%20Accredition%20Policy%20and%20Procedure%20Manual%201-4-06.pdf and (3) ABET CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITING ENGINEERING PROGRAMS Effective for Evaluations During the 2006-2007 Accreditation Cycle The URL is: http://www.abet.org/Linked%20Documents-UPDATE/Criteria%20and%20PP/E001%2006-07%20EAC%20Criteria%205-25-06-06.pdf As we indicated, there are at present no program criteria for Systems Engineering in ABET but this fact does not mean that Systems Engineering programs cannot be accredited in the US (or be found substantially equivalent elsewhere). In fact there are several Systems Engineering programs that are currently accredited by ABET (e.g., a program at the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a program at the University of Arizona). One issue you will need to discuss with ABET is what Member Society of ABET would provide the program evaluator for your program (ABET has 28 Member Societies). This topic will have to be discussed between administrators of your program and ABET personnel. From the general description that you provided, it appears that the candidate societies would be IEEE and CSAB, but a closer examination of the details of your program may point elsewhere. In addition to an ABET substantial equivalency determination, you may want to pursue accreditation by a local accrediting body in your country, or, if such a body does not exist, take the initiative to start one. Remember that ABET is a US organization. It may be desirable that in the long run accreditation in your country be performed by local educators and practitioners, based on criteria that take into account the local objectives and culture, not by visitors from abroad. Ask an Expert Q: Hi, I'm a current engineering student (I have an A.A. in Pre-engineering) pursuing an electrical/computer engineering degree and would like to know what school supplies will be needed for a Junior engineering student. Also what type of computer would be recommended. This answer was prepared by two engineering students at Drexel University. We provide recommendations that reflect our preferences and tastes, and hope these will be helpful to you. We used to think that to be a successful engineering student, all you really need is paper and a pencil (and be hard working). However in time we discovered that there are a few physical articles that can make life a bit easier. You will need a good supply of notebooks, paper pads, pencils and pens. It is very important to remain organized, so items such as folders and binders are essential. Supplies like these are better bought ahead of time and in bulk since university bookstores often have a significant price markup. The same is true about textbooks. Look for them on line, and check sites like amazon.com that also offer second hand copies. You can save a lot. Get yourself a good notebook (either a small paper portable notebook or an electronic organizer). Keeping all your meetings, classes and other obligations straight can be a challenge. Get an account on one of the on-line calendars (we have Yahoo! Calendar but there are many others). If you have an electronic notebook or a PDA, make sure it is compatible with your on-line calendar service. A cell phone appears to be almost a necessity these days - it pays to investigate plans and programs to avoid the device from becoming a money drain. There are of course combinations of organizers and cell phones. Whether or not a combined cell phone/notebook/PDA is preferred to two separate devices is a matter of taste. A good graphing calculator is recommended (we own Texas Instruments TI-83 and the TI-89). A computer is needed - we recommend as a minimum a 1GHz PC with 512MB of RAM. Most universities have deployed IEEE 802.11 coverage across their campuses, and thus a laptop is generally preferred to a desktop. For a laptop, we recommend 512MB of RAM, and 1 GHz Processor minimum, 40 GB hard drive, and an IEEE 802.11b wireless card. In terms of software, at a minimum you will need Microsoft Excel (for tabulating data). We recommend Microsoft Office 2003 for writing reports and giving presentations, and either Matlab or Maple for mathematical modeling and problem solving. Most universities provide Internet access for those living in their dormitories. If you are plan to live off campus, we recommend getting some form of Broadband Internet access (DSL, or cable). Basic reference books can also be useful. We like Schaum's Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables by Murray R Spiegel ISBN: 0070382034. We bought it for less than $10 when we were freshmen and we continue to make use of it every single week. Finally get yourself an e-mail account on one of the services that provide a lot of storage space (we like Gmail). The e-mail mailbox provided by your school is often limited and hard to navigate. It is often better to forward all mail to a service that allows you to organize and search your mail more efficiently. Ask an Expert Q: I am a third-year student of electronics engineering. I believe I have an idea for a new method of generating electricity, but have not done any testing and do not have any documentation. What should I do? The process of translating an embryonic idea on electricity generation into a working process can be long and require many steps. We present here the beginning of this path, and suggest that you write to us again if the preliminary steps lead you to believe that you indeed possess new practical idea. Your design hypothesis is, at the present stage, yet untested and unproven. In order to determine if it has merit (or if it is really new) you should first conduct a thorough literature search. The search is meant to discover if similar or identical ideas have been considered before and to put your idea in the context of existing methods. You should realize that generation of electricity is a mature field, and while new techniques are certainly likely to be discovered and used in the future, many candidate methods have been studied and tested, many were adopted, and many more were discarded due to impracticality and low efficiency. You can start with a "light search" on the Internet using popular sources such as Wikipedia, which at present has a reasonable overview of electricity generation with many internal references (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generation and http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Electricity_generation); you should be aware however that entries in Wikipedia are subject to change by anyone at any time, so take what you find there with caution). Another source is the web page of ActewAGL which has a general overview of non-renewable and renewable techniques (http://www.actewagl.com.au/education/electricity/generation/). A good on-line resource for a deeper search is Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/) which finds references in the technical and scientific literature based on key words. If you use just "electricity generation" in a Google Scholar search you may get too many returns, but additional key words that characterize your method more specifically are likely to narrow the search. Not all articles found by Google Scholar will be available on line in full, but this search may direct you to references that a local library (or a for-fee on line service) may be able to supply. You can also used IEEE Xplore, the repository of articles published by IEEE and IET (see bellow). Next we suggest that you visit a good College library, recover articles that you discovered on line, and browse through books and journals that concentrate on generation of electricity. Since your proposed method is probably characterized by specific physical processes you may want to conduct an on-line search of the library holdings (and electronic sources) using these key words. Here you may be able to search a fully-accessible version of IEEE Xplore. Your library may have full access to this IEEE resource, or you may want to search through the guest site (ieeexplore.ieee.org) to see abstracts of articles on your subject of interest. IEEE Xplore is a good source for your application, since generation of electricity has been a subject of great interest for researchers and practitioners who published in IEEE journals and magazines over the years. If you are still convinced at this stage that you have a novel idea, we recommend that you document it as well as you can, using narrative, sketches, drawings, and calculations. Make sure your documentation is as comprehensive, clear, and complete as you can make it. Make sure that every page of your document is numbered and dated, and has a statement as to who invented the technique, and who recorded it. Have two witnesses date and sign every page, stating that they have read and understood your method. At this stage you are probably ready to discuss your method with an expert in the field. Based on where you live, you may have to take additional steps to defend your intellectual property before you reveal the information to a third party - especially if you believe you indeed have a novel, patentable idea. The first choice of an expert should probably be a professor at the university where you study. Seek faculty members who are in the Power Engineering field, preferably engage in research and with connections to Power utilities. Arrange to present your ideas and seek advice on how to develop a validation and experimental plan, and where and how resources for this task may be developed. If you present your ideas to an expert who is also an educator there is reasonable likelihood that you will get good advice as to how to proceed (or indication that your idea is well known, implemented already, or known to be impractical). We hope this primer is of assistance - write to us again after you have progressed in your literature search and let us know if we can be of further assistance. Ask an Expert Q: I am an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. I would like to know how this discipline is practiced in the real world. Mechanical Engineering is a very practical discipline which involves design and control of plants, systems and processes - examples include the design of the body of an aircraft, the implementation of a control system on a supertanker, and the design of a solar-based heating and cooling system for a building complex. The sixth edition of the Columbia Encyclopedia defines Mechanical Engineering this way: Mechanical engineering is concerned with the design, construction, and operation of power plants, engines, and machines. It deals mostly with things that move. One common way of dividing mechanical engineering is into heat utilization and machine design. The generation, distribution, and use of heat is applied in boilers, heat engines, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Machine design is concerned with hardware, including that making use of heat processes. In the last two decades there is growing interest in the intersection of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. There has been long time development of electromechanical systems of various kinds, such as trains and robots, which required expertise in both types of engineering. Recently new "joint" sub-disciplines have emerged such as Mechatronics, Microelectromechanical Systems, and Nanotechnology. One way to get a feeling about what Mechanical Engineers do is to look at job sites that seek Mechanical Engineers. Here are two: http://www.engineer.net/mechanical.php and http://www.mechanicalengineer.com/ Our site www.TryEngineering.org provide an introduction to Mechanical Engineering here: http://tryengineering.com/become.php?major=Mechanical+Engineering. This page also includes several references to web pages prepared by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), whose main page is www.asme.org. The Institute of Mechanical Engineers is a British organization, see http://www.imeche.org.uk/. Links to web pages of other societies with interests in Mechanical Engineering as available here: http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/mee/internet.htm#orgs An interview with a practicing Mechanical Engineer is available here: http://tryengineering.com/life.php?profile=6 Another good source is the Sloane Career Cornerstone Center, here: http://www.imeche.org.uk/ http://www.careercornerstone.org/mecheng/mecheng.htm The current Wikipedia article on Mechanical Engineering is available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering The ASME journal Mechanical Engineering on line is available here: http://www.memagazine.org/ Other resources on Mechanical Engineering are available here: http://www2.lib.udel.edu/subj/mee/index.htm Ask an Expert Q: I live in the State of Maharashtra (Pune city) in India, and am currently enrolled in a high school there. When I graduate from high school I will have completed my HSC (12th Grade exam). I have two questions: (1) Do you know what the minimum requirements are from each Indian State or high school affiliation for university admission in Computer Science or Computer Engineering? If so, what is the minimum cutoff for a person who has completed his/her HSC exam in Pune, Maharashtra? (2) What are the minimum academic, as well as non-academic, requirements for a graduate of a high school in India to be admitted to a US university for undergraduate studies in Computer Science or Computer Engineering? EXPLAINING THE QUESTION The question is about the transition from high school to university by graduates of high schools in India. The high-school student who asked this question is from Pune City in the Indian State of Maharashtra. To learn more about Pune City visit http://www.webindia123.com/city/maharashtra/pune/intro.htm and http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/maharashtra/pune.htm To learn more about the State of Maharashtra, see http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/community/community_geo_profileShow.php; and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra (though, like all Wikipedia entries, it is subject to change at any time). The question mentions the HSC exam for graduates of high schools. In India the term "high school" is used in many ways and is sometimes ambiguous. The 9th and 10th grades (also known in India as Classes IX and X) form an educational unit that ends with the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, or board examinations. The 11th and 12th grades form another educational unit ("junior college" or "higher secondary school") which is often offered by a separate institution. Studies in this unit culminate in a series of examinations for the Higher Secondary (School) Certificate, or HSC (for more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school#India) Usually each State in India has its own education board, and exams differ from State to State. There is also a Central board of Education with which some high schools are affiliated. Most the university-level schools or colleges in each city in India are affiliated with a single university; for example, in Mumbai (Bombay) there are more than 30 engineering colleges that are affiliated with Bombay University. All the colleges within the Bombay University network administer the same exams during the academic year. For a list of schools affiliated with Pune University, see http://www.unipune.ac.in/affiliated_colleges_and_institutions/default.htm Admission applications are made to individual colleges within the city, and each one of the colleges has its own minimum admission requirements (which depend also on the specific field of study desired by the candidate). Some more prestigious ("National level") Universities in India administer their own entry standardized tests, and admissions to these schools are largely based on the individual results of these standardized tests. See for example the following link on entrance exams to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT): http://www.indiaresults.com/Career_Guidance/IIT/ There are many websites on higher education in India. We happen to like http://www.educationinfoindia.com/ and http://indiaedu.com/. ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION: Q: Do you know what the minimum requirements are from each Indian State or high school affiliation for university admission in Computer Science or Computer Engineering? If so, what is the minimum cutoff for a person who has completed his/her HSC exam in Pune, Maharashtra? A: The threshold for admission to a Computer Science and Computer Engineering programs (or any other program) is usually based on two criteria: (1) the candidate's cumulative score on Physics, Chemistry and Math (PCM) in the HSC (12th grade) exams, and (2) the overall percentage of marks received in the HSC exams. The maximum cumulative total for the PCM is currently 300, and, for example, cutoffs to very ood colleges in Mumbai are in the range of 292-300 for Computer Engineering and Computer Science. The reason for these very high thresholds is the large number of applicants. We do not know what the cutoffs are for universities in the Pune area (these are not usually published). If we are able to find more information on this specific subject (or if one of our readers sends us the information) we will update this answer. One way to find an answer to this question is to speak to admissions officers in universities and colleges affiliated with Pune University. The list of these colleges can be found here: http://www.unipune.ac.in/affiliated_colleges_and_institutions/default.htm. It appears that the best way to obtain a baccalaureate degree from Pune University is through one of the affiliated colleges. The following link (from http://answers.Google.com) may be of use for students who are seeking information about undergraduate Computer Engineering education in the Pune area: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=64441 ANSWER TO THE SECOND QUESTION Q: What are the minimum academic, as well as non-academic, requirements for a graduate of a high school in India to be admitted to a US university for undergraduate studies in Computer Science or Computer Engineering? A: The basic factors used by US universities for Computer Science and Computer Engineering are quite similar, but the numerical thresholds vary widely. You should have obtained (or will have obtained shortly) a high school degree with three (3) years of advanced mathematics, including Calculus. For typical requirements of courses within the high school curriculum, see the links at the end of this section. In addition you will need to arrange for your SAT (or ACT) and TOEFL grades to be sent to the universities you are applying for. You should investigate the type of SAT tests requires by your prospective university, some universities have additional test requirements for international students (such as certain SAT II tests that are not required of domestic students). Though most admission officers in mainstream US universities are familiar with the grading system in India, it may help if you emphasized in cover letters your rank in class and even in specific subjects. Grades that appear to the US administrator or academic as �low� can actually be quite high in the Indian system, as reflected by the fact that the grade holder is at the top of his/her class in the subject. A sense of what admission officers in US universities are looking for in an application can be obtained here: http://coe.berkeley.edu/students/prospective-students/admissions/freshman-faq.html http://www.umass.edu/admissions/application_process/Requirements/ http://www.umass.edu/admissions/applying/international/ http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/requirements/fy-eng.html Admission to US universities at the undergraduate level usually requires proof of financial means to meet tuition and living cost needs. This proof is required by the school who would admit you and by US immigration authorities as a condition to admission to the US. In addition, there is a procedure of document exchange between you and the school, and then between you and consulate/embassy of the US in India, to issue a student visa (usually under category F-1). A personal interview with a Consulate official may be required. Our main advice is to allot significant amount of time to these procedures because the involved decision makers (in both university and consulate offices) are notoriously slow. Here are a few websites with advice to students from India (and other countries) who wish to study abroad: http://www.internationalstudy.in/ http://www.studyoverseas.com/ http://www.usastudyguide.com/ Ask an Expert Q: I am student from Sudan, who previously studied in a pre-university program in Malaysia. I am looking for opportunities for additional studies in engineering. Can you provide some advice? The term “pre-university program” in Malaysia has a different meaning than in most other countries. In Malaysia it refers to studies offered to graduates of secondary schools, typically at ages of 17-19. Since you have studied in the Malaysian system, we suggest that you seek opportunities (inside or outside Malaysia) that are compatible with that system. We have compiled a list of links from websites of Malaysian institutions that have overseas partners or have a tradition of sending universities overseas. Not all universities on this list have engineering schools, so you will have to check them one by one. All, however, are familiar with the Malaysian educational system and will be able to assess your suitability for admission. http://www.ucti.edu.my/partnerships.htm(a list of universities in the UK and Australia) http://www.binary.edu.my/newb_ptrnacademic.htm (Australia, UK, US) http://www.perdanacollege.com/admissions/partners.html and http://www.perdanacollege.com/admissions/otherUniv.html ((Canada, Australia, UK, Malaysia) For universities in Malaysia, please see http://www.internationaleducationmedia.com/malaysia/universities.htm Ask an Expert Q: What is frequency domain analysis? what is the difference between time domain and frequency domain analysis ? Time domain and frequency domain analyses are terms associated often with the study of signals and systems. These terms refer to the independent variable (x in the functional relationship y = f(x)) which is used in the two dimensional representation of the signal, the process, or the system. If for instance a signal r(t) = 3 sin 4t - 2 cos 5t is represented as a graph of values of r versus time (t), this representation is said to be in the time domain. We may elect instead to represent r(t) by extracting the amplitude of the sinusoids at the radial frequencies 4 and 5 (which happen to be 3 and 2 respectively) and represent those values in a graph whose abscissa ("x-axis") is the angular frequency and its ordinate is the amplitude. This would be an example of representation of the signal in the frequency domain. Historically, frequency domain representations - and the resulting methods - emerged from transformation of time domain signals into other useful forms. Two of the most notable of these transformations are the Fourier Series and Fourier Transform (named after Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, 1768 - 1830, a French mathematician and physicist). The concept of "spectrum" (in sound, light and video) is usually described in the frequency domain. Some processing and shaping of signals are easier to describe and design in one domain and some in the other. Representation in the different domains sometimes provides insight and points out properties that are hard to discern or see in other representations. In addition, there are useful techniques (such as the Short-time Fourier Transform and the Wavelet Transform) that combine elements of both representations into what is known as time-frequency representations. A good textbook on signals and systems that should prove helpful in understanding basic time domain and frequency domain analysis methods is: Alan V. Oppenheim, Alan S. Willsky, with S. Hamid, S. Hamid Nawab: Signals and Systems; Prentice Hall; 2 edition (August 6, 1996), ISBN: 0138147574 A good introduction to time-frequency analysis is available in the book by Karlheinz Gröchenig : Foundations of Time-Frequency Analysis (Applied and Numerical Harmonic Analysis, Birkhauser; 1 edition(December 15, 2000), ISBN: 0817640223 Ask an Expert Q: I am doing my undergraduate engineering studies in instrumentation and control. What are the directions available to me for post graduation (MS - Master of Science) studies? You have a large number of opportunities because both instrumentation and control are fields that are drawn-upon in many diverse areas. One example is robotics - there is ongoing interest in instrumentation of a robot (or group of robots) with sensors that interpret the environment, and control algorithms and actuators that guide the robot and determine its dynamic behavior. Another example is in the design of biomedical instrumentation. For instance, there is significant interest in building sensing and actuating systems that help individuals who suffer from diabetes. Advanced sensors measure the concentration of compounds in the blood stream of the patients (for example Glucose and Insulin) and use this information to operate Insulin pumps that inject the patient with carefully calculated amounts of this hormone. Sensing and control are fundamental to the operation of aerospace vehicles, including rockets and satellites. They are used in diagnostic devices (for humans and machines), in regulation of the environment in buildings and large facilities, and in many aspects of automated manufacturing. You may be able to gather ideas for advanced study (and search for potential MS thesis supervisors at various universities) by browsing through relevant publications. Among these are IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement; IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems; IEEE Transactions on Robotics; IEEE Sensors Journal; IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering; Sensors and Actuators A: Physical (an Elsevier Journal); AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics; The International Journal of Robotic Research (Sage Publications); the SME Journal of Manufacturing Systems; and the Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems (Springer Verlag). Ask an Expert Q: Please give details of IEEE standards of stringing and tensioning of high tension transmission lines. We believe the main reference you want to consult is the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), described here: a href="http://standards.ieee.org/nesc/">http://standards.ieee.org/nesc/. See also http://standards.ieee.org/faqs/NESCFAQ.html and http://www.codehandbook.com/ See also the Canadian standard CAN3-C22.3 1-M87: 'Overhead systems'. Canadian Standards Association. 1987 (revised 1997) Here are some additional useful references: Holland H.Farr: Transmissions line design manual: a guide for the investigation, development, and design of power transmission lines. Denver: US Dept. of Interior, Water and Power Resources Services; US Government Printing Office, 1980. 9. Mehran Keshavarzian and Charles H. Priebe: "Sag and Tension Calculations for Overhead Transmission Lines at High Temperatures—Modified Ruling Span Method," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 15, No. 2, April 2000 (see also the reference list of this paper) J.S.Barrett and Y. Motlis: "Allowable tension levels for overhead-line conductors," IEE Proceedings - Generation, Transmission and Distribution -- January 2001 -- Volume 148, Issue 1, p. 54-59. Additional references are available here: http://www.powline.com/products/designcodes.html Ask an Expert Q: What is the application of Geometry to Civil Engineering? Of all the Engineering disciplines, Civil Engineering uses Geometry the most. Geometry means "to measure the earth" and clearly Civil Engineers involved in surveying are doing precisely that. By the way, in some languages, such as Arabic, the word for "engineering" also means "geometry" (see: http://www.answers.com/topic/engineering) More generally, Geometry involves the analysis of shapes and the relationships among them. Civil Engineers must know how to design and assemble shapes to construct buildings, dams, bridges, tunnels, highway systems, etc. The geometry of those shapes determines their ffunctionality. For the shapes used, a Civil Engineer must understand and know how to compute such quantities as lengths, areas, volumes, centroids, moments of inertia, and curvatures, and must be able to determine the spatial relationship among these shapes. Advanced software breaks up objects into elemental pieces (e.g., triangles, pyramids, cubes) to determine the stresses and strains within them. Descriptive Geometry helps Civil Engineers visualize structures and objects and engage in their design and analysis. Fractal Geometry (the newest branch of Geometry) is used by Civil Engineers to analyze such entities as the friction between objects, the clumping of materials, and the porosity of soils, all of which involve geometric patterns that repeat on an ever decreasing scale. Here are several websites that exemplify the use of Geometry in Civil Engineering: Geometry of Bridge Construction: http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/rs/bridges.htm A Geometry Lesson (in Civil Engineering Magazine): http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/ceonline06/0506feat.html "Great Hall" (London City Hall in Civil Engineering Magazine): http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/ceonline03/0803feat.html "Why are manhole covers round?" http://experts.about.com/q/Civil-Engineering-1357/geometry-real-life.htm Geometry project: Bridges and Civil Engineers http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:f1IccjfDgJwJ:cwp.belmont.k12.ma.us/dlints/handouts/Bridges%520and%2520Civil%2520Engineering.doc+geometry+engineerin "Geometry at Work" series http://www.maa.org/reviews/geomwork.html A Civil Engineer describes how he is using mathematics http://www.maa.org/careers/dfarmer.html Here are links to Engineering software involving Geometry: Civil 3D from Autodesk http://www.swexpress.com/home.nsf/cat_www_studstaff/AF4AE66F088295EE85256FFF004A7E82; and http://www.portlandprecision.com/software_civil3d_2006.html Design Centre from Civil Designer http://www.civildesigner.com/ProductInfo/DC/Design_Centre.asp Ask an Expert Q: I am a second year business technology student. I am pursuing an undergraduate degree in electronics and communications. Can you provide insight on which (electronics or communications) has more diversified job opportunities and higher salaries? Electronics continue to be a field that cuts across numerous applications, and finds use in areas as diverse as medical instrumentation and technology for entertainment. Communications is a field that has seen a major transformation in the last twenty years, and in spite of overcapacity in the 1990s continues to expand. Interest in mobile communication and hand held devices continues to be strong. There is significant overlap between these fields. For example, about 18% of engineers defined by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as working in "electronics" are employed in the telecommunications area (see http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm) At the present time, starting salaries in electronics appear somewhat higher than salaries in communications (in most developed countries), primarily due to overgrowth of communications companies in the 1990s and early 2000s. In addition, many universities that offer both electrical and computer engineering programs have seen a (probably temporary) imbalance, negatively affecting the 'electrical' side. This imbalance led to shortage in some areas of electronics. Yet the number of open positions in communications is still high, and overall we do not believe that one field is much more robust than the other. Ask an Expert Q: I am a senior in electrical engineering at the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP), and am interested in a Co-op job for Summer 2007. Where do I look for such a job? Your first resource is local, at your own university. UTEP offers its student a service called Job Mine. You can open a Career Service Job Mine account here (http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=11624). If you need additional help, you can visit the service at CIRCUS, Room 114 W. Union and get individualized help. Please be aware of the need to attend one of the Introduction to Career Services (ICS) workshops before you can access on-campus interviews. IEEE-USA has a website with many useful links to student internship databases: http://www.ieeeusa.org/careers/student.menu.html An ASEE website provides links to many internship opportunities: http://www.tech-interns.com/ You may also try to approach organizations and corporations that advertise summer internship and co-op opportunities, including Booz Allen Hamilton http://www.boozallen.com/home/careers/about_internships IBM http://www-03.ibm.com/employment/us/un_coop_intern.shtml Intel http://www.intel.com/jobs/usa/students/internships/ Mathworks http://www.intel.com/jobs/usa/students/internships/ Sandia National Labs http://www.sandia.gov/employment/special-prog/index.html There are several commercial and public-service websites that offer access to co-op and internship opportunities in the United States. A good collection of these resources is available at http://www.job-hunt.org/interns.shtml See also: http://www.quintcareers.com/grad_internships.html The Wise program offers a special summer program in Washington DC for engineering students: http://www.wise-intern.org/ See also: http://www.ieeeusa.org/careers/student.menu.html Ask an Expert Q: I have just finished my 12th grade and plan to enroll in an Electrical and Electronics Engineering program. I love working in airports. I wish to do jobs such as supervising flights before take-off rather than flight designing or that kind of work. My ambition is to become an Aeronautical engineer (which I plan to do for my Master's degree). I would like to know whether it is possible to pursue Aeronautics after obtaining an Electrical Engineering baccalaureate degree. Should I take Mechanical Engineering or any other branch instead? We will re-state your questions and answer them in two parts. 1. Is it possible to pursue Aeronautics after obtaining a baccalaureate degree in Electrical Engineering? Are there better alternatives? The answer to the first question is simple and straight-forward - yes. There is a long time debate whether students interested in Aeronautics should start their studies inside the discipline (for example, by selecting a program in Aerospace Engineering) or start with a broader field of study (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Computer Engineering) and then do graduate work and concentrate on a specialization within the discipline of Aeronautics. Without taking sides in this debate, we will comment that your inclination to start in Electrical Engineering is certainly logical. Aeronautics draws on many bodies of knowledge, including several that are taught and developed in Electrical Engineering (EE) curricula and departments. These EE bodies of knowledge include guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation, and communication, as well as electrical system design and electrical hardware design for sensing, actuating, and computing. Some of the areas we mentioned (such as guidance and control) are also taught in other academic departments, and some areas relevant to Aeronautics (such as propulsion) are not usually covered in the undergraduate EE curriculum at all. Still, the EE curriculum continues to be an excellent choice for future Aeronautical engineers. Specifically, aircraft and aircraft-related systems are continually undergoing an information technology and digital control evolution that replaces many of their mechanical, hydraulic and electromechanical subsystems with electrical components controlled by digital computers. Electrical engineers clearly have an advantage over graduates of other disciplines in these areas. One way to "round up" your EE education toward a career in Aeronautics is to use the elective classes available within most EE curricula to take relevant classes in other departments, such as the Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace departments. For example if you are an Electrical and Computer Engineering student at Lehigh University (see course plan at http://www3.lehigh.edu/engineering/academics/eceug.asp) you may consider the following classes from the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department as electives: MECH 326 Aerodynamics (3); MECH 305 Advanced Mechanics of Materials (3); and MECH 328 Fundamentals of Aircraft Design (3). Another good reason to start with Electrical Engineering is that you will be able to develop a perspective on a wider spectrum of sub-disciplines and occupations, and have a wider set of options available to you upon graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree (especially if the Aerospace Industry is not doing that well at the time of your graduation). That being said, there are several alternatives to Electrical Engineering as a first degree for those who wish to work in Aeronautics. These alternatives include Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and of course – Aerospace Engineering (or Aeronautical and Astronautics Engineering, or Space Engineering). Indeed, most current professors of Aerospace Engineering have taken their undergraduate course of study either in Aerospace/Aeronautics/Astronautics programs, or in Mechanical Engineering. We expect to see many more Electrical Engineers among them in the future. A partial list of Aerospace program worldwide is available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_Engineering 2. "I love working in airports. I wish to do jobs such as supervising flights before take-off rather than flight designing or that kind of work." The field of Aeronautics offer many opportunities for experimental work that bring the engineer often to airports and to facilities for aircraft and subsystem testing. If you find yourself, for example, working on aircraft control problems for an agency like NASA or for a corporation like Lockheed Martin, you are likely to find yourself participating in many flight tests and in frequent field experimentation. Engineers who are good in this type of work (and are willing to participate in the extensive travel that is usually involved) have always been in demand. However, not many engineers are as involved in the operations of flights and their management as you describe in your question. If this is indeed the direction you are seeking, you may not be really interested in Aeronautics but in Aviation (activities surrounding human flight and the aircraft industry). If you want to work in the field of Aviation as an engineer, you may want to direct your interests to areas such as Air Traffic Control. Sub-disciplines of interest include Radar and the design of transponders, display systems, and communication and computer networks. One area of current interest in aviation is the provision of wireless services to airline passengers. Electrical Engineering is probably the best major to select for this direction of work. Here are several on-line reference on Aeronautics: http://www.planemath.com/planemathlinks/aeronautics.html http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/ http://wings.avkids.com/ http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html?skipIntro=1 (follow links on the left hand side) http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=5 (go to Kid's Place) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeronautics Here are a few web pages of corporations in Aeronautics and Aviation: http://www.airbus.com/en/ http://www.baesystems.com http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/ http://www.boeing.com/ http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp http://www.dassault.com/ http://www.embraer.com/english/content/home/ http://www.iai.co.il/Templates/Homepage/Homepage.aspx?lang=EN http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=15047&sc=400 www.raytheon.com http://www.rockwellcollins.com/ Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of engineering studying my third year information technology. Could you please provide advice for interviewing and how to present my skills/knowledge during a career fair? The best way to prepare yourself for an interview is to understand what type of job you are seeking. It is best to focus your efforts on positions that suit your educational background, personality, knowledge, and desired working environment. With this in mind, you are able to take a targeted approach to your job search. Here is some helpful information on how to prepare for a career fair. At the end we provide useful links on specific subjests and various on-line resources. Prepare a resume or curriculum vitae(CV) A resume/CV is your primary resource tool to presenting your skills and knowledge for job openings. You will need to spend time preparing an effective and attractive resume/CV for distribution at the career fair. There are many available resources for resume writing(see links below). Many universities have Career Centers that offer resume writing sessions, one-on-one appointments, and job search tips. Interviewing Meeting a company representative at a career fair is a mini interview. These representatives will take your resume and engage in a short informal interview. You should practice interviewing and prepare responses to commonly asked interview questions. See the links below for tips and frequently asked questions. Research & Planning Obtain a listing of companies that are participating in the career fair. Research these companies and develop a "must see" list companies you would be interested in working for. Look the companies up on the Internet - take notes of business strategies and relevant current news. These notes can provide good talking points to impress the company representatives at the career fair. Appearance Dress in business Attire. Many employers want to see neat, clean, and professional appearance. What to take with you Copies of your resume, transcripts, your business card(make one if you do not have one), sample write-ups on past projects, notepad, pens, the list of "must see" companies and your notes on these companies. At the Career Fair Approach the "must see" companies on your list. Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and give the representative a copy of your resume. Inquire about open positions and introduce your background and interests in brief. Highlight the experience that would give the company reasons to hire you over someone else. Refer to the notes you collected during the company research. Ask when the company anticipates interviewing for the open positions. Ask for a business card, and offer yours, and thank the representative for their time. Post Career Fair Follow-up with potential leads from the career fair. Upload your resume into the company's databases to gain further exposure for additional positions. E-mail the representative you spoke to at the career fair thanking them for their time and re-expressing your interest in working for the company. Additional Information Career planning sites We found the McGill University's Career Centre webpage to be particularly helpful on most aspects of job search: http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/ The career centers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Maryland also provide many useful discussions of job search topics: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/career/ http://www.careercenter.umd.edu/ Job fair advice http://www.careercenter.umd.edu/page.cfm?page_id=114 Resume writing resources Note: we refer to the free advice section on these sites. We do not endorse the commercial for fee services that some of these sites offer. http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ecs/students/ResumeWriting-update-new.html http://jobsearch.about.com/od/teenstudentgrad/a/studentresume.htm http://www.resumeedge.com/resume-writing/index.php?nav=rc.home Interview preparation resources http://www.coop.eng.umd.edu/documents/handouts_2005/7Interviewing%20Techniques.pdf http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/seas/seas_int.html http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/Page10696.aspx http://www-07.ibm.com/employment/sg/career/interview_tips.html http://www.careercenter.umd.edu/page.cfm?section_ID=1&page_id=57 Resources on general communication skills (1) An excellent collection of resources exists on the Kent State University Libraries and Media Services webpage. The collection covers writing, reading, listening and speaking. URL: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10867 (2) A nice collection of articles on different aspects of personal communication is available at hodu.com. URL: http://hodu.com/effective-communication-skills-menu.html We found the following sections especially useful: Speaking Skills and Writing Skills. (3) Staffordshire University provides a good collection of articles here: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/services/careers/saw/learning_resources/communication.htm Some of the links are dead but most are active and quite helpful. There are descriptions of techniques (such as Mind Mapping) that are not available on other comparable websites. (4) The BT Education Programme provides several unusual resources. It is available here: http://www.bteducation.org/resources/results.ikml?a=0&f=0 The site requires registration but is free to use. One of the tools it provides is a series of videos of interviews with job applicants, with feedback by the interviewer (the interview tapes). Ask an Expert Q: Please provide information on the role of science and technology in developing African countries We enclose a comprehensive list of on-line resources on science, technology and engineering in Africa. Needless to say we were not able to read and verify all the information provided by these resources and we do not endorse any of them. They are provided for general information and with the hope that some them will provide you with the information you seek. Africa's technology gap (UNCTAD study) http://stdev.unctad.org/docs/gap.pdf African Centre for Technological Studies http://www.acts.or.ke/ African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) http://www.nepadst.org/ African Journals On Line http://www.ajol.info/index.php?tran=0 African technology forum http://web.mit.edu/africantech/www/ The Association of South African Women in Science and Engineering (SA WISE) http://www.sawise.org.za/ The Name African Type Academy of Sciences http://www.aasciences.org/ African Science Networks http://www.physics.ncat.edu/~michael/asn/ African Mathematical Union: Commission on the History of Mathematics in Africa http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/AMU/amuchma_online.html Africa Science News Service http://www.africasciencenews.org/ BBC article on computers in Africa http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3305919.stm BBC article on women in technology http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2539327.stm BBC interview with Nigerian computer and Internet pioneer, Philip Emeagwali http://emeagwali.com/interviews/millennium/BBC-network-africa-questions-on-emerging-millennial-technology.html Bibliography on Science and Technology in Africa (short) http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/post/africa/scienceov.html Chemistry in Africa http://www.webanalytes.com/cheminafrica.html Columbia University Libraries page on African Studies http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/africa/cuvl/SciTech.html Engineering Council of South Africa http://www.ecsa.co.za/ Fiber Optic Technology in Africa http://www.iconnect-online.org/Resources/Flattening%20The%20World_Ebenezer%20Malcolm.pdf/download Information Technology in Africa http://www.ciaonet.org/wps/dod117/ The International Society of African Scientists (ISAS) http://www.dca.net/isas/ Internet and Computing http://www-sul.stanford.edu/africa/elecnet.html The New Partnership for African Development http://www.nepad.org/2005/files/documents/126.pdf The North Africa Centre for Engineering & Technology Education (NACETE) http://www.usthb.dz/nacete/nacete1.htm Nigerian Society of Engineers http://www.nseph.com/ Power Engineering in Africa http://www.redtram.com/catalogue/africa/power-engineering/ Science and scientists in Africa http://www-sul.stanford.edu/africa/science.html Science and technology news http://allafrica.com/ict/ Science in Africa (on-line magazine) http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/ Science Mathematics Engineering and Technology programs in Africa http://www.physics.ncat.edu/~michael/asn/program/index.html Science Links http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/links.htm Scientific African http://www.scientific-african.org/ Shuttleworth Foundation http://www.shuttleworthfoundation.org/ Technology, Africa and Learning (opinion article) http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/lwf/doc/portfolio/opinion3.htm United Name Nations Type University Africa Research Observer http://www.unu.edu/africa/newsltr/index.htm University Research Centres on Central Sub-Saharan Africa (article) http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/global/afsaap/conferences/2003proceedings/riley.PDF UNESCO Science and Technology in Africa page http://www.unesco.org/bpi/scitech/ Ask an Expert Q: What is Tribology? Where can I find more information about the subject? Tribology: From Webster.com Study that deals with the design, friction, wear, and lubrication of interacting surfaces in relative motion (as in bearings or gears) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tribology is the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear, derived from the Greek tribo meaning “I rub”. Formally defined, it is the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion and all practices related thereto. The study of tribology is commonly applied in bearing design but extends into other almost any aspect of modern technology, even to such unlikely areas as hair conditioners and cosmetics (e.g., lipstick, powders, gloss). Basically any product where one materials slides or rubs over another is affected by complex tribological interactions. The term became widely used following a British study in 1966 (The Jost Report) in which huge sums of money were reported to have been lost in the UK annually due to the consequences of friction, wear and corrosion. Several national centres for tribology were created in the UK as a result. Since then the term has diffused into the international engineering field and many specialists now claim to be tribologists. There are numerous national and international societies, such as the Society for Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers STLE in the USA. Most technical universities have a group working on tribology, often as part of mechanical engineering departments. The limitations in tribological interactions are however no longer mainly determined by mechanical designs, but rather by material limitations so the discipline of tribology now counts at least as many materials engineers, physicists and chemists than mechanical engineers. In the last years, the micro- and nanotribology is gaining ground. Frictional interactions in microscopically small components are becoming increasingly important for the development of new products in electronics, life sciences, chemistry, sensors and by extension for all modern technology. Note the term 'fricare' (Latin) meaning 'to rub' from which derives the word 'friction.' More information on Tribology can be obtained from many engineering societies and publications. Here are additional sources of information for further research: Society for Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers STLE Tribology at the University of Sheffield Tribology-abc.com (This site is intended to provide information, software and tools for engineers working on high performance and high reliability design applications in mechanical engineering.) American Society of Mechanical Engineers Journal of Tribology Journal of Engineering Tribology, Institution of Mechanical Engineers Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of Electrical Engineering specializing in Power Engineering. What are the job opportunities available in this field? Power Engineering is one of the earliest fields that has developed within Electrical Engineering. It deals with generation,transmission and distribution of electric power. Power engineers also work on a variety of power devices and on power conversion (the process of transforming power from one form into another, as in electromechanical or electrochemical processes). Many power engineers are part of the large team that builds, maintains and develops the large networks that connects power generators with users of this power ("the power grid"). These engineers, who work for power utility companies of governments that maintain power grids design components for the grid, architectures for the grid and devices that either supply power to the grid or draw power from it. Devices that power engineers design and work with include generators, transformers, circuit breakers, relays and transmission lines. Systems the power engineer work on include electrical substations (a subsidiary station of an electricity generation, transmission and distribution system where voltage is transformed from high to low or the reverse using transformers.) Some power engineers also work on smaller "off grid networks" that generate and supply electricity to independent plants or remote areas. A separate area of expertise is generation, transmission and distribution of power on stand-alone plants such as planes and ships. Power engineering is often analyzed along the three components of generation, transmission and distribution. Power engineers that work on generation convert other forms of energy into electric power. These sources of power include fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, hydropower, nuclear power, solar power, and wind power. Power engineers that work on transmission are in charge of moving power from the power station where the power is generated to the location of the customer. Power engineers that work on distribution are developing and maintaining systems that distribute power to end user in voltages that can be used by the user's equipment. Power engineers deal with devices (motors, batteries, capacitors); processes and phenomena (such as power conversion, power drop and blackouts); analysis and design (such as estimation of the stability of a power network and power flow studies); and areas such as renewable energy and environmentally-friendly power systems. In addition to power utilities, power companies and organizations that maintain power networks, some power engineers work for universities and research institutions that advance the state of the art in power engineering and educate the next generation of power engineers. In spite of its long history, power engineering is a vibrant and challenging discipline. Power engineers are in charge of very large systems whose availability and reliability are critical to society's ability to function and develop. The increase in demand in power, environmental and economical constraints, and the scarcity of some sources of power (such as fossil fuels) pose significant challenges to modern power engineers. These require new processes and techniques, new devices, and integration of other disciplines (such as business and law) in the design and implementation process. To read more, please consult the following sources, which were used in developing this answer. Please be aware of the fact that Wikipedia sources may be changed without notice and hence are less reliable than other sources. The web page of IEEE Power Engineering Society http://www.ieee.org/portal/site/pes/menuitem.bfd2bcf5a5608058fb2275875bac26c8/index.jsp?&pName=pes_home The web page of Power Engineering International http://pepei.pennnet.com/ The Power Sector page of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) http://www.iee.org/oncomms/sector/power/ Wikipedia sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_engineering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_substation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_electrification Ask an Expert Q: I have completed my B.E in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. What are my options with respect to studies toward a Master of Science or Master of Engineering in related fields? We believe that students who have the aptitude and educational achievements that would allow them to enter graduate school should consider this option seriously. The volume of required material covered by Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering programs has become very large in recent years. As a result, many B.S./B.Eng programs do not provide much depth. A Masters program will provide you with the opportunity to specialize in a field of interest in much greater depth, and will also introduce you to the world of research. We assume you are a holder of a B.S. or B.Eng. degree in electrical and electronics engineering, that your degree comes from an accredited program, and that you have sufficiently high grades and additional accomplishments to warrant your admission to a reputable graduate school. You would normally seek to enter a graduate study program toward M.Eng or M.S. in electrical engineering, or one of its closely related disciplines: computer engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, or power engineering. Graduates such as yourself are also sometimes applying to programs in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or biomedical engineering. We suggest that you decide on a program based on your experience as an undergraduate, and on your projected engineering career. If, for example, you seek to become designer of microwave circuits for telecommunications, you will be looking for electrical or telecommunications M.S. programs with strong emphasis on electromagnetics, microwaves and circuit design. If you are interested in biomedical instrumentation, you may seek an M.S. program in electronics engineering which emphasizes biomedical applications, or a program in biomedical engineering. Check pre-requisites and conditions for admissions carefully - some programs can be quite demanding in terms of supplementary material you need to acquire if you did not take some materials they consider essential as an undergraduate. Here is some additional advice. (1) We believe that M.S./M.Eng programs that require that the student write a Masters thesis provide significant benefits, when compared with programs that do not make such requirement. These benefits include hands-on introduction to research, intensive interaction with a faculty mentor, and development of communication capabilities, both orally and in writing. Also, if you decide later to write a Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation you will have some experience in the way such documents are created. (2) We believe that M.S./M.Eng students should include in their plans of study significant number of courses in mathematics and analytical methods. While a lot of technology can be learnt "on the job" later, it is rare that one can self-educate in mathematical areas such as group theory or combinatorial optimization. There is no substitute to strong analytical background, and the best time to build its foundations is during graduate school. (3) We believe that graduate studies are often most successful when they come immediately after the undergraduate course of study. It is true that one can apply to graduate school at any age, even many years after the acquiring of the baccalaureate degree. However, quite often "life intervenes"; for most people graduate studies later in life tend to compete with job and family obligations in a way that diminishes their ability to provide enough time and attention to study. In other words, if you can afford to go to graduate school after you received your B.S./B.Eng, it may be more beneficial to do that immediately rather than wait 5-10 years and then come back. Ask an Expert Q: I am an undergraduate student studying toward the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in electronics. Can you recommend good universities where I can specialize in avionics? First, please review our recent answer to a question about Aeronautics Avionics is an abbreviation of aviation electronics. It is a name for electronic systems used on aircraft, including sensing, actuating, control, communications, navigation and display. Avionic systems range from a single warning light or sensor to complicated systems using radar detection and automatic navigation. Avionics should be distinguished from aeronautics, which focuses on the design of flight-capable vehicles and on techniques that allow aircraft to fly. One of the fields of aeronautics is aerodynamics. Most graduate level academic studies of avionics are offered within departments of aerospace, or aeronautics and astronautics. If you go to the "Find a University" section of our website, you will find about 60 universities in the United States and 2-3 in Canada under "Aerospace Engineering". Most of these provide instruction in Avionics, or have researchers who can be advisers of MS and PhD level research in avionics. You may also want to visit the Gradschools.com site and search under "Aerospace, Aeronautical Engineering" ( direct link: http://www.gradschools.com/programs/aerospace_engineering.html) Here are a few examples of programs that are strong in avionics. The Naval Postgraduate School Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics has an active research program in avionics (http://www.aa.nps.navy.mil/programs/avionics/). Admission to this school is, however, restricted to US Military and US government employees. Princeton University's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering reports several recent research projects in Avionics. So does Baylor University Department of Engineering. Purdue University has a graduate program in Aviation Technology. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology operates the MIT Center for Air Transportation. See also MIT's Flight Transportation Laboratory and the Aeronautical Systems Laboratory in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Ohio University has an Avionics Engineering Center which involves researchers and students from the university's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program. Florida Institute of Technology offers several Master of Science degree in fields related to Avionics. This is just a small sample. The general links we provided above should give you access to many additional programs, with different sub-specializations. Ask an Expert Q: I am about to take several exams - what is the best way to study? We are unable to recommend the ultimate study method, but there are many helpful suggestions and instruction manuals that we found helpful. The University of Waterloo has a short but very good series of suggestions here: http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocs/study/preparing.html You will notice on the left hand side of the Waterloo page other helpful links on study skills (from "learning and remembering" to "sleep"). We believe they are all very good. Homeworspot.com has a good tip on preparing study sheets: http://www.homeworkspot.com/tips/preparingforexam.htm York University in Canada have a somewhat longer guide to study and exam taking, here: http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/eponline/exam.htm Stanford university has some advice for students of science and engineering: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/undergrad/uac/uac_handouts/2001%20Sci%20and%20Eng%20Tests.doc Finally some advice from MIT: http://web.mit.edu/mites/www/academic_content/working_smarter.ppt Hope it helps. Ask an Expert Q: What is a DSP dataflow unit? What does it actually contain?How do we control the components in the dataflow unit? How can we use this dataflow unit in the implementaion of FFT algorithms? Acronyms used in this answer: DFT Discrete Fourier Transform DSP Digital Signal Processing FFT Fast Fourier Transform FIR Finite Impule Response IIR Infinite Impulse Response We are not sure the term "DSP dataflow unit" has a universally accepted definition. We assume you refer to a specific digital signal processing (DSP) module in a uniprocessor, or in multiprocessor data flow processing systems that use a so-called non-von Neumann computing model to exploit parallelism (see [8]). Digital signal processors form a class of application-specific processors. Their instruction sets and memory systems are organized around a particular computational pattern, often large numbers of multiply-add operations on uniform blocks of sampled data (16bits, 32bits) [1]. Digital signal processors often operate on audio and video signals and images. Typical calculations performed by digital signal processors involve, among others, FIR filters, IIR filters, discrete convolution, and DFT. The realization of these units shares common operations such as multiplication and accumulation. Due to this pattern, the large volume of data presented by most audio and video applications, and the requirements for real-time calculations, the most common von Neumann control-flow architectures are considered unsuitable. Many attempts have been made to provide architectures that enable parallel proceesing. A von Neumann architecture is a computing model that uses a single storage structure to hold both instructions and data [2]. It can only apply a single read or write operation to the memory within one instruction cycle. This serialization is a serious bottleneck for exploiting parallelism [3]. For this reason, many current commercial digital signal processors are based instead on the Harvard Architecture with separate memory spaces for instructions and data that allow concurrent accesses. Such processors include the Texas Instruments TMS320C1x, C2x, and C5x [4]. A typical diagram of digital signal processing systems and processor dataflow unit decomposition can be found in Oshana [5]. DSP chips take many forms, from Application Specific Inegrated Circuits (ASIC) to FPGA (Field-programmable gate array); so do their hardware architecture and components. A representative DSP Architecture has at least one arithmetic logic unit (ALU), general-purpose registers, address registers, multiply-accumulator (MAC) unit, and address and data buses [6]. A typical commercial TI TMS320C5x CPU includes instruction buffer unit, program flow unit, address data flow unit, and data computation unit [7]. The control and schedule of the components within a DSP module are typically controlled by software programs instructions) written by the application developers. The algorithms of FFT or many other DSP algorithms (such as for FIR and IIR) can be implemented by general computer programming languages such as C. Through specific compiler and linker for the target DSP unit, the corresponding machine codes can be generated and then downloaded onto the board. This development procedure should follow some predefined steps for accuracy, efficiency and optimality of the codes. Diagrams of development procedures may be found in Oshana [5]. References: [1] Chris Rowen, "Performance and flexibility for multiple-processor SoC design", in collection, Multiprocessor Systems-on-Chips, edited by A. A. Jerraya and W. Wolf, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2005. [2] "von Neumann architecture" in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; on-line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_architecture. Note that articles in Wikipedia can be changed by various authors at anytime, so using this resource should be made with caution. [3] J. Silc, B. Robic, and T. Ungerer, "Processor architecture: From dataflow to superscalar and beyond", Springer 1999. [4] R. Chassaing, "DSP applications using C and the TMS320C6x DSK", John Wiley & Sons, 2002. [5] R. Oshana, "Embedded systems programming using digital signal processors", DSP Engineering, summer 2001. http://www.dsp-fpga.com/articles/id/?14 [6] N. Ghazal, "Evaluation and Guidance in Processor Architecture Selection for DSP", Ph.D dissertation, UC Berkeley, 2000. [7] Texas Instruments, TMS320C55x DSP functional overview, SPRU312, June 2000. [8] H. Norton Riley: The von Neumann Architecture of Computer Systems, on-line: http://www.csupomona.edu/~hnriley/www/VonN.html [9] "Harvard Architecture" in in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; on-line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_architecture. Note that articles in Wikipedia can be changed by various authors at anytime, so using this resource should be made with caution. Ask an Expert Q: What study habits or skills would I need in order to do well in computer programming? To answer this question, we visited a company that performs massive programming jobs for the government and for industrial partners. We spoke to programmers who worked there to find out how they learnt to program and what characteristics they felt were important for learning and excelling in computer programming. Many of the experienced programmers with whom we spoke stressed the importance of being able to think logically and pay close attention to detail. Computers, being made of electronic component such as transistors and diodes, only process commands that follow formal logic, and have unambiguous interpretation mechanisms. Compilers are "sticklers for rules." "You need to think like the compiler" one of our programmers said. If we provide the computer with a set of commands that does not comply with its logic, or make the mistake of substituting human judgment for the logical structure of the computer’s infrastructure, the result will be failure to perform altogether, or, worse, the computer will act differently than what the programmer intended. Many programmers we spoke to suggested that beginner programmers educate themselves first about how computers implement programs, so that they can appreciate how a compiler would interpret what the programmer had written and handle it. It helps to write and test a few simple programs in the Assembly language before trying a high-level language like C or Java. Those who took this approach claim that they write more efficient code now. The reason - they have a better idea how many instructions and what kind of instructions the processor will use to carry out a higher-language command, and they understand better how data will be stored and retrieved from memory. Everyone agreed that learning to program takes patience and persistence. Yet ingenuity, creativity, and imagination were also recurring words in most responses. In spite of the seemingly rigid formats that computers "understand," an imaginative and creative programmer can write programs that are more economical, robust, quick and elegant than programmers that follow only the basic rules and write programs "by the book." Finally, programmers should be well organized and methodical. Software needs to be written in a way that users and other programmers can understand; comments should be added to explain key statements and routines; structure and naming conventions should be transparent and consistent. A good programmer does not write only to accomplish the task that a program is specified to perform, but also to help users and other programmers that will maintain and modify the software in the future. Here are a few useful links: Becoming a Better Programmer How to be a Programmer by Robert L. Read Advice on How to Become a Programmer Ask an Expert Q: What is a transformer? Can a transformer convert AC to DC? DC to AC? Change the voltage or current of DC? Change the AC supply frequency? From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: A transformer is an electrical device that transfers energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling with no moving parts. A transformer comprises two or more coupled windings, or a single tapped winding and, in most cases, a magnetic core to concentrate magnetic flux. An alternating current (AC) in one winding creates a time-varying magnetic flux in the core, which induces a voltage in the other windings. Transformers are used to convert between high and low voltages, to change impedance, and to provide electrical isolation between circuits. Transformers alone CANNOT convert AC to DC or DC to AC; they cannot change the voltage or current of DC; they cannot change the AC supply frequency. However transformers are used as components in systems that perform these functions. There is currently a detailed article on transformers in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformer. BtB Plaza Ltd has a web site on transformers: http://www.btbplaza.com/web2/content/view/13/14/lang,en/ Denver University offers a page called "Inside Transformers": http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/tech/transfor.htm Conformity Magazine offers an "Understanding Transformers" article: http://www.conformity.com/0509/0509understanding.html Ask an Expert Q: As a design engineer, could I work for a firearms manufacturing company, designing weapons? This is a question from the field of Engineering Ethics. It is a very difficult and controversial question that has been addressed with different levels of success by philosophers, scientists and writers who tried to identify the line between what a scientist or an engineer is and is not allowed to do, morally and ethically, in the employ of a weapon manufacturer. An interesting treatment of this question in literature is provided in George Bernard Shaw's play "Major Barbara". Other literary works relevant to the subject are "The Physicists" by Friedrich Durrenmatt, and "In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Heinar Kipphardt. We are not pretending to provide the ultimate answer to this difficult question in this forum, but suggest a few lines of thinking that may assist you as you analyze this dilemma. First, we believe that engineers who develop weapon systems carry a serious personal responsibility for the use of their designs. This responsibility is higher than the responsibility of engineers who work in many other areas, e.g., consumer electronics or oil refining. While even seemingly benign devices and processes can be used sometimes for malicious purposes, weapons are notoriously known to have found their way into the hands of irresponsible operators. Hence extra caution is warranted. Engineers who work for weapon manufacturers need to understand under what rules and regulations their employers manufacture, distribute and sell these weapons; who is the consumer and user; what restrictions on use of the weapon are in place; and how these restrictions are enforced and verified. It is not easy to obtain this information, and circumstances of distribution and use may change in time. However, if it is clear, for example, that if the manufactured weapon is on the list of internationally proscribed weapons (e.g., chemical weapons or napalm incendiary weapons) then the answer is clear: engineers should not agree to participate in making such weapons. Second, not all weapon manufacturing is unethical. The intended use and the identity of the user of the weapon are critical. For example, weapons that are used to defend civilian populations against air strikes are clearly ethical to design and deploy. We believe that British engineers who worked on weapon systems aimed to defeat the German air force in the early 1940s were ethical, since the Luftwaffe conducted a cruel bombing raid campaign in 1940-1941, directed at civilian populations. There is no question that German engineers who knowingly developed techniques to increase lethality of these air attacks have acted unprofessionally and unethically. Engineers who work in constitutional democracies are often in better position to take part in legally sanctioned weapon design activities; the use and sale of weapons is often better regulated in democracies, through parliamentary oversight, the courts, the press, and public opinion. There is no guarantee that a democratic country will not commit war crimes or sell weapons to those who would do so, but there exist mechanisms to curb such transgressions, at least in part. Such mechanisms are often absent in totalitarian regimes or dictatorships. Here are some invalid reasons to participate in weapon design. The argument that "if I do not do it someone else will" is a bad excuse. Disallowed behavior by others does not provide us with a license to follow them. Also, the argument that "the weapon development is legal" is insufficient. Though not very common, it is possible that legal activity is unethical. Further investigation and understanding of circumstances is needed. We recommend that engineers who consider participation in weapon design give the matter thorough analysis, and investigate the circumstances, customers, intended use, the future of the project, and expected "after effects". This analysis should include a consultation of professional codes of ethics (see http://onlineethics.org/codes/index.html), and pro-active discussion of the matter with supervisors, clients, and co-workers. Individuals whose regular decision making includes consultation with spiritual or religious leaders may want to bring the issue to such forums as well. Ask an Expert Q: I would like to know more about Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Courses which I plan to take for my Bachelor's degree. I would like to know about job prospects and opportunities in this area. I also want to know if it is possible to go into the Aerospace field after these courses. There are many opportunities for Applied Electronics and Instrumentation in the Aerospace field. I believe the coursework may be applicable to avionics systems and aircraft instrumentation. Aircraft cockpits are becoming more advanced with each generation. I would research companies such as Honeywell and Rockwell Collins to see the types of products and job offerings they have. The testing field also has many opportunities for applied electronics and instrumentation. A great deal of instrumentation is used in the testing of aircraft engines and flight control systems. Instrumentation is also greatly used in flight testing. Ask an Expert Q: What is computer engineering all about? Computer Engineering is a discipline which resides at the intersection of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Computer Engineers are often described as Electrical Engineers with specific training in computer hardware and in the interaction between hardware and software. Examples of the products created and developed by Computer Engineers are the mobile phone and the various play stations and computer and video games that have become so popular in the last 10-15 years. Some of the fields that are unique to Computer Engineering include design of Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) systems for computing hardware, and of essential components of computers such as memories and electronic circuitry, including analog circuits and digital hardware. Recently the design and operation of computer networks and communication networks (such as the Internet) have become an integral part of Computer Engineering. Our own site has an introduction to Computer Engineering, here: http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php?major=Computer+Engineering An interview with a Computer Engineer (John Harding of Hewlett Packard) is provided here: http://www.tryengineering.org/life.php?profile=3 Additional information: http://www.careercornerstone.org/compeng/compeng.htm http://www.tcd.ie/Engineering/about/what_is_eng/computer_eng_intro.html http://www.ecs.umass.edu/ece/tessier/courses/221/lecture/lect40-engin112.pdf Ask an Expert Q: Which software has the ability to simulate WiMax (IEEE 802.16)Technology? WiMax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access; IEEE Standard 802.16) is a family of standards for broadband communications in local area networks. WiMax technology competes with other standards and technologies such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The WiMax forum defines the technology as a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to wired broadband like cable and DSL. WiMAX provides fixed, nomadic, portable and, soon, mobile wireless broadband connectivity without the need for direct line-of-sight with a base station. In a typical cell radius deployment of three to ten kilometers, WiMAX systems can be expected to deliver capacity of up to 40 Mbps per channel, for fixed and portable access applications. This is enough bandwidth to simultaneously support hundreds of businesses with T-1 speed connectivity and thousands of residences with DSL speed connectivity. Mobile network deployments are expected to provide up to 15 Mbps of capacity within a typical cell radius deployment of up to three kilometers. It is expected that WiMAX technology will be incorporated in notebook computers and PDAs by 2007, allowing for urban areas and cities to become “metro zones” for portable outdoor broadband wireless access. The Intel website defines WiMax this way: WiMAX is a family of technologies based on the IEEE 802.16 wireless standards. There are two main types of WiMAX today, fixed WiMAX (802.16d-2004), and mobile WiMAX (802.16e-2005). Fixed WiMAX is a point-to-multipoint technology whereas mobile WiMAX is a multipoint to multipoint technology, similar to that of a cellular infrastructure. Both solutions were engineered to deliver ubiquitous high-throughput broadband wireless services at a low cost. Mobile WiMAX is based on OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) technology which has inherent advantages in latency, spectral efficiency, and advanced antennae support; ultimately giving it higher performance than today’s wide area wireless technologies. Further, next generation 4G wireless technologies are evolving towards OFMDA and IP-based networks as they are ideal for delivering cost-effective wireless data services. For frequently asked questions on WiMax see http://www.wimaxforum.org/technology/faq and the current Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimax. A useful article by Alberti et al. is available here http://www.vervut.com.br/antonioalberti/papers/Alberti%20WiMAX.pdf (ALBERTI, A. M.; CHAN, Rodrigo Adolfo; NAVES, Sanzio Guilherme . A Qualitative Comparison of Approaches for IEEE 802.16 Performance Evaluation. Proceedings of the 16th MPRG/Virginia Tech Symposium on Wireless Personal Communications, 2006, Blacksburg, 2006) There are several announced simulation tools for WiMax, though due to the short time since the publication of the standard, there are only few such tools at present. As far as we know there is no module yet for IEEE 802.16 simulation in the popular network simulator ns-2. A module for the OPNET library is in development http://www.opnet.com/WiMax/home.html – but current versions are not publicly available. Marconi Wireless announced WiMax capabilities of its simulation library Planet EV http://www.marconicommunications.net/Home/customer_center/Products/Access/Wireless%20Network%20Optimization/Planet%20EV%20for%20WiMAX/EV_WiMAX_final.pdf Cambridge Consultants developed a tool for WiMax simulations Applied Wave Research announced a “Visual System Simulator” with WiMax capabilities Ask an Expert Q: My daughter is a senior in high school, and wants to study Engineering. There are many fields of engineering and I do not know where to start. Do you recommend any Engineering major in particular, and which one has room for growth in the future with a good salary? Engineering has become a very broad title under which a wide variety of sub-disciplines is practiced. One resource for understanding the different fields is this site (look under "Become an Engineer"). You may want to start with learning about the more popular majors first: Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical and Biomedical. There is a high likelihood that this process will lead you to a preliminary prioritization. If you want to read more on disciplines that appear promising, you may also want to go to the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center website and explore these areas deeper (use their "Degree Quick Jump" area and go to "Engineering"). The next step should probably be a visit to a local University that has a College of Engineering. Our "Find a University" feature will provide you with a standardized page on each local university (you can search by university name) and will further provide a link to the admissions department. A call or an e-mail message to this department can often result in a tour of the College of Engineering, and you may be able to arrange meetings with representatives of the engineering departments, or be invited to an "open house." During the "open house" presentations are often made on the different branches of engineering, and there is an opportunity to talk to professors and students of specific disciplines. If this process has still not narrowed the search, your daughter may opt to enroll as a "General Engineering" student first - this option is available in many universities. The "General Engineering" route will allow her to start her engineering studies without declaring a specialization. As she gathers more information and meets more professors and students (typically during the freshman year) she and you may be able to reach a decision. You also asked about salary prospects. Predictions about the engineering job market are notoriously hard to make, but in some countries there are bodies that attempt to perform this analysis. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an "Occupational Outlook Handbook". The section on engineers(http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm#outlook) includes a sub-section entitled "job outlook," which typically has a horizon of 8-10 years. As of the writing of this answer, the site predicts that employment of electrical engineers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014, while employment of environmental engineers is expected to increase much faster than average, and employment of aerospace engineers is expected to increase slower than average. Predictions on labor trends in other countries are more difficult to find on line. The University of Maryland Libraries offer sources of international statistics(http://www.lib.umd.edu/MCK/STATS.html#foreign) that include some sites with relevant information. In general, engineering has been a stable profession over the majority of the last 50 years and in most markets. Innovation and technical progress have been one major factor leading to this trend; development and modernization have been another. Engineers have come back from stagnant periods with inventions and technological breakthroughs that increased demand for engineering design and manufacturing services. With the exception of narrow sub-specialties and temporary economic downturns, engineers of all major disciplines have experienced consistent growth and expansion of their industries and employment opportunities. While past trends may not extend into the future, there are good reasons to believe that innovation in engineering and global infrastructure needs, as well as growing demand for clean water, electricity, communication services and entertainment, and increases in the standards of living worldwide will continue to fuel the engineer job market for many decades to come. Ask an Expert Q: Is it usually really hard to find a job once you've completed engineering studies in a college? The answer to this question depends on many factors, such as the field of engineering you have studied, the country or region where you seek employment, your individual achievements in school and out of school, the economic climate at the time of graduation, and your self promotion and interviewing skills. Having said that, there is a lot you can do to improve your prospects of finding a job that meets your objectives. Our experience is that early planning and adherence to good advice on resume preparation and interviewing almost always pay off. The career center of ASME provides very good advice on job search, including tips for writing an effective resume; the importance of networking; and �ways to get noticed by recruiters�. Advice on resumes and interviews is also provided by ASM, TARGETjobs, and engineers-international. Some statistical information on the engineering job market in the United States is provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Our general estimate is the more than 90% of graduates with bachelor's degrees in the more popular majors (Civil, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Computer, Aerospace, Chemical and Environmental), who sought employment in developed countries, were employed in their field of study within 6 months of graduation. The picture in developing countries varied from region to region and is harder to generalize. Graduates who sought employment in countries where they were not citizens (or otherwise possessed work permits) usually experienced much longer search periods. Ask an Expert Q: My uncle used to be an EMC engineer, and speaks highly of the discipline. What are current trends in this aspect of electrical engineering? With the proliferation of wireless systems, I seems to me that this could be a very interesting occupation. (1) Definition of EMC (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, edited and expanded by us): Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the branch of electrical sciences which studies the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy. EMC is devoted to explaining and removing the unwanted effects that such energy may induce. The aim of EMC is the correct operation, in the same environment, of different units of equipment which involve electromagnetic phenomena in their operation. For example, we may require that radio receivers, cellular telephones, oscilloscopes, a refrigerator and a microwave oven all operate correctly without interfering with each other when they are turned on simultaneously in the same room. We may require that all the electrical diagnostic equipment in a hospital can operate as designed in spite of the simultaneous operation of many different units of such equipment in the same environment, and the operation of other electrical equipment nearby. One example of the effect of EMC on our routine daily experience is the requirement that cell phones not be used on airplanes – there is a concern that incompatibility of some cellular phones with avionics will impair the operation of the aircraft. In order to achieve its objective, EMC pursues several different issues: Emission issues are related to the reduction of unintentional generation of electromagnetic energy and to the countermeasures which should be taken in order to avoid the propagation of such energy towards the external environment. Susceptibility issues refer to the correct operation of electrical equipment in the presence of electromagnetic disturbances. When the propagation of electromagnetic disturbances in guiding structures (i.e. wires, cables, printed circuit board (PCB) traces) is taken into account, conducted emission and susceptibility issues are considered. When the open-space propagation of electromagnetic disturbances is taken into account, radiated emission and susceptibility issues are considered. There are many agencies whose work defines allowed electromagnetic interference levels, such as the FCC in the United States; CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in continental Europe; and BSI in Britain. (2) We note that Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problems can significantly decrease the reliability, increase the cost, and delay the development schedules of modern electronic systems. Compliance specifications and requirements for interoperability, make EMC an important design challenge in many systems, especially large-scale systems that operate in military facilities and in plants that supply medical and communication services. (3) The work of an EMC engineer is rooted in deep understanding of electromagnetics and propagation, as well as knowledge of areas such as integrated circuits, power supplies, shielding and conducting materials, antennas, and power systems. In addition, the work sometimes has a detective work flavor– the EMC engineer may be searching for the root cause of a “mysterious” interference phenomenon that requires data collection, experimentation, hypothesis testing, and advanced analytical skills. Experience is invaluable. Individuals who become leaders of the field often provide the impression that their work is a combination of engineering, technology, history, art and science. (4) We agree that EMC challenges have become more severe in many recent designs, due to several interrelated phenomena. Semiconductor speeds (and clock rates) are getting faster. The constant drive for lighter weights (for example, of personal computers and laptops, PDAs, and cellular phones) lead to chip and product sizes getting smaller. Voltages in many circuit designs are lower, which increases the operating current. Circuits are more sensitive, so electromagnetic interference becomes more critical. As one example, consider radiation from a loop, one of the identified sources of radiation in integrated circuits. It is a function of the square of the frequency. When the Intel processors first appeared on the market in the late 1970s, they were running at about 400 KHz; they were well over 400 MHz in 2000. This is three orders of magnitude growth and the square represents six orders of magnitude. Thus, the loop radiation problem has increased a million-fold from 1970 to 2000 (example by Henry Ott). Increases of this magnitude require original new solutions; they often cannot be accommodated by extending existing techniques. One trend in EMC is the increasing overlap between engineers concerned with Signal Integrity (SI) in integrated circuits and EMC engineers. (Signal Integrity, for integrated circuits, “refers to tools and techniques that ensure the signals on these chips are of sufficient quality for proper operation. SI tools attempt to identify and remove effects that cause a design to malfunction due to distortion of the signal waveforms.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_integrity). Increasingly, EMC and SI engineers need to address the same root causes for signal distortion (SI) and unacceptable radiation emissions (EMC). The dynamics of EMC engineering are captured by the following observation from a veteran of the field: “back when I was younger, when you learned something, you could use it for a while. It seems that today, you learn it, you use it once and you’ve got to learn something different. I often say, ‘Whatever you did last time is never enough next time.’" (http://www.hottconsultants.com/pdf_files/aug-ptk.pdf) (5) References Home page of the IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility Society http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/ A collection of links to EMC sites, courtesy of the University of Missouri Rolla (Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory,)http://www.emclab.umr.edu/emclinks.html The Interference Technology website http://www.rbitem.com/ A list of EMC standards is available here http://rb.alionscience.com/EMC_Standards/emc_standards.html A list of EMC directives http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_EMC_directives Patrick Andre provides an introduction to EMC here: http://www.conformity.com/0312quick.pdf An article about the challenges of EMC engineering http://www.evaluationengineering.com/archive/articles/e0302deal.pdf An article about Henry Ott, a notable EMC expert http://www.hottconsultants.com/pdf_files/aug-ptk.pdf Ask an Expert Q: A previous question discussed aviation, and I would like to know more about it. What kind of engineers do developers of avionics employ? Do I have to go to an aeronautics program in order to work in aviation? Will a degree in electrical engineering alone do? Please refer also to our previous answer about Avionics and Aeronautics Avionics is an abbreviation of AVIation electrONICS. It is a name for electronic systems used on aircraft, including sensing, actuating, control, communications, navigation and display. Avionic systems range from a single warning light or sensor to complicated systems using radar detection and automatic navigation. The main categories of aircraft avionics are: communications, navigation, displays, auto flight control systems, collision-avoidance systems, weather systems, and aircraft and flight management systems. While some of these areas are covered in depth in academic aerospace programs, significant instruction, research and development are done on these topics within departments of electrical engineering, computer engineering, and, to some extent, mechanical engineering. For examples almost all the innovative designs in the area of displays have come in the last 20 years from departments of electrical engineering or departments of physics. Consequently, companies in avionics have been hiring and employing large numbers of engineers in electrical engineering and computer engineering (and some mechanical engineers) – not just engineers who have degrees in aerospace engineering or aeronautics. In fact there are more electrical engineers in the employ of companies in avionics than engineers in any other discipline. Some of the skills that avionics companies find attractive in electrical engineers are: circuit design, sensor system development, design of integrated circuits, and microelectronics. Both electrical and computer engineers are often hired to work on embedded systems and embedded software (the computer is completely encapsulated by the device it controls). Avionics corporations that work with military or police customers often hire electrical engineers to work on communication, target detection, and early warning systems. These systems use Radar, Sonar, Forward Looking Infrared Radars (FLIR), and Passive Infrared Devices (PIDS). The experts in these fields are almost always electrical engineers. We have looked at the job site Monster.com for jobs with the keyword Avionics. Of the top 25 jobs that sought engineers for avionics jobs, the distribution was as follows: 14 ads specified a bachelor's degree in a “related engineering discipline” without specifying field; or mentioned “Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science”; or mentioned “Electrical/Computer Science/Aerospace/Related discipline.” 9 ads sought holders of a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in electrical engineering (or equivalent; in one case “electrical engineering or computer science”) 2 ads sought holders of a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering. The bottom line: avionics employers are open to the employment of engineers in several disciplines, but clearly avionics is a prime field for electrical engineers. A bachelor’s degree (or higher) in electrical engineering is a very good choice for students who plan to build a career in this field. Ask an Expert Q: I have completed my undergraduate studies in electronics and communications engineering and intend to pursue a career in networking. Do I have the right background or should I consider concentrating on telecommunications? Over a decade ago, a networking engineer was assumed to be working exclusively with technologies for data delivery: TCP/IP, routing, switching, address and domain name management, HTTP, email, LANs, and Ethernet. Telecommunications engineers were assumed to work primarily with technologies associated with telephony (including satelite communications) and with what had since become known as the physical layer: the radio frequency chain and the antennas. Things have changed. The boundary between telecommunication and networking has blurred, and most academic programs in one field contain significant content from the "other." For example, many cell phone providers now offer voice, video, and data communications over a common network with a common user interface. This convergence of services, sometimes referred to as Next Generation Networking (NGN), represents a general trend in the telecommunications industry towards Internet Protocol (IP) technology. It provides engineers who were trained in electronics, communications, and networking with new, diverse career opportunities. Moreover, your career decisions should be guided by your preferences and your abilities, not just by the details of your undergraduate courses. Explore the opportunities that are available to you and go after what is more exciting, enduring, developing and promising. You should enjoy what you are doing, and if it means that you need to educate yourself on some new technologies or methods, so be it. Engineers have to do this all the time. In simpler language, if you want to work in networking , go ahead - work in networking. Ask an Expert Q: I am in my 2nd year of electronics and telecommunication engineering and wanted to know about specializations. I am interested in electronics, robotics and automation and don't have a clear view about the courses offered related to my major and interests. The areas of automation, robotics and electronics are exciting and growing fields. Robotics and Automation Engineers are sought for careers in the design of modern control systems across a broad spectrum of high tech industries. With backgrounds in electronic circuits and devices, digital/microprocessor systems, computers and networks, and programming/software tools as well as knowledge relating to programmable logic controllers, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and vision and motion control, the inter-disciplinary nature of this field will ensure that graduates will always be in high demand. The leading academic society for this field is IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, which publishes Transactions on Robotics, Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, and Robotics and Automation Magazine. The Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering degree you are pursuing appears follow the system used in India, so we looked at the curriculum for this degree at some Indian universities to get an idea of the elective courses you have to choose from. As an example, we consider National Institute of Technology, Calicut's 2006 curriculum for E&TC. Assuming that this curriculum is similar to your own, our advice is that you include courses in digital systems, circuit analysis, power electronics, computer software, control, microcontrollers, digital signal processing, and wireless digital communication. These will provide you with a good foundation for the control and design of automation and robotic systems. Since an important part of automation and robotic systems is mechanical actuation, we recommend that you also take a course that deals with kinematics, if possible. Here are few books that provide good introduction to robotic and automation system mechanics: [1] Jorge Angeles: Fundamentals of Robotic Mechanical Systems [2] John Craig: Introduction to Robotics: Mechanics and Control Ask an Expert Q: I am interested in a career in electronic engineering when I am older. What should I do to prepare before college? The information to your questions is available in this site, in the section entitled Become an Engineer. General advice for preparation is given in http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php Additional information on electrical and electronics engineering, and additional useful links, are given here: http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php?major=Electrical+Engineering Ask an Expert Q: I am a third year student in a Bachelor of Technology program in India. I want to devote my career to the betterment of my country, India. What is the most useful path for a student like me to take in order to advance this cause? We do not know what field of technology you are studying, but suggest that you focus your studies (and your future career) on subjects and objectives that will improve the welfare of the public in India, and will contribute to raising the standards of living there. Specifically, we suggest that you consider a focus on improving the infrastructure in India. India is a large developing democracy, facing significant challenges. These include growing population; high levels of poverty and illiteracy; multiple threats to the social fabric; urban congestion; eco-systems under pressure; and under-developed power and energy systems. Not all of these challenges can be addressed and solved by engineers and technologists, but some can. One of the ways that an enthusiastic young person like you can help, is by focusing your studies, and then your energy as a professional, on betterment of the infrastructure in India - be that the civil engineering infrastructure (e.g., roads, bridges, dams); the power and energy systems (e.g., electrification projects); eco systems (e.g., environmental cleanup, clean energy and manufacturing); or the information, communication and networking infrastructure. In each one of these areas, there is much that needs to be done. Take, for example, rural electrification. A recent article on the subject [1] indicate that "even 56 years after independence, 63% of all rural households in India do not have electricity and use kerosene for lighting. Even for those rural areas, which are electrified, there is a tremendous shortage of power supply. Thus it is not uncommon for these areas to have 10-15 hours of blackouts and brownouts every day. There is a shortfall of about 15-20,000 MW of electricity in the country and we require about 140,000 MW of additional capacity by 2010 with an estimated outlay of Rs. 5,50,000 crores. Because of tremendous shortage of electricity, industrial growth and general life in the country is seriously affected. Moreover with any problems in the national grid, rural areas are affected the most, since the State Electricity Boards (SEB) provide urban areas with electricity on priority basis." There are many ways you can make a difference for the betterment of India. As a future technologist/engineer we suggest that a focus on infrastructure improvement can be one of the most effective and useful. (How about reducing the percentage of rural households without electricity from close to 60% now to less than 10% in 15 years?) [1] Anil K. Rajvanshi: "Key Issues for Rural Electrification," 2003, on-line: http://pune.sancharnet.in/nariphaltan/ruralelec.htm (accessed 20 August 2006). Ask an Expert Q: I am in the tenth grade in Dubai – UAE and I am interested in the electronics field. I regret the time that I wasted in school. In the last two years I changed a lot, but I still feel that I can not recover from the times that I was not serious about my education. I think part of my problem is my lack of imagination and creativity. I think I have a weak imagination and I feel that I have a problem of being creative when I write essays. Sometime I just write what I have heard and learned and I cannot write anything original. I love mathematics but sometimes I find it difficult. I have noticed that you have emphasized a lot of hard work to become an engineer. I am trying very hard to make that one of my habits. I would be very happy if you could give me advice and tell me how can I improve my skills and recover those years I wasted. We commend you for recognizing that you have not been performing as well as your ability indicates you should. Now that you have a good idea about what you would like to do, you can focus on how to get there. To use your terms, you may not be able to recover the years you "wasted," but you can certainly make better use of the (many) years ahead. We recommend that you pursue you interest in mathematics. Math problems are difficult at times, but knowledge of mathematics will prove worthwhile later on. Mathematics will open gates for you - it will provide you with access to interesting ideas and derivations that are not open to people who do not have well-developed analytical skills. Do the same with writing. Study the writing of others, read good literature, keep writing your own essays and reports, and share them with others. If you are inclined to expose your thoughts to the world, consider an on-line blog. As you write more, you are likely to discover that you are getting better at it. You would create your own writing style, develop and express original thoughts, and find that your imagination is much more fertile than you thought. The key to becoming a good writer is to persist in doing it; persistence almost always pays off. Once you have worked at mathematics and writing for a while, we expect you to find that they have become a lot easier and enjoyable than they are now. In fact, they may have become a "second nature" to you. We also suggest that you make concrete plans and write them down in a planning document. Where do you want to be a year from now? Where do you want to be five years from now? What do you need to do now in order to get there? Describing your goals and planned actions in writing and visiting the planning document periodically can be very effective. You are likely to find that from time to time you need to change direction and re-write parts of the document. Still, its very existence may prove useful and help you focus on what is important and rewarding. Finally, keep an optimistic attitude. Do not be daunted by short term setbacks. Your concern about your past performance and your self reflections are excellent indicators that you are on the right path to be successful. Planning, periodic evaluation, strong determination and persistence almost always turn seemingly-formidable obstacles into achievable milestones. Ask an Expert Q: I would like to know more about Applied Electronics and Instrumentation. What kind of work does an instrumentation engineer do? What are the future prospects of this field? The primary focus of instrumentation engineering is the development and implementation of electrical and electronic instruments for the purpose of measuring, monitoring, and recording physical phenomena. Among many other types of instruments, instrumentation engineers develop seismic sensors, blood glucose sensors, fire detectors, and amperemeters. Instruments developed by instrumentation engineers include analog, digital, and mixed signal electronic devices. Major users of these instruments include industries that rely on automated processes, such as chemical and manufacturing plants. They depend on these devices for safety, and for improving productivity and reliability. A very large field of work is also offered in biomedical engineering, and in metrology (the discipline that provides devices for technical measurements). The scope of instrumentation engineering is vast, and appears to be growing, in part due to the increased use of automatic control in manufacturing and process plants. Growth is also tied to the development of more accurate and more robust sesnors, which allow us to detect phenomena of interest (such as the presence of minute levels of toxins in food) with much higher precision than what we could do a generation ago. The Applied Electronics and Instrumentation curriculum in most universities includes courses on the design of analog and digital electronic devices used for measurement and control of parameters such as flow, pressure, temperature, and level, and the calibration of such instruments. Students learn to program microcontrollers, and to design and implement communication networks composed of sensors, actuators, and programmable logic controllers (PLC). Since instrumentation engineering is closely related to control engineering, some universities include courses on signals, systems, and control theory. The degree title mentioned in the question, Applied Electronics and Instrumentation, is most popular in India. Therefore, we decided to look at what Indian universities that offer Applied Electronics and Instrumentation degrees say about the career paths that graduates are likely to have. Here is what the Department of Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering at the Silicon Institute of Technology in Bhubaneswar says about career prospects of its graduates: The demand for Applied Electronics is growing rapidly and job opportunities for graduates are multi-faceted. The graduates can work as Manufacturing Engineers in [multi-national corporations] like Sony, LG, Samsung, and Philips, as quality controllers, research, design & development consultants, entrepreneurs, and teachers. The Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Department at Manav Rachna College of Engineering also cites rapid growth and the diverse application of the field: The field of Applied Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering is growing at a very fast pace. Over the past three decades the field of instrumentation has seen an extremely widespread application in almost all discipline of engineering e.g., mining & metallurgy, robotics, textile, rolling mills, cranes & hoists, arc furnaces, chemical engineering, process control, and static relays. Some professional societies for instrumentation that provide educational and career information about this growing field are the Instrument Society of America; the Instrumentation and Measurements Society of IEEE; the Institute of Diagnostic Engineers (US), and the Institute of Measurement and Control (UK). Ask an Expert Q: I want to work in designing entertainment systems (lights, control, FX, communication, etc.) Do firms in this industry hire Electrical, Electronic, or Computer Science Engineers? (Do they prefer one kind of engineering degree over another or is it all the same?) Also – can you refer me to resources within this highly specialized field of work? Your question refers to what is increasingly called Entertainment Engineering, a multi-disciplinary field that covers the technologies used in entertainment devices and events such as movies, concerts, opera productions, theme and amusement parks, electronic games, casinos, racing and sporting events, toys, and other forms of entertainment. The entertainment industry is a fast evolving field. Technical expertise in a wide variety of engineering disciplines is becoming the norm. Computer controlled lighting systems, robotics, structural design, pyrotechnics, and fluid dynamics are just a few of the technologies that have become important. (Taken from [2]). Job Prospects: Entertainment Engineering is a growing and quickly expanding field which is likely to become a permanent segment of the engineering job market. However, due to its historic evolvement, some individuals who studied the field believe that salaries of entertainment engineers will be lower in the next decade than salaries of engineers in disciplines such as computer engineering, electrical engineering and software engineering, as well as majors of computer science. Preferred Disciplines: there is room in entertainment engineering for engineers of several different disciplines, from electrical engineers to civil engineers. A review of current job offering profile (and of the current state of the industry) points to a slight advantage to electrical engineering majors over other branches of engineering. However there are many areas (such as computer games) where computer science and software engineering majors are likely to be the most desirable experts/employees. Resources [1] An on-line free-subscription magazine called Entertainment Engineering is available here: http://entertainmentengineering.com/index.html [2] The University of Nevada plans to offer a major in entertainment engineering: http://www.eed.egr.unlv.edu/index.cfm [3] The University of Missouri Rolla has plans to offer a major in entertainment engineering: http://www.missouri-miner.com/media/storage/paper426/news/2004/09/02/News/entertainment.Engineering-709876.shtml?norewrite200610040032&sourcedomain=www.missouri-miner.com: http://news.umr.edu/news/2004/434.html [4] The University of Greenwich offers a program in Games and Entertainment Systems Software Engineering Entertainment Systems http://www.gre.ac.uk/courses/under/sch/eng/gamentsys_beng.html [5] A job website with a section on entertainment engineering: http://jobs.entertainmentengineering.com/JS/Action/Searchresults.asp?q=y&key=Entertainment&SType=1&I1=25 [6] Several corporations have entertainment engineering divisions: http://www.mgmclaren.com/ http://www.rockwellautomation.com/industries/entertainment http://www.kftv.com/company-a6654211.html http://www.entertech.com/ http://www.birket.com/ [7] A collection of books on entertainment technology in www.amazon.com [8] An interview with an entertainment engineer: http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/engnews/fall03/EN3F/Beck.html http://www.coe.berkeley.edu/forefront/fall2003/beck.html [9] An article in IEEE Spectrum on entertainment engineering [10] University entertainment technology centers: http://www.etcenter.org/ http://www.etc.cmu.edu/Global/index.html http://picet.tech.purdue.edu/ Ask an Expert Q: What are Variable Speed Drives? Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), also known as adjustable speed drives, are large industrial electric motors whose speed can be adjusted by means of an external controller. They are used in process control and help saving energy in plants that use many powerful electric motors. The use of adjustable speed in process control matches the motor speed to the required tasks and may compensate for changes in the process's variables. The use of adjustable speed for saving energy is exemplified by the adjusting the speed of a colling fan motor to match the temperature of the machinery parts it is cooling. VSDs are effective in energy savers in pump and fan applications; "they enhance process operations, particularly where flow control is involved. VSDs provide soft-start capabilities, which decrease electrical stresses and line voltage sags associated with full voltage motor start-ups, especially when driving high-inertia loads." (S.S. Turkel, see on-line reference below) Adjustable frequency drives are a specific type of VSDs; they are controlling the rotational speed of an alternating current (AC) electric motor by controlling the frequency of the electrical power supplied to the motor. More on VSDs is available in the following references (please note that Wikipedia articles can be changed by any user anytime, hence caution is advised): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_speed_drive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_Frequency_Drive Understanding variable-speed drives (S.S. Turkel) http://www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_understanding_variable_speed_3/index.html See also: http://www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_understanding_variable_speed/index.html http://www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_understanding_variable_speed_2/index.html http://www.ecmweb.com/mag/electric_understanding_variable_speed_4/index.html Applying Adjustable Speed Drives to Conveyors (C. Cowie) http://www.cisco-eagle.com/systems/Conveyors/conveyor-articles/adjustable-speed-drives.htm Drives Magazine (http://www.drivesmag.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1) describes itself as "the definitive source for drives". It provides readers with opportunities to ask questions of experts in that field, here: http://www.drivesmag.com/index.php?option=com_facileforms&Itemid=72 A collection of articles about VSD technology and industry is available here: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/guides/variable-speed-drives.html You can see what commercial manufacturers offer in the VSD area by using the key words "variable speed drives" in an Internet search through a search engine such as Google.com or Yahoo.com Ask an Expert Q: I am an electrical engineer working for the government of Ethiopia. How can I learn about opportunities for graduate education abroad? How about financial aid? You will need to research schools that have graduate level programs in your areas of interest. Further you will need to assess whether you have a reasonable opportunity to be accepted to one or more of these universities, and if some financial aid is also forthcoming. Look for programs that are conducted in a language that you master, concentrate on countries and schools that have a tradition of admitting and supporting foreign students, and seek opportunities to contact with students from Ethiopia who are studying there now, or have graduated recently; they may have valuable information and tips about admission requirements, availability of good thesis advisers and mentors, program quality, and financial aid opportunities. Unfortunately, financial aid for international students is not readily available, for example the Association of International Educators reports that more than two-thirds of non-US students studying in the United States pay for their education using their own or their family's money. One way to advance (and finance) your studies is to acquire a research assistantship from an established researcher in your field. This is not easy, since committing an assistantship to a new incoming student is not as common as it was a decade ago - but it is still possible. The key is to identify professors who are active in research in a field relevant to your interests, and impress them that you have read their work, understood what they are trying to accomplish, and possess both the background and intellectual strength to advance their field of study as their research assistant. Needless to say this route requires significant effort on your part, but we know of students whose path has indeed started by demonstrating their potential ability to contribute to a developing research program. Some academic and non-academic institutions offer financial aid to international students, though the available stipends are highly competitive. For instance, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania has a small program of financial aid to international students (http://www.lincoln.edu/financialaid/is.html). Some universities that encourage international participation may have leads or advice that could be relevant (e.g., International University Bremen). There was some talk about a student exchange between Ethiopia and Texas Tech University (see http://www.texastech.edu/communications/display_article.php?id=1706 and Brown University (http://www.brown.edu/Administration/OIP/programs/ethiopia/; see also http://www.physics.ncat.edu/~michael/asn/program/ethiopia/index.html) Arrangements of this kind may serve as a vehicle to arrange for some period of study abroad. There are various agencies worldwide who provide assistance to international students (see for example the list on http://fletcher.tufts.edu/admissions/financialaid.shtml#us-foreign and on the website of the SIT: http://www.sit.edu/graduate/finaid/international_add_sources.html. You should realize however that the competition over these funding sources is quite high, and success would require demonstration of strong capabilities, as well as patience and persistence. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student from Mumbai, India. I have to decide whether to do a Bachelor of Engineering in 1) Electrical Engineering; 2) Electronics Engineering; or 3) Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering. Which one will be the best, considering that I want to study later toward a Master of Science degree abroad? Also, will my choice affect my ability to pursue a Master of Science degree in Avionics? We do not believe that there is a critical difference between the preparation to graduate studies provided by reputable institutions in Mumbai (and in India overall) to students in the three areas that are subject of your question. In general, we would recommend that you follow first your professional interests if you have developed such interests at this stage. A high level of motivation is an important factor in academic success and it is always a good practice to concentrate on areas and subjects about which you are enthusiastic. If you are much more enthusiastic about one of these three areas, "go for it". A second criterion in your case should be the degree to which a particular program that you choose provide deeper and wider analytical abilities. We would shy away from programs that over-emphasize "the latest technology" because such technologies tend to be fleeting. We would recommend instead that you select programs and curricula that build your analytical strengths (e.g., more mathematics, more analytical methods). There is no substitute to analytical strength when it comes to graduate studies. A third and somewhat less important criterion may be the compatibility of the title of your program in India with educational programs that you wish to join abroad. It is entirely possible that a program in one area of study, in Germany or the United Kingdom say, will accept you for graduate studies from a an undergraduate program with a different focus in India. However you may have a small advantage applying to an electrical engineering program from an electrical engineering program; to an electronics program from an electronics program; and to a telecommunications program from a telecommunications program. If you find that in the target country where you want to do your graduate work programs in one of your candidate areas are much more popular than in the other two, you may have a small advantage enrolling under the more popular title. As we have indicated before in response to similar questions, the field of avionics employs engineers from a wide spectrum of engineering expertise areas. We do not see the selection of any of the areas you are considering as critical to future plans to work in avionics. Admittedly, it does appear that the demand for experts in electronics by avionics companies is somewhat stronger at present than in the other fields. We hardly believe that this consideration outweigh the other criteria we have outlined above. Ask an Expert Q: I plan to do a bachelor of engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering. Please inform me what are the post graduation courses (Masters) that I will be able to do abroad. (I am in India) Most individuals with an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering Bachelor of Engineering from a reputable institution in India (and a high quality record, including grades and extracurricular activities) will be welcome by many programs in the following areas: Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, and (perhaps to somewhat lesser extent) Biomedical Engineering and (under favorable circumstances) Mechanical Engineering. A high achiever in your fields of study is likely to have a lot to choose from. Ask an Expert Q: Can you please tell me what the difference is between a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng) degree in the same field? If I obtain a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, what are my post-graduation opportunities? We recommend the current (3 August 2006) Wikipedia article on the subject of the Bachelor of Engineering degree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Engineering). In general the differences between requirements for B.Sc and B.Eng at the same school do not follow a universal pattern. Employers and admission officers need to investigate the specific details of each school in order to understand the differences (if they care to conduct the research). We have discussed this subject with several employers in the aerospace industry and with admissions officers in several universities (in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe). The employers were by and large indifferent to any real or perceived differences between B. Eng and B. Sc. degrees in the same field. The admission officers indicated that for most purposes the degrees are indistinguishable. The intricate requirements that institutions impose on candidates for B. Eng. and B. Sc. rarely make a difference when it comes to graduate school admission decisions. Remedial work may be asked in relatively rare cases of candidates for admission to graduate school based on their actual transcript course list, not based on a priori prejudice about the B. Eng/ B. SC differences. To find out what aerospace and aeronautics engineers do, please visit the Sloane Career Cornerstone Center at http://www.careercornerstone.org/aerospace/aerospace.htm; they provide an expansive review with excellent resources and links. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has a collection of resources for educators and teachers here: http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=5. SAE International offers an interesting magazine on line here: http://www.sae.org/aeromag Ask an Expert Q: I am enrolled in a chemical engineering program. I would like to learn more about the job responsibilities of chemical engineers, and on the prospects of finding a rewarding and meaningful job in this field. Part 1 : What do chemical engineers do? 1.1 From the Occupational Outlook Book of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ((http://www.bls.gov/oco/): Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals and biochemicals. They design equipment and processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production. Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper. They also work in healthcare, biotechnology, and business services. Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and mechanical and electrical engineering. Some may specialize in a particular chemical process, such as oxidation or polymerization. Others specialize in a particular field, such as materials science, or in the development of specific products. They must be aware of all aspects of chemicals manufacturing and how the manufacturing process affects the environment and the safety of workers and consumers. 1.2 From the Chemical Engineer Department webpage at the University of Adelaide (http://www.chemeng.adelaide.edu.au/future/ug/what/ ): Chemical or process engineers turn great ideas discovered in laboratories into practical devices and processes that: improve our quality of life; protect the environment; ensure products and services we purchase are cheaper and of better quality; and increase competitiveness, thereby protecting and creating jobs and wealth for communities. Chemical engineers do this using a combination of biology, biochemistry and/or chemistry with math (as well as a bit of economics and finance to predict how these ideas will work on a larger-scale outside the laboratory in the real world, and then building and operating the equipment needed to bring these ideas to life. For example, chemical engineers have helped do this by performing "research and development" or by "design and operation" of processes that: Manufacture pharmaceuticals, making them cheaper and safe for people to use; Refine oil into petrol, keeping petrol prices low and improving petrol quality so it doesn't pollute the air; Generate electricity in the most efficient fashion to preserve our natural resources and protect the environment; Create renewable fuels and energy sources to replace coal, petrol and gas; Produce safe drinking water from rivers, groundwater or the sea for city, rural and remote aboriginal communities; Safely treat toxic hazardous industrial wastes so their disposal does not harm the environment; Help the wine industry make premium wines for export more consistently and at lower cost; and Improve mining techniques, so they minimize environmental damage and cost less. Chemical engineering is very "multi-disciplinary": its principles are widely applied to a diverse range of everyday things that people do, and in almost every product and service we use. In fact almost everything that you see and touch around you has, at one time or another, been created by a process invented, designed and/or operated by a chemical engineer. Chemical engineers have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse career, and there are a range of different jobs from which to choose. You can work in a laboratory, in an office, in the outdoors or on an industrial plant, or combination of all of these in the one job. Some industries and careers that chemical engineers are involved in include: Biotechnology & pharmaceutical industries; Winemaking; Food production (e.g. beer, milk, cheese); Petrochemicals (e.g. gold, rare earths, oil refining, natural gas, plastics); Industrial Chemicals (e.g. detergents & soaps, chlorine, explosives); Mining and minerals processing (e.g. iron ore, steel manufacture, aluminum); Environmental engineering (i.e. air pollution control, water and wastewater treatment, waste disposal, resource management); Semi-conductors & microelectronics (many chemical engineers work in these areas); Nanotechnology (an emerging scientific area utilizing very small particles for diverse applications); and Management consulting (i.e. engineering business and financial management). Many chemical engineers go on to manage companies, or even start their own business. 1.3 We have provided on this site (TryEngineering.org) a description of what chemical engineers do (see http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php?major=Chemical+Engineering) and an interview with a chemical engineer, William Huang of Daniel Fluor (http://www.tryengineering.org/life.php?profile=1) . There are several additional resources where you can find useful information: The Sloane Career Cornerstone Center Center http://www.careercornerstone.org/chemeng/chemeng.htm Careers in Chemical Engineering - What Do Chemical Engineers Do? (AIChE) http://www.aiche.org/Students/Careers/CareerFAQ.aspx The University of Adelaide: What do Chemical Engineers Do? http://www.chemeng.adelaide.edu.au/future/ug/what/ The University of Arizona: What Exactly do Chemical Engineers do? http://www.che.arizona.edu/UndergraduateStudents/Prospective/whatChEdo.htm WorldWideLearn: Guide to College Majors in Chemical Engineering http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/engineering/chemical-engineering-major.htm Part 2: The job market for Chemical Engineers Predicting long-term employment trends in any engineering field is at best tenuous. However there are some organizations and institutions that try to collect data and make predictions. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics published an Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco/) and here is what it said in 2004 about chemical engineering jobs in the nited States (there were 31,000 chemical engineers in the United States n 2004, 2.1% of the total number of engineers): “Chemical engineers are expected to have employment growth about as fast as the average for all occupations though 2014. Although overall employment in the chemical manufacturing industry is expected to decline, chemical companies will continue to research and develop new hemicals and more efficient processes to increase output of existing chemicals. Among manufacturing industries, pharmaceuticals may provide the best opportunities for jobseekers. However, most employment growth for chemical engineers will be in service industries such as scientific research and development services, particularly in energy and the developing fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology.” The salary survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE, www.naceweb.org) reported in 2003 that the average starting salary for chemical engineers with a bachelor degree averaged $52,384 a year; those with a master degree received an average of $57,857, and those with a PhD degree, $70,729. A more recent (23 February 2006) NACE article quoted an average starting salary of $55,900 for chemical engineers with a bachelor degree, ahead of all other engineering disciplines and all other university majors (see http://www.doe.mtu.edu/news/degree_worth.html). In the spring of 2006, NACE published a newer estimate of $56,549 (http://www.jobweb.com/SalaryInfo/06_springupdate.htm). Additional resources: “Demand continues for civil and chemical engineers” http://www.diversitycareers.com/articles/college/05-winspr/jm_ChEs.htm Women Chemical Engineers in India http://dbtindia.nic.in/women/paper7.htm Making a Difference: Work as a Chemical Engineer (Canada) http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/2006_05_19/making_a_difference_work_as_a_chemical_engineer/(parent)/12102 New chemistry, chemical engineering graduates find strong job market (article from 2001) http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2001/A/200110400.html Working as a chemical engineer in Canada http://www.settlement.org/sys/apt_detail.asp?faq_id=4000630 Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year B.E student in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. My interest is in aeronautics and avionics. What degree should I take for my Masters? What are the areas of specialization? How would I choose a school for a Masters degree in the USA that has aeronautics and avionics programs? I'm having a hard time deciding…help. U.S. News & World Report provides rankings on the top graduate programs in the U.S. The rankings can be narrowed down to engineering and aerospace specializations. I believe that a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering would be good. Various specializations include—design engineer, test engineer, customer support engineer (provides technical support to customer), product engineer (manages a particular product from development through production and serves as a liaison between engineering and various departments), project engineering (manages multiple products and projects and serves as a liaison between various departments), manufacturing engineer (determines how the product is manufactured), and technical sales. Ask an Expert Q: I am interested in all fields of science and math, but I particularly excel in physics and problem solving. In the future, I would love to "solve the world's problems" and work on advanced energy sources such as fusion power. Knowing that fusion requires knowledge and experience with plasma physics, what type of engineer should I aim to become? Would I be better off in selecting physics as a major? You are interested in an exciting area that would have significant impact on our society. The developing of new energy resources, and in particular fusion, are the focus of much research and study at present, and by all accounts they will continue to see intense activity for many decades to come. This activity requires the participation and collaborative efforts of a wide range of experts, including physicists, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, materials engineers, and computer scientists. Many electrical engineering programs offer electrophysics tracks, and you may want to select such a program for your undergraduate studies. Some colleges and universities go a step further and offer programs that combine engineering and physics. Programs of this type are sometimes organized to offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Engineering as well as a BS in Physics, often over a five-year course of study. Schools that offer such combinations include Case Western Reserve University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cornell University, McMaster University (Canada), The University of Virginia, The University of British Columbia (Canada), Princeton University, and Queen's University (Canada). Another popular combination is of electrical engineering and physics. Among the schools that offer such programs are Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Univerity of Alabama, Butler University/Purdue IUPUI, University of Dundee (Scotland), and the University of Alberta (Canada). Which ever way you decide to go, you will probably want to continue on to graduate school and earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree studying either physics or engineering. As you proceed with your undergraduate studies you will discover whether your interests are more in the hands-on work of engineering new energy conversion devices or in the more theoretical and mathematical explorations that drive energy systems development. Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year Mechanical Engineering student struggling to find a topic for my Senior project. Do you have ideas or resources where I can find potential projects? Mechanical engineering students have a large number of subjects they can select from in order to develop a meaningful and challenging senior year project. Here are some links to sites that can provide you with ideas. A collection of Android projects http://www.androidworld.com/prod01.htm Elements of humanoids http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/race.html Build and test a wind tunnel (site is for pre-university students but has applicable ideas for senior design) http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/windtunnel.html Robot building ideas http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/windtunnel.html http://www.robotslife.com/ http://www.jsk.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ http://www.robocup2006.org/start?lang=en An autonomous helicopter http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/chopper/www/ http://sun-valley.stanford.edu/projects/helicopters/helicopters.html/ Ask an Expert Q: I have just received my Bachelor of Engineering in electronics and communication). I have great interest in Nanotechnology/MEMS. Should I concentrate on MEMS or on Nanotechnology for my Master-level studies? How are job prospects in these areas? First, let us define the areas you are asking about. Nanotechnology [1] is a field of applied science focused on the design, synthesis, characterization and application of materials and devices on the nanoscale (the nanoscale refers technically to particles of the order of 10-9 meter (nanometer or nm) in size; nanotechnology often deals with particles smaller than 100nm but larger than 10-10 m or 0.1nm). Nanotechnology is a technology stemming from biology, physics, chemistry and other scientific fields, which involves the study of phenomena and manipulation of material at the nanoscale, in essence an extension of existing sciences into the that scale. The engineering focus of many efforts in nanotechnology is on the design and manufacturing of extremely small electronic circuits and mechanical devices at this scale (which is also the molecular level of matter). MEMS or Microelectromechanical Systems [2] is the technology of the very small, and merges at the nanoscale into "Nanoelectromechanical Systems" (NEMS) and Nanotechnology. MEMS devices generally range in size from a micrometer (a millionth of a meter, 10-6 m, or ƒÝm) to a millimeter (thousandth of a meter, 10-3 m, or mm). MEMS is a technology that combines computers with tiny mechanical devices such as sensors, valves, gears, mirrors, and actuators embedded in semiconductor chips. As these definitions make clear, nanotechnology is technically a subset of MEMS, though in many educational and research institutions MEMS studies are about particles in the range 1mm to 100nm and nanotechnology is about particles in the range 100nm to 0.1nm. Both MEMS and nanotechnology are relatively new technological areas where most activity is in research and development rather than manufacturing and applications. For obvious reasons, there are at present more industrial and commercial applications of MEMS than of nanotechnology. Some of the MEMS applications are in sensor technology (e.g., MEMS gyroscopes in cars) and optical switching in data communications. If you are interested in working in either one of these fields your primary opportunities at the present time are as a full fledged researcher (a position that usually requires a Ph.D. or equivalent), or as member of the support staff in research and development institutions. Most jobs are in universities and advanced laboratories of high-technology corporations ( a sample of available jobs in MEMS and nanotechnology ). Due to the small size of this segment of the job market in engineering (at least now, in late 2006) neither nanotechnology nor MEMS should be viewed as attractive fields just because of the job prospects. The attraction of these fields is in the innovative nature of the work, the pioneering nature of most efforts, and the related sense of discovery. As all work in the forefront of the state-of-the-art, there is the risk that early promise of these fields will not materialize and that developments that appear now poised to grow will stagnate and saturate. Our advice at present is to seek a Master of Science program with emphasis on the scientific basics, and select courses and thesis topics based on the availability of adequate facilities, professional mentoring, research funding, and the potential to develop the work to a Ph.D. dissertation. It is difficult to be more specific in emerging fields whose long term course and expansions prospects are still not that apparent. References Note: this reference list includes references from Wikipedia . Entries in Wikipedia may be modified by users at any time, and hence reader caution is advised. [1] Nanotechnology, in Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, accessed 1 October 2006; see also http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213444,00.html . [2] Microelectromechanical systems, in Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, accessed 1 October 2006; see also http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213444,00.html Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of mechanical engineering, in my final year toward a baccalaureate degree. I recently developed interest in the field of chemical engineering. How should I proceed? The first piece of advice is to continue your studies toward mechanical engineering and acquire the Bachelor of Science (or Bachelor of Engineering) degree at the end of the year. If your mechanical engineering program provides opportunities for technical electives in the final year, you may want to include some chemical engineering courses in these slots after consulting with the student advisers of both the mechanical and the chemical engineering programs. Beyond this advice, you have three basic paths to choose from: (1) You may seek a position with a company or enterprise that engages in chemical engineering but also employs mechanical engineers. This path will get you closer to chemical engineers and chemical engineering, and will guide you in future decisions (for example, whether or not you should acquire more formal schooling in chemical engineering, and at what level). Many subjects (such as control theory) are common to the mechanical and chemical engineering curricula. You are therefore likely to find that your academic preparation as a mechanical engineer allows you to work along with chemical engineers on challenging design and production problems in manufacturing and processing of chemical compounds. This kind of work may satisfy your professional interests. (2) You may seek to augment your baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering by a second baccalaureate degree or a minor (if such exists in your school) in chemical engineering. This path would require detailed consultation with the adviser of the chemical engineering program in your school or in a comparable school. Since both programs, chemical and mechanical, share significant number of courses and subjects, it may be possible to acquire the second degree in a time period that ranges between 2 and 4 semesters. Using the technical electives slots in your mechanical engineering program for some chemical engineering classes may accelerate the process. (3) You may seek admission to a graduate level program in chemical engineering using your baccalaureate mechanical engineering degree as a credential. It is likely that you may be required to take some undergraduate classes to qualify for full admission as a graduate student in chemical engineering, but this path ends with a higher-level degree (typically Master of Science or Master of Engineering) and it will expose you to higher level material and activities (such as independent research) than what undergraduate programs typically offer. Ask an Expert Q: What is an engineering standard? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using standards in engineering? Engineering standards are documents that specify characteristics and technical details that must be met by the products, systems and processes that the standards cover. The purpose of developing and adhering to standards is to ensure minimum performance, meet safety requirements, make sure that the product/system/process is consistent and repeatable, and provide for interfacing with other standard-compliant equipment (ensure compatibility). There are several good sources on engineering standards, including the IEEE Standards in Education and Standards Association portals; the website of ASTM International ; and the website of ANSI, the American National Standards Institute. Engineers who work on wireless communications, are likely to be very familiar with the IEEE 802 standards; these deal with local area networks and metropolitan area networks. Engineers who work on building design would consult the ASCE 7-05 standard on “Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures.” Among other advantages, these engineers know that other engineers who need to work later on the same designs would know what to expect, and how to improve and expand the original design – as long as they know it complied with these standards. Engineering standards are of interest to designers of components, sub-systems and systems; to people who specify and purchase equipment and services, and to consumers who want to be sure of product safety and compatibility with other standard equipment they own or use. As to the disadvantages, some designs become more expensive due to their need to comply with a standard. Some engineers feel that standards impede their creativity. In addition, overly conservative or infrequently-updated standards may delay the introduction of new technology into the marketplace. Ask an Expert Q: I am an Electric Power Engineer and I am looking for a Certificate Program in Protection and Relays for Electrical power Systems from an official institute or organization in North America. We don't know of a certificate program in Power System Protection alone. There are several schools that offer Certificate Programs in Electric Power and Power Electronics. These programs require at least 3 graduate courses in the area. Here are a few examples: At the Illinois Institute of Technology: http://motor.ece.iit.edu/power/certificatecourses.html At Iowa State University: http://www.ede.iastate.edu/gradprograms.asp?gp=pe At the University of Missouri-Rolla http://soe.umr.edu/files/Electric_Power_Systems_Engineering_Feb2006.pdf#search=%22Certificate%20Programs%20in%20Electric%20Power%20%22 At the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: http://www.pde.rpi.edu/academics/certificates/epow.shtml If you are only looking for a course on Protection, the most appropriate program are short courses offered by the University of Wisconsin, Madison, or the Georgia Institute of Technology. These are 4-7 days in duration and provide exhaustive coverage of the subject. For the University of Wisconsin courses go to: http://epdweb.engr.wisc.edu/ and search for "power" or "protection". For the Georgia Institute of Technology short courses go to: http://www.pe.gatech.edu/conted/servlet/edu.gatech.conted.course.CourseList?COURSE_TYPE=SHORT_COURSE&SUBJECT_ID=29 Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of electrical engineering, working on a spark generator. Can you provide some references? Before we go into any details, two warnings. (1) Spark-gap transmitters can be DANGEROUS (HIGH voltages and HIGH currents). Before you build a spark-gap transmitter, you need to ascertain with your teacher, instructor or lab technician that all safety precautions were taken. (2) Spark-gap transmitters can INTERFERE with communication devices and other electrical machinery. You must ascertain ahead of time that the frequencies and power levels you are using will not impair the operation of other systems. A spark generator (or spark transmitter or spark-gap transmitter) is a source of alternating current, usually employed in (now obsolete)radio transmitters. These transmitters derive their outputs from the oscillating discharge of a capacitor to an inductor and across a spark gap. Spark-gap transmitters were used in the early days of wireless communications, and were popular in wireless telegraphy between 1885 and 1906. The first operational use of wireless telegraphy (1899-1902, during the Anglo-Boer war in South Africa) used a spark-gap transmitter designed by Guglielmo Marconi (Italian, 1874-1937; http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history_center/wireless.html) The following current (13 August 2006) articles in Wikipedia provide good overview of spark gap transmitters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark-gap_transmitter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_gap A short history and basic block diagrams of spark-gap generators are available in the links below, but again, be aware of the fact that before you build your own spark-gap transmitter you need to ascertain SAFETY and NON-INTERFERENCE with other electrical devices. Spark gap transmitters can be DANGEROUS. See: http://www.vistech.net/users/w1fji/spark.html; and (3 locations for the same article): http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/SPARK_SOUNDS.html http://www.physics.otago.ac.nz/ursi/belrose/spark.html http://www.hammondmuseumofradio.org/spark.html Information about a 1964 design report available from NTIS: http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0454944 A design from 1919: http://www.qsl.net/ab0cw/sparktx.htm A virtual spark-gap transmitter (very cool): http://www.zianet.com/sparks/transmitters.html#virtual More on the history of spark-gap transmitters: http://home.freeuk.net/dunckx/wireless/sparksnarcs/sparksnarcs.html http://www.physics.otago.ac.nz/ursi/belrose/spark.html The basics of a spark-gap transmitter: http://home.freeuk.net/dunckx/wireless/sparktx/sparktx.html Pictures and descriptions of early designs: http://www.sparkmuseum.com/SPKTRAN.HTM Ask an Expert Q: What are the opportunities in industry for holders of a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Electronics and Telecommunications (E&TC) Engineering or Electronics (EC) Engineering? The degree titles mentioned in the question appear to follow the system used in India, and we decided to answer this question by looking at what Indian universities that offer E&TC and EC degrees say about the career paths that degree holders are likely to face. It is relevant to mention that E&TC and EC graduates are often the groups most sought-after by employers of graduates from electrical engineering programs in India. Here is what the Department of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering at the Maharashtra Academy of Engineering in Pune(http://maepune.com/home.aspxa>) says about career prospects of E&TC graduates: "Power generation, wireless communications, robotics and computer multimedia are just some examples of complex systems that require the knowledge and skills that form the basis of modern Electronics Engineering. It is often the public perception that technology solves problems, but it is actually the skill and ingenuity of the engineer that is the real driving force. It is this skill and ingenuity coupled with the technical knowledge that leads to the great range of career paths open to our graduates." The department then provides examples of student placement in various corporations, including IBM, Cisco, Accenture, TCS, Cognizant, Satyam, KPIT Cummins, HSBC, Mahindra-British Telecon, Tata Technologies, Videocon, and Wipro. A number of students continued to graduate studies in India and in other countries. Similar lists are available from other institutions. For example, on the list of SSCET (Bhilai Chhattisgarh) we find employers of E&TC engineering graduates that include Microsoft, Mahindra British Telecom, Gajra Bevels, Emerald Industries, Impetus, TCS, Gajra Gears, PCS, Oracle, Hughes Software, KanBay, Wipro, CSC, Onida, Bharati Telenet, Infosys, HCL, L&T, Sara Infosystem, IBM, CDAC, Hero Honda, JK Industries, Kirloskar, Maruti, and HP. Some graduates were also employed by the Indian Army. Overall the emerging picture is of a vibrant and heterogeneous job market, where E&TC and EC graduates can choose to work for transnational conglomerates or for small local enterprises. Following global trends, some of the jobs are in non-traditional fields such as finance, and many emphasize the software writing and system engineering skills of graduates, not their knowledge in electromagnetics and circuits. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION General description of careers in Electrical Engineering is available on our own site here: http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php?major=Electrical+Engineering. Additional information can be found on the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center page, here: http://www.careercornerstone.org/eleceng/eleceng.htm In addition, please see our answer to a related question here Ask an Expert Q: My question is about computer networks and communications. How does the Ethernet work at the MAC layer? Where can I find an explanation of the way a packet is converted into a frame and sent into a network? Ethernet is a collective name for a group of standards defining local area networks in electronic communications. These standards cover cabling and the structure of data sent over those cables, as well as the hardware that connects the cables [4]. The name comes from “luminiferous ether,” the mythical substance that was once believed to exist in space through which electricity is carried. “Net” is short for “network.” The question makes use of several terms used in communications and computer network protocol design. A communications protocol is the set of standard rules for data representation, signaling, authentication, and error detection required to send information over a communications channel [5]. The term MAC layer refers to one of the seven layers in a popular model of computer and communication networks, known as the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. The OSI reference model divides the functions of a communication protocol into a series of layers. Each layer has the property that it only uses the functions of the layer below, and only exports functionality to the layer above. These layers are: Layer 7: Application Layer Layer 6: Presentation Layer Layer 5: Session Layer Layer 4: Transport Layer Layer 3: Network Layer Layer 2: Data Link Layer Layer 1: Physical Layer Read more about the OSI model here [1]. The Ethernet [2] is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). It allows multiple devices (e.g., computers, printers) to operate and communicate through a shared physical medium. Ethernet technologies define a number of wiring and signaling standards for the OSI model physical layer, means of network access at the Media Access Control (MAC)/Data Link Layer, and a common addressing format. As we read in [3], Xerox Corporation researcher Bob Metcalfe in 1973, designed and tested the first Ethernet network at Xerox Corporation’s Palo Alto Research Center. “While working on a way to link Xerox’s "Alto" computer to a printer, Metcalfe developed the physical method of cabling that connected devices on the Ethernet, as well as the standards that governed communication on the cable. Ethernet has since become the most popular and most widely deployed network technology in the world. The Ethernet standard has grown to encompass new technologies as computer networking has matured, but the mechanics of operation for every Ethernet network today stem from Metcalfe’s original design. The original Ethernet described communication over a single cable shared by all devices on the network. Once a device attached to this cable, it had the ability to communicate with any other attached device. This allows the network to expand to accommodate new devices without requiring any modification to those devices already on the network. Ethernet is a local area technology, with networks traditionally operating within a single building, connecting devices in close proximity. At most, Ethernet devices could have only a few hundred meters of cable between them, making it impractical to connect geographically dispersed locations. Modern advancements have increased these distances considerably, allowing Ethernet networks to span tens of kilometers.” A good resource on Ethernet is available in Howstuffworks [3]. To read about the way the Ethernet frame is created, please refer to the on-line article by Kyle Cassidy [4]. References Note: this reference list includes references from Wikipedia . Entries in Wikipedia may be modified by users at any time, and hence reader caution is advised. [1] OSI Model, in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, accessed 1 October 2006. [2] Ethernet, in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, accessed 1 October 2006. [3] How does the Ethernet Works, in Howstuffworks, accessed 1 October 2006. [4] Kyle Cassidy: An Ethernet Primer May 11, 2001; accessed 1 October 2006. [5] Communications Protocol, in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, accessed 1 October 2006. Ask an Expert Q: I just graduated with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering degree and am currently working in the Philadelphia area. I am trying to go back to school part time, for my Master of Science degree (and maybe my PhD eventually). I was wondering what the best route would be if I like control theory. Most of the programs I have talked to, in EE, are not oriented towards controls. Would it be better to head towards a mechanical or aeronautical degree? We believe that your best approach would be to identify a strong and interested thesis advisor in one of the engineering programs in electrical or mechanical engineering in the Philadelphia area. We suggest that you look for such an advisor in Philadelphia area schools that offer graduate programs. Review the work of faculty researchers in Philadelphia-area universities who work and publish in the area of control, and then communicate with those whose work fits your interests and whose profile appears compatible with your expectations. Here is a PARTIAL list which we we have compiled from several university websites. We do not know if all professors on this list are accepting graduate students at the present time (ME=Mechanical Engineering; EE=Electrical Engineering). At Drexel University, B.C. Chang (ME), J. Desai (ME), Allon Guez (EE), Paul Kalata (EE), Moshe Kam (EE), Harry Kwatny (ME), Paul Oh (ME), Ajmal Yousuff (ME). At the University of Pennsylvania, Haim Bau (ME), Ali Jadbabaie (EE), Vijay Kumar (ME), George Pappas (EE), Saswati Sarkar (EE; mostly control of networks), Mark Yim (ME). At Temple University, Saroj K. Biswas (EE), Omar Hijab (Mathematics), Chang-Hee Won (EE). At the University of Delaware, S.K. Agrawal (ME), Xin-Yan Deng (ME), Jian-Qiao Sun (ME). Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in electrical engineering and majoring in electronics. I studied digital IC design, analog IC design, and semiconductor technology (these subjects are part of my electives). With this academic background, what is the best field for me to enter a real job environment? I also like to know what are the criteria and expectations people in the industry are using when they seek fresh graduates. Digital IC design, analog IC design, and semiconductor technology - you have an excellent arsenal of topics to take to the marketplace. These specialties are in demand in many areas. For example, good analog IC designers are needed in the military/aerospace industry, in computer and communication hardware companies (especially communication and sensor networks), in laboratories that design devices (such as A/D and D/A converters, amplifiers, and frequency synthesizers) and in companies that design and fabricate in as diverse areas as power electronics, wireless telephony, and VLSI devices. There appears to be no lack of jobs in your field. I entered "analog design" in the IEEE Job Site listing search (http://careers.ieee.org)and it returned more than 100 hits. About half of them were, in my estimate, usable for a person with your qualifications. Potential employers would like to know that you "know your stuff" and will often inquire about areas where you consider yourself to be strong in order to ask you technical questions in this area (at least this is what we do in our company). They would also like to meet an active and outgoing person with a strong can-do attitude, interpersonal skills, and good communications. Employers like individuals who are willing to continue to learn on and during the job, who can work independently as well as in teams, and who are well organized, composed, and focused. While failing to recognize Ohm's Law will probably doom your candidacy, employers are not looking for mature technical experts when they interview fresh graduates. Rather, they are looking for individuals who can show that they have used their schooling to acquire and internalize basic knowledge, and have demonstrated growth potential. Employers will almost always prefer leaders to followers, and active and alert candidates to the complacent and docile. Some relevant hands-on experience (such as a summer internship or a co-op job) can go a long way to distinguish you from other candidates. You will need to prepare yourself to the interaction with potential employers and interviewers. There are many good guides and advice givers who wrote about the subject; we tend to like the narrative of "Engineers International" (http://www.engineers-international.com/careersjobsearching.html) and the "Career Development Process" described on the following Iowa State University web page: http://www.eng.iastate.edu/ecs/students/students.html Other relevant articles with potentially good advice are available here: http://www.graduatingengineer.com/articles/feature/05-23-06a.html http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/Page10696.aspx (a Canadian site) http://career.berkeley.edu/Article/040116a.stm (tips for a technical interview) http://www.icerecruit.com/career_tools/preparing_for_the_interview.asp http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/work/index.shtml?interviews#topics comprehensive interview preparation) http://www.working-smart.co.uk/default/interview.asp (interview questions) http://www.job-interview.net/index.htm http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/nav03.cfm?nav03=42064&nav02=36463&nav01=18445 (resume writing tips) http://www.jobpilot.de/content/journal/bewerbung/index.html (in German) http://www.jeunesse.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?auxpageid=220&ta=1&flash=1&lang=fr (interview tips, in French) http://onwin.ca/francais/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_subcategories&CategoryID=3 (collections of links on job search from Canada, in French). Ask an Expert Q: I write from the state of Maharashtra in India. I have a choice of studying for a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunication in one of two colleges. The first is located 5 minutes away from my house. The second is Sardar Patel College of Engineering (SPCE), one of the best in Mumbai. However, if I go to SPCE, I will need one hour daily to commute there. Once I earn the B.E. degree I want to do graduate-level work in aerospace engineering or work in the aerospace industry (either in India or in North America). Which of the two colleges should I choose? The analysis of the tradeoff between quality and other factors (tuition, distance) can be difficult. In general, we believe that one should aspire to be educated by the highest quality program that one can afford, but within reason. The "within reason" caveat refers to potentially unfavorable tradeoffs. For example we do not believe that if a "very good" school is available, a family should sink into heavy debts in order to send a son or a daughter instead to the "best quality" (but much more expensive) school - and create long-term financial instability in the process. In the case that you describe, there is no tuition difference and the tradeoff is between the long commute and the quality of education. It is true that the longer commute will take a toll on you. It will take time away from study and add fatigue. On the other hand, SPCE is indeed one of the most prestigious and sought-after institutes of engineering in Mumbai. It is affiliated with Mumbai University, and offers full time courses in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (four year courses leading to a Bachelor of Engineering degree conferred by Mumbai University.) SPCE has many attractive facilities, and among them are several housing options that may in time allow you to stay closer to the school at least part of the year (see http://www.answers.com/topic/sardar-patel-college-of-engineering and http://www.spce.ac.in/). It even has an IEEE student branch (http://ewh.ieee.org/r10/bombay/studbrdet.htm#spce). Given all these facts, and not knowing of other factors, our "vote" goes to SPCE. An SPCE degree is likely to be much more valuable than many other alternative degrees available in your locale, and the quality of SPCE education is well recognized both inside and outside the boundaries of India. Ask an Expert Q: How does a rocket lift up? First, a definition. A rocket is a vehicle, missile or aircraft which obtains thrust by the reaction to the ejection of fast moving fluid from within a rocket engine(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket) Here is how rockets are introduced in "How Things Work": Rockets push stored materials in one direction and experience a thrust force in the opposite direction. They make use of the observation that whenever one object pushes on a second object, the second object exerts an equal but oppositely directed force back on the first object. This statement is the famous "action-reaction" concept that is generally known as Newton's third law. While it seems sensible that when you push on a wall it pushes back on you, this situation is extraordinarily general. For example, if you push a passing car forward, that car will still push backward on you with an equal but oppositely directed force. If you push on your neighbor, your neighbor will push back on you with an equal but oppositely directed force even if your neighbor is asleep! In the case of a rocket, the rocket pushes burning fuel downward and the burning fuel pushes upward on the rocket with an equal but oppositely direct force. If the rocket pushes its fuel downward hard enough, the fuel will push up on the rocket hard enough to overcome the rocket's weight and accelerate it upward into the sky and beyond. (From "How Things Work," question 938, http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/search.php?searchs=rocket&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&searchq=yes&searcha=yes) Here are some links to web pages that explain the process further (some have nice animations): "How does a rocket work?" from the Batesville High School web page (Indiana, US) http://www.batesville.k12.in.us/physics/phynet/mechanics/Momentum/rocket.htm "Newtons' third law of motion" from the GRD Training Corporation web page (South Africa) http://www.physchem.co.za/Motion/Third%20Law.htm "How rockets work" from Thinkquest.org http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00181/rocket-t.html "How rocket engines work" from Howstuffworks.vom http://www.howstuffworks.com/rocket1.htm "How rockets work" from Flyrockets.com http://www.flyrockets.com/work.html "How things fly" from NASA http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/GAL109/NEWHTF/HTF030.HTM "How Multi-Stage Model Rockets Work" from Apogee Rockets http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/how_to_multi-stage.asp Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year Electrical and Electronics Engineering student. Can you suggest some new and good final year projects related to aviation or avionics, control systems, and robotics and automation. There are very many possibilities for interesting projects in these areas. Here are some ideas. Control and optimization of passenger management in commercial aviation One of the open problems in aviation safety is how to design the passenger cabin and the distribution of passengers in the cabin so that evacuation in the case of an emergency is fastest. A related, but potentially competing, objective is to design the order by which passengers embark and disembark from a plane in order to minimize the time required for these activities. The objective of this project will be to develop validated mathematical models for the processes of embarking, disembarking, and emergency evacuation, and to design the passenger movement and seating plan to optimize these processes. The project will require research (as well as simulation and coding) of human and population mobility models; definition of performance indices; determination of important parameters and sensitivity analysis; mathematical models of embarking, disembarking, and evacuation; optimization techniques (especially multi-objective optimization); and the development of a simulation library with the appropriate graphical user interfaces and visualization algorithms. A hybrid robot design - the flying snake The objective of this project is to build a wirelessly-controlled robotic snake that will have some crawling and some flying capabilities. Under normal operation the snake will explore a certain area while crawling, using sensors and detectors to seek information such as temperature and evidence of certain chemicals that the sensors can detect. The flying capabilities will be needed so that the snake can fly over gaps in this path that do not lend themselves to crawling, and to hop over areas of little interest. The design calls for an interesting set of mechanical and electrical requirements, with significant challenges in control design, communications, and mechanics (you certainly need a mechanical engineer on this group). Path planning for communicating vehicles This is a "software project" aimed to develop and demonstrate path planning under constraints of communication connectivity. The idea is that a series of vehicles {VE,i} i=1,…,N, are moving along pre-specified paths. There are constraints on the dynamics of the vehicles such as limits on velocity and acceleration. The ith vehicle is supposed to start at a given point x0i at time t=0 and end at a final point xFi so as to satisfy two criteria: (1) the time required by the slowest vehicle to reach its final point is minimized; and (2) the connectivity of the vehicles during transport is maximized. There are several ways to define connectivity, one of them is the number of distinct pairs of vehicles in the convoy that can communicate wirelessly (namely, satisfy Signal to Noise and Interference Ratios in spite of limited transmission Power and the existence of obstacles that occasionally block the line of sight between vehicles). This project requires modeling of wireless channels, understanding and implementation of control and optimization algorithms, development of a stable software library with a good graphical user interface, and good software engineering skills. Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between an electrical and an electronics engineer relating to the type of job these engineers may get? What is the scope of electronics engineering in the near future? I am confused whether to opt for electrical or electronics engineering. In many institutions and countries, the terms "electrical engineer" and "electronics engineer" are used interchangeably and there is really no difference between them. In institutions and geographical regions where the terms are differentiated, the term "electrical engineer" is often broader. The term "electronics engineer" is used to describe individuals who are working at the component, device, and circuit level - such as engineers who concentrate on design of integrated circuits, or on development of control and signal shaping hardware for monitoring devices and sensors. The term "electrical engineer" refers in those instances to individuals who are engaged in activities that are not focused on devices but on larger systems and general techniques. Examples include techniques for image processing; integration of multiple subsystems into a robot; and calculation of stability margins of a large power generation system. Both device-level and system-level engineering practitioners in the electronics and electrical disciplines appear to be in great demand. Electrical and electronics engineers continue to occupy positions in many industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, computer hardware design, telecommunication, power delivery, and aerospace. Educational programs in both electronics and electrical engineering often provide wide basis of knowledge that can be used by graduates for many applications, and can be directed toward different areas as market demand fluctuates. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts at present that both electrical engineers and electronics engineers (and also what the Bureau calls "computer hardware engineers") will see an increase of 9 to 17% in available jobs between 2004 and 2014. Ask an Expert Q: I consider several undergraduate programs available in my country with the intent of doing research (and possibly some graduate work) later in the area of nanotechnology in Japan. I have two questions: (1) Would it be better for me to study chemical engineering or electrical engineering as an undergraduate? (2) What are some of the institutions that do nanotechnology research in Japan? NANOTECHNOLOGY Nanotechnology is a relatively new collection of fields, all characterized by analysis, design and synthesis of structures whose dimensions are roughly 1 to 100 nanometers. The term "Nanotechnology" has been used recently within diverse fields such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, and sub-disciplines such as robotics. Nanotechnology was invoked in many different projects and sub-disciplines, including the design of new senors and actuators, drug delivery mechanisms, tissue engineering, design of semiconductor and optoelectronic devices, and a host of consumer goods applications. (Learn more in the Nanotechnology Now website (http://www.nanotech-now.com) and in the portal of the Institute of Nanotechnology (http://www.nano.org.uk/whatis.htm); see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology, but remember that articles in Wikipedia can be changed by anyone at anytime). SHOULD I STUDY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING OR CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AS AN UNDERGRADUATE? As we have indicated in a previous answer, it is common for researchers in nanotechnology to come from disciplines in Science and Engineering, including Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. We do not believe that one can provide a definitive answer as to whether one discipline is "better" than the other as a subject for undergraduate education when future work in nanotechnology is the objective. We suggest that you make your decision on the basis of your personal "attraction" to these disciplines once you have studied their curricula, visited some departments, and read more about the work that chemical and electrical engineers do on this site and on the Sloan Career Cornerstone website (http://www.careercornerstone.org/engineering/engineering.htm). Regardless of your choice, you will have to navigate your way through your chosen program to maximize exposure to elective courses relevant to nanotechnology. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN JAPAN There is a lot of research activity on nanotechnology in Japan, as well as industrial research and development. Here are references to some of the nanotechnology research initiatives and programs in Japan. (1) Nanotechnology Researchers Network Center of Japan Toranomon 30 Mori Bldg.2F, 3-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001 Tel: +81-3-5404-3280 Fax: +81-3-5404-3290 URL: http://www.nanonet.go.jp E-Mail: info@nanonet.go.jp (2) Center for Nano Materials and Technology Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi-shi, Ishikawa, 923-1292, JAPAN Tel. +81-761-51-1459 Fax. +81-761-51-1149 http://www.jaist.ac.jp/nmcenter/home-e.html (3) Nanoelectronics Collaborative Research Center University of Tokyo 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505, JAPAN Tel: 03-5452-6245 Fax: 03-5452-6246 http://www.ncrc.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/e/index.html Project manager: Dr. Yoshikazu TOYAMA, Room Ce407, e-mail: ytoyama@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp Director of NCRC: Professor Yasuhiko ARAKAWA, Room Ee204 e-mail: arakawa@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp (4) Nanotechnology Research Institute National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Central 2 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan Phone: +81-29-861-5277 Fax: +81-29-861-5548 E-mail: nanotech_info@m.aist.go.jp http://unit.aist.go.jp/nanotech/ (5) Nanotechnology research at Fujitsu: http://jp.fujitsu.com/group/labs/en/business/activities/activities-3/ (6) Nanotechnology at Hitachi: http://www.hitachi-hitec.com/global/ (7) Nanotechnology research at the University of Kobe: http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/ (8) Nanotechnology research at Mitsui & co. (Bussan Nanotechnology Research Institute): Head Office and Research Institutes at Tsukuba Nanotech Park 2-1 Kouyadai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture 305-0074 Japan Phone: +81-29-839-9374 FAX: +81-29-839-9375 http://www.mitsui.co.jp/en/index.html Additional useful links can be found at the site of Nanovip: http://www.nanovip.com/ Ask an Expert Q: I am a first year student in information technology in a reputable institute of India. I want to know which books would help me in my studies now and in the future. Ask an Expert Q: I am a first year engineering student. Could you please recommend some books that helped you when you were freshmen? Though the question is very general, we decided to answer, and offer some of our favorite books - good for freshman engineering students and probably many others. Some of them are more technical, some are not. "Differential and Integral Calculus" by Richard Courant. This is a beautiful text on calculus, an introduction to the subject that provides insight, deep understanding, and aesthetics. "The Feynman lectures on Physics" by Richard Feynman. This book provides a thrilling introduction to modern physics, and includes insightful lectures on mathematics, electromagnetism, Newtonian physics, quantum physics, as well as on the relation of physics to other sciences. "Schaum's Outline of Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables," by Murray R. Spiegel - an excellent collection of facts that is likely to be useful for many years. "Schaum's Outline of Linear Algebra" - by Seymour Lipschutz and Marc Lipson. Excellent and accessible treatment of Linear Algebra. This inexpensive and humble-looking volume provides one of the best introduction to the field. "The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are" - by Henry Petroski . The book provides interesting analysis of the process of invention. "Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time," by Dava Sobel. The book describes how one of the most difficult scientific challenges of the eighteenth century - namely, how to determine longitude - was solved. Well written, educational and entertaining. "The Conquest of Happiness," by Bertrand Russell. A good uplifting book; read it when it seems that the world is coming to an end. Ask an Expert Q: I am student for a baccalaureate degree - in the final year of an instrumentation and control program. I want to do graduate work in biomedical instrumentation, preferably in Canada. What are my options and what are the associated expenses? Canada has several excellent programs in biomedical engineering, and most provide tracks (or a significant number of courses) in biomedical instrumentation. Here are all the schools that offer programs in biomedical engineering in Canada (that we know of): University of Alberta http://www.med.ualberta.ca/bme/ University of British Columbia http://www.bme.ubc.ca/why/index.html University of Calgary http://www.eng.ucalgary.ca/Biomedical/ Dalhousie University http://bme.medicine.dal.ca/GradStudies.html University of Manitoba http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/biosystems_engineering/grad_program.htm McGill University http://www.bmed.mcgill.ca/ McMaster University http://msbe.mcmaster.ca/ University of Toronto http://www.ibbme.utoronto.ca/scripts/index_.asp See also the Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Biomedical Engineering http://www.ocibme.ca You can get better understanding of procedures and time lines by reading the Graduate Student Handbook of the program you are interested in, for example here: http://www.ibbme.utoronto.ca/userfiles/page_attachments/Library/14/06_07_student_handbook_287766.pdf Your question does not indicate if you are a Canadian citizen. If you are not, please refer to the guide on studying in Canada, published by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and available here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/. See also https://www.livelearnandsucceed.gc.ca/LLSHome.aspx Some graduate programs in Canada will offer assistanships and financial aid. Often these are tied to citizenship status and province of residence. If you have to pay tuition fees and living expenses out of pocket, please visit the following representative pages to get a general sense of the expenditures: For McGill University: "How much will it cost?" in http://www.bmed.mcgill.ca/flyer.htm as well as http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/fees/ For the University of Alberta: http://gradfile.fgsro.ualberta.ca/regfees/fees/calculate.htm Example of an information page on financial support: At McMaster University, http://msbe.mcmaster.ca/financial.htm Ask an Expert Q: I am a mechanical engineering student toward the B. Tech. (Bachelor of Technology) degree, writing from Rajasthan State, India. My university is in the “Deemed University” category. It is recognized by UGC but not approved by AICTE. My grade point average is 75. Upon graduation and further studies, I am interested in becoming a Lecturer in a reputable state university such as Mumbai University (Diploma as well as Degree College). Is this a realistic plan? Before we answer the question, we need to explain a few terms for the benefit of our readers who are not familiar with the higher-education system in India. “Deemed”: A Deemed University in India is a private university. There are two kinds of universities in India. State University – usually bigger and older university that has many affiliated institutes (such as colleges of engineering). Examples: Mumbai University and Gujarat University Deemed University – a “stand alone” private university that is not affiliated to any other institution. Deemed universities are often smaller (and relatively newer) as compared to State universities. UGC = University Grants Commission of India This is the government body that grants funds and valid university status to universities across India. The functions of this body are described in the following document(starting on page 14) http://www.ugc.ac.in/policy/ugc_act.pdf AICTE = All India Council for Technical Education. While the UGC grants a valid status and funds to universities in general, AICTE is concerned with technical education, and generally focuses on engineering. AICTE provides recognition to programs upon visiting and examining them against a host of published criteria. For an example of AICTE mandate and approval of a College of Engineering, see http://www.nirmauni.ac.in/it/ (left hand side of the page). In general, a deemed (private) university that has a college of engineering is expected to get an AICTE approval and accreditation so that its programs can be recognized. It is, however, possible to operate a college of engineering in India without the AICTE designation (as is apparently the case of the university where the questioner studies). “Lecturer” is the common entry-point title given to an individual who serves on the faculty of an Indian university (the entry-point title for faculty members in the United States is “Assistant Professor”) Diploma: Admission to undergraduate college degree programs in India is based either on the 12th standard (grade) state level exams, or the national level entrance exams. Students who were not admitted to undergraduate colleges degree programs may still study at institutions that offer diplomas in various fields or tracks. To obtain a diploma one usually require 2 years of study (compared to the 4 years required by a degree program), and the focus is often more practical and vocational. Salaries of holders of diplomas are on average less than the salaries commanded by holders of bachelor-level degrees from degree programs. Answer: In our experience it is going to be highly unlikely for a graduate of a program not recognized by AICTE to find a faculty position in reputed Indian universities like Mumbai University or Gujarat University. In general it is going to be very hard to obtain such a position in either state or deemed universities of good standing. It may still be possible for a graduate of a non-approved institution to get a Lecturer position at less prestigious smaller institutions, usually located in less prominent cities and towns. If your future career plan includes a Lecturer position in a prominent university in India you need to re-examine your plans, or discuss with your current institution its plans to be recognized by AICTE in the very near future. Ask an Expert Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a Mechanical Engineering & currently working in India. I have completed 4 years of experience in Automotive as well as wind industry. I am looking for a opening in the relevant engineering field (especially in Wind Industry). Is there any possibility for a foreign employee to work there? Ask an Expert Q: I live in Karachi, Pakistan. I want to study for the Bachelor of Engineering degree in either Electrical Engineering or Electronics Engineering. Which one do you advise me to pursue considering that I plan to pursue graduate studies abroad? Please see our previous answer to a similar question here Ask an Expert Q: Most of the levee failures in New Orleans were along sections of structures that contain long, narrow canals extending deep into the reach of the pump houses. This setup creates many additional miles of levees and thus additional flooding risk into in the heart of the city. Since the canals are essentially enormous "open-face" drain pipes, couldn't large tunnels or pipelines carry water discharged from the pump houses out to the lake where pumps could lift the it over the higher (and better built) lakefront seawall? Reducing the length of levee perimeter defense is a very good way to minimize the risk of damage to the New Orleans hurricane protection system. This is particularly true for the inland section of the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans (where the 17th street canal failed catastrophically) because the very weak soils in this part of town make it difficult to build stable levees. The system of drainage canals that exists today in New Orleans is largely a remnant of the bayou and/or simple drainage ditches that kept the city dry during its early history. Except for the fact that water is conveyed to the drainage canals through pumps, the drainage system remains surprisingly unchanged from early times. Aside from aesthetics and cost, there is really no reason today why open canals are still necessary. The former concern could be addressed by using below ground culverts, or as suggested, a tunnel system that would not be visible from the ground surface. The cost of such change to the drainage system would be high (though only a tiny fraction of the cost incurred by the levee failures in Hurricane Katrina). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have recently taken a slightly different, but conceptually similar approach. They have added large gates to the mouth of several drainage canals. These gates remain open most of the time to allow water to flow from the canals to Lake Ponchartrain. In the event of a hurricane, the gates can be temporarily closed to prevent a storm surge from entering the canal. This procedure effectively eliminates the need for the canal levees to withstand storm-induced high waters. More information on the history and performance of the levee protection system can be found at: http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~new_orleans/, and https://ipet.wes.army.mil/ Ask an Expert Q: I plan to be working with embedded systems in the future. What course of studies should I choose � computer engineering or electronics engineering? I reside in Mumbai, India. An embedded system is [1] a special-purpose system in which the computer is completely encapsulated by the device it controls. Unlike a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer, an embedded system performs pre-defined tasks, usually with very specific requirements. Since the system is dedicated to a specific task, it can be optimized for the task, reducing the size and cost of the product. Embedded systems are often mass-produced, putting an emphasis on economical and manufacturing-ready design (manufacturability). The dividing line between general-purpose computers and embedded systems is sometimes blurry, since some devices that were considered classical embedded systems such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cellular phones operate today in modes that are more typical of a general purpose computer. Examples of embedded systems include [1] automatic teller machines (ATMs); inertial guidance systems for avionics; computer subsystems such as routers and printers; engine controllers and antilock brake controllers for automobiles; home automation products, like thermostats and security monitoring systems; control modules for household appliances, such as for microwave ovens, washing machines, television sets, and DVD players/recorders; and videogame consoles. The embedded system field is multidisciplinary, requiring practitioners to have knowledge and skills in control and signal processing, electronics, computer engineering, computer science, telecommunication, and specific application domains. Consideration of safety, security and manufacturability are similarly important. Subsequently, one can find tracks and courses in embedded systems offered in many curricula, including computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, control and automation, mechatronics, and mechanical engineering (e.g., [6]). The question you pose, whether to choose electronics engineering or computer engineering for embedded system study requires an answer which depends on the geographical location of your school. In the United States and Canada most embedded systems education is done in computer engineering departments, though some foresee the subject branching and becoming its own discipline [2]. The position of embedded systems in the engineering curriculum of universities in Western Europe is often hard to define. Due to the wide variety of curricula that carry courses and tracks in embedded systems (computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, automatic control, and even mechanical engineering), we can only suggest that prospective students check whether the program they are considering has a track or a sufficient number of courses in embedded systems. Review of embedded systems offerings in universities in India indicates that related courses are taught both in electronics engineering and computer engineering programs. For example [3], embedded systems appear as one of the electives in the scheme prescribed by the University of Mumbai in both electronics engineering and computer engineering programs. Review of the other classes in these two curricula (using the University of Mumbai system as the example) suggests that the electronics engineering program has more courses relevant to embedded systems than the typical computer engineering curriculum. Our "vote" would therefore be for an electronics engineering program in this case. Students in Korea have increased access to education on imbedded systems as a result of a recent governmental program that develop five new educational tracks in this area. These tracks are offered to students of computer engineering and software engineering [5]. REFERENCES [1] �Embedded Systems,� in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (viewed 25 August 2006) [2] "A Concentration Track in Embedded Systems," description of an NSF EI project (viewed 25 August 2006) [3] R.E. Seviora: "A curriculum for embedded system engineering," ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems (TECS), Volume 4, Issue 3, pp. 569 � 586, August 2005. [4] Engineering Syllabi, Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering (viewed 25 August 2006) [5] Suehee Pak et al.: �Demand-Driven Curriculum for Embedded System Software in Korea,� Proceedings of the 2005 Workshop on Embedded Systems Education (WESE) 22 September 2005, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA [6] David Jeff Jackson and Paul Caspi: �Embedded Systems Education: Future Directions, Initiatives, and Cooperation,� Proceedings of the 2005 Workshop on Embedded Systems Education (WESE) 22 September 2005, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA Ask an Expert Q: Can I work on a Master of Science degree in Nanotechnology after getting a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering degree in chemical engineering? Yes, you can. Chemical engineering is one of the disciplines that intersect nanotechnology, and many chemical engineering departments consider nanotechnology a core area of research (see for example http://www.eng.rpi.edu/chme/ and http://www.eng.auburn.edu/programs/chen/) See also our previous answers to related questions: Q: I consider several undergraduate programs available in my country with the intent of doing research (and possibly some graduate work) later in the area of nanotechnology in Japan. Answer Q: I am about to select a major in engineering and would like to know the best major to select in order to excel in Nanotechnology. I hear that Nanotechnology holds enormous promise and can be helpful in areas from cleansing the air to treating bacterial infections. What schools, domestic and international, would you recommend? Answer Q: Let me please know the potential of Nanotechnology education, and the list of universities offering Masters and Doctoral degree in Nanotechnology. Answer Ask an Expert Q: Which engineering field should I select for undergraduate studies in order to be able to work later on a Master of Science degree in Nanotechnology? Please see our previous answer to the following related question: Q: I am about to select a major in engineering and would like to know the best major to select in order to excel in Nanotechnology. I hear that Nanotechnology holds enormous promise and can be helpful in areas from cleansing the air to treating bacterial infections. What schools, domestic and international, would you recommend? Answer In addition please see the following relevant answers to previously submitted questions: Q: I consider several undergraduate programs available in my country with the intent of doing research (and possibly some graduate work)later in the area of nanotechnology in Japan. Answer Q: Let me please know the potential of Nanotechnology education, and the list of universities offering Masters and Doctoral degree in Nanotechnology. Answer Q: I am enrolled in a chemical engineering program. I would like to learn more about the job responsibilities of chemical engineers, and on the prospects of finding a rewarding and meaningful job in this field. Answer Q: I am an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. I would like to know how this discipline is practiced in the real world. Answer Ask an Expert Q: I am unable to decide between a degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science. Please describe the differences? The work of electrical engineers, computer engineers, and computer scientists overlap to some extent. Electrical engineering deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century in the wake of commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical power supply. The field now covers a wide range of sub-disciplines including power, electronics, control systems, electro-optics, signal processing, and telecommunications. Most recently, electrical engineering had expanded to include fields like nanotechnology and mechatronics, and there is significant activity at the interface of electrical engineering and the life sciences. Computer engineering has emerged in the late 1970s from electrical engineering, and is still considered by some to be a sub-discipline of electrical engineering. It deals with the study and application of computers, computing, and computer-based systems. The field covers a range of sub-disciplines such as computer hardware, computer architecture, hardware/software integration, computer systems engineering, and embedded systems. Computer engineering shares areas of interest with electrical engineering, software engineering, and computer science. The overlap between the computer engineering and computer science is significant. Both fields study the use of the digital computer as a tool that makes much of modern technology possible. Both disciplines study the inner workings of computers and both study hardware as well as software aspects of computer systems. Students in computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering will all study programming and basic computer operation. In many programs students will also be exposed to large scale computing, and to modern topics in design and operation of clusters and cohorts of computers and computing devices The differences between computer science and computer engineering are those of emphasis. Computer science is traditionally more concerned with the theoretical underpinnings of computation and of programming; thus one typically finds in computer science curricula courses in programming, algorithms, numerical analysis (how do you guarantee a number produced by a computer program is accurate), and the theory of computation (what can and cannot in principle be computed). Many computer science departments at U.S. universities were 1970s offshoots from departments of mathematics, and as a result the emphasis on providing a rigorous mathematical foundation for the computing disciplines is still evident in many curricula. Computer engineering programs largely developed in electrical engineering departments. As a result many computer engineering programs focus on the more practical aspects of development and use of computers, and offer courses in digital logic design and processor interfacing which build on an engineering student's knowledge of electronics and circuits. Most computer engineering programs also have ties to solid state physics and devices programs, with interests in the manufacturing of integrated circuits. At the intersection between computer engineering and computer science are courses in computer architecture (the basic construction and low-level programming of computers) and operating systems. These are often found in both computer science and engineering programs. Computer engineers are more likely than computer science graduates to build hardware. However, computer scientists are educated to know enough about hardware so that they can analyze computer system operations and interact with hardware engineers. Computer scientists often know more about underlying theory of computation, programming languages, and operating systems. An excellent source of information on these disciplines is the Sloan Career Cornerstone website. One way to gain an understanding of differences between these fields is to visit college and university websites and explore the course of study for each field in which you have an interest. To identify schools that offer these programs visit the ABET website. This answer was partially developed on the basis of the following sources: Computer Engineering Frequently Asked Questions, University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering, accessed March 2008. Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering, accessed March 2008. Electrical Engineering in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, accessed march 2008. Ask an Expert Q: Can you give advice and references on effective technical writing? Technical writing covers a large number of document categories, including technical papers and reports; laboratory, field test, and experiment reports; position papers and proposals; textbooks; user manuals, technical manuals, and product specifications; summaries of technological processes; process and procedure manuals; training manuals; papers on business opportunities and business outcomes related to technology; and resumes. Effective technical writing can make a big difference in the outcome of engineering proposals, technical papers, resumes, and reviews. Consequently, many manuals and texts were created to help with the task. The writing center at Caltech offers guidelines for effective technical writing: http://writing.caltech.edu/resources/tech-writing-tips.html The Mayfield Handbook of Technical and Scientific Writing provides more extensive treatment and includes a instructive set of examples: http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/tsw/home.htm An on-line text on technical writing by David A. McMurrey is available here: http://www.io.com/~hcexres/textbook/ A few books on the subject: The Handbook of Technical Writing, by Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu Technical Writing 101: A Real-World Guide to Planning and Writing Technical Documentation, by Alan S. Pringle and Sarah S. O'Keefe Technical Writing: Principles, Strategies, and Readings by Diana C. Reep Technical Writing for Dummies by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts Ask an Expert Q: hi there..thanks.. 1.pls tell me what is the diffrence between 3 years BEng hons degree in U.K and BEng which is 4 years every where in the world LIKE CANADA AND AUSTRALIA 2. which of BEng hons or BEng is more recognised ? 3.pls also tell me is there any restriction in australian universities acceptin hons degree for entering postgraduate degrees.....? pls reply ...thanks Ask an Expert Q: I applied and got admission to the MSc programs in Electrical Engineering at the University of Adelaide (Australia) and a US school (name withheld). The US school defines itself as "a premier metropolitan university" and offers BS and MS degrees (but not PhD degrees) to its electrical engineering students. Which school should I choose? We think the choice is easy. If the decision is to be based on the quality of graduate level education offered by both schools, you will probably be much better off at Adelaide. To start, the footprint of Adelaide faculty members in the technical literature is much more impressive than that of the US school you were accepted to (by a factor of approximately 20; we used Google Scholar and IEEE Xplore for statistics, and compared the general footprints of the schools and the footprints of the engineering departments). The disparity in number of members of editorial boards of international journals is even greater. Also, Adelaide has four (4) IEEE fellows on its faculty, while the US school has none (0). Comparisons of the facilities and research funding show again significant advantage to Adelaide, and the availability of a Ph.D. program at Adelaide provides you with the prospect of additional educational challenges should your M.Sc. studies motivate you to seek more research experience. While rankings of universities are almost always suspect, a review of Adelaide's place in various rankings of Australian and Asian Universities shows a very respectable position view rankings. The same cannot be said about the US institution you are referring to (by examination of the US News and World Report recent rankings). Of the two universities we are looking at, only Adelaide appears among the "top 200 universities of the world," as compiled by the Times Higher Education Supplement in 2004 and 2005 In summary, our vote goes to the University of Adelaide. We wish you all the best in your studies. Ask an Expert Q: I love designing software and circuits. Is there a field that can I get into that allows me to do this? I also want to know what I should study to design circuit compilers, etc. Would studying microcontrollers and microprocessors be helpful to get into this field? You have very specific interests and goals. Also, you apparently have done research on courses that will provide a foundation for achieving your goals. With advances in electro technology, almost every field has a use for software, firmware and electronic circuits. Today there is a great deal of emphasis on personal communication (cell phones, personal digital assistants, iPods). New functions and devices are being introduced everyday. There are also opportunities in transportation, not only in aerospace, but in surface transportation with concepts such as smart cars and smart highways. New applications are being introduced using RFID (radio frequency identification) to track inventory and other critical shipments. Advances in energy technology are also placing increased emphasis on controlling energy production and energy use. Many appliances today are filled with chips to efficiently control energy use. The courses you mention are definitely a good place to start and will be helpful as an entry to the field. Since this is such a rapidly changing field it will be necessary for you to continue learning throughout your career. Devices that will reach the market in five years are only concepts (science fiction) at this point, and most will require extensive circuit design and software/firmware development as the concept is realized. The field is limited only by the imagination and creativity of the people who see a need and focus on satisfying that need. Ask an Expert Q: I'm planning on majoring in transportation engineering in college, but I'm a little unsure about what duties and responsibilities this type of engineer performs on their job. Could you offer me, for example, a scenario or example of a typical day as a transportation engineer? I would appreciate this very much. Thank you. A transportation engineer plans, designs, operates and manages transportation facilities while working on a wide variety of projects. Some examples of transportation engineering projects include the designing and operation of highways, airports, railroads, and public transit systems. Some examples of the type of work a transportation engineer performs is: Developing and implementing projects to relieve traffic congestion, such as bus/carpool lanes on roadways. Preparing traffic impact studies for new developments and determining transportation improvements to mitigate the additional traffic. Investigating and minimizing the effects of new transportation projects on traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and sensitive natural environments. Improving motorist safety by conducting studies and implementing actions aimed at reducing the number of collisions and deaths on our highways. Designing and operating systems that advise drivers where traffic jams have occurred. Management of existing infrastructure. This information has been edited from the Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers. This site has other useful information about transportation engineers. Another informative site is the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) , which is an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs. ITE facilitates the application of technology and scientific principles to research, planning, functional design, implementation, operation, policy development and management for any mode of transportation. On this site, you can find information including technical descriptions, employment opportunities, professional development, meetings of transportation engineers, and journal articles written by transportation engineers. Ask an Expert Q: i am intersting on education for scholarly.b/c on my country i haven't scholarship.please could you help me on your university scholarship information.how,when&... please respond me your mail addres thank you your sinserly wondosen Ask an Expert Q: i want VHDL CODE FOR 4X2 encoder in structural model Ask an Expert Q: How does Automotive Engineering differ from Mechanical Engineering? Where can I study for an Automotive Engineering Degree? Please see also our answer to a previous question on a related subject Q: I write from India; currently I am in my last year of pre-university schooling. I am very interested in engineering, and especially automobile engineering. I am really interested in designing automobiles. What are the top engineering schools in the world where I could pursue these interests? Answer Automotive engineering is an applied science that includes elements of Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering, and Safety engineering as applied to the manufacture and operation of automobiles, buses and trucks.(source: Answerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_engineering) Mechanical engineering is a very broad field that involves the application of physical principles for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is made up of a number of subdisciplines concerned with the mechanics, kinematics (movement), and energy of physical objects. Practitioners of mechanical engineering, known as mechanical engineers, use principles such as heat, force, and the conservation of mass and energy in contributing to the design of vehicles and aircraft, heating & cooling systems, buildings and bridges, industrial equipment and machinery, and much more. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering) There are many colleges and universities that offer courses specializing in the area of automotive. A mechanical engineering degree would give you the necessary educational background to work in the automotive, aerospace or commercial vehicle industry, and with vehicles being more computerized and electronic, you may also want to consider a degree in electrical engineering. Here is information on some of the known Automotive Programs: Programs in The United States Masters in Automotive Engineering University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Univ. Michigan Ann Arbor Website Lawrence Technological University 21000 West Ten Mile Rd Southfield, MI 48075 Lawrence Tech Univ. Website Programs in Europe: Automotive Engineering with Motorsport BEng Degree Program University of Hertfordshire College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB United Kingdom Univ. of Hertfordshire Website Automotive Engineering MEng/Beng Degrees: University of Warwick School of Engineering University of Warwick Coventry, CV4 7AL United Kingdom Univ. of Warwick Website Coventry University Priory Street Coventry CV1 5FB United Kingdom Coventry Univ. Website Loughborough University Leicestershire, UK, LE11 3TU Loughborough Univ. Website Automotive BEng Degree: UCE Birmingham Technology Innovation Centre Millennium Point Curzon Street Birmingham England B4 7XG UCE Birmingham Website Programs in Australia Automotive Engineering Degrees: University of Adelaide School of Mechanical Engineering THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE SA 5005, AUSTRALIA Univ. of Adelaide Website Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Bachelor of Engineering, Automotive RMIT Website Additional programs are also available here Ask an Expert Q: How does the career outlook for Computer Engineering versus Electrical Engineering look? What are the differences in the degrees? Computer Engineering combines topics in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Computer Science. The resulting curriculum trains electrical engineers who specialize in computer hardware, interaction of software and hardware, and design of software. The traditional electrical engineering curriculum includes topics like control, robotics, power, electro-physics and electro-optics. Some of these topics are under-emphasized in the computer engineering curriculum in order to provide room for subjects such as computer architecture and the theory of algorithms. Still, many computer engineers develop knowledge and interest in classical electrical engineering topics, including Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) devices, circuit design, and micro-electronics. In almost all institutions the degrees provided to electrical engineers and computer engineers represent the same level of effort, time investment, and intellectual effort. In most United States institutions the degrees are Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), usually requiring four years of study; Master of Science (M.Sc.), usually requiring additional two years of study; and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), usually requiring 2-4 additional years of study and research. Many European countries that follow the Bologna Process have a slightly different time table (usually 3+2+3). The future of electrical and computer engineering has been the subject of wide speculations in the mass media of the United States and Europe in recent years. These are primarily due to the observation that migration of labor has shifted some jobs to countries in Asia (India, China) that were formerly under-represented in the Electrical/Computer Engineering labor market. Speculations of this kind are not new, in the 1970s the emerging labor market was Japan. Nevertheless the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that Computer software engineers will be one of the fastest-growing occupations from 2004 to 2014. Computer hardware engineers are expected to have average employment growth through 2014. "Although the use of information technology continues to expand rapidly, the manufacture of computer hardware is expected to be adversely affected by intense foreign competition." As for electrical engineers, the BLS projects that they would have "favorable employment opportunities. The number of job openings resulting from employment growth and from the need to replace electrical engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force is expected to be in rough balance with the supply of graduates. Employment of electrical engineers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014." These projections need to be taken cautiously because they often underestimate the benefits of innovation. Inventions that caused a significant quick increase in opportunities in electrical and computer engineering (such as the invention and development of the DC motor, the telephone, the radio, television, radar, the transistor, the personal computer, the compact disc, and the Internet) are seldom taken into account in the progressions anticipated by the labor economists of the BLS. Ask an Expert Q: What equipment is used to send pictures & text that I assk for to my cell phone? Ask an Expert Q: Can you provide a website where I can download a MATLAB windkessel model? This is a question on biological modeling. Windkessel models are used to describe the load faced by the heart in pumping blood through the pulmonary or systemic arterial system, and the relation between blood pressure and blood flow in the aorta or the pulmonary artery. A windkessel model calculates the blood flow, compliance, and resistance among the four compartments of the heart. Many researchers report on using MATLAB to create three and four element Windkessel models (try a Google search with "Windkessel" and "MATLAB". You will get at least 20 such articles.) It does not appear too difficult to write your own code. However if you prefer a ready-made program your best available resource seems to be a program by Zhe Hu, who provided a simulink model of human cardiovascular system which may just include what you are seeking. Martin HLAVÁČ of the Department of Biomedical Engineering in FEEC (Czech Republic) wrote an article entitled Windkessel Model Analysis in MATLAB. I suggest you contact him or his thesis advisor Prof. Jiří Holčík (the paper has mailing addresses) and ask for the code. See also this article from the Technical University of Denmark. An article on the use of MLAB (not MATLAB) in windkessel studies was published by Daniel R. Kerner, and may also be of use. Ask an Expert Q: Hi, Im in the final year of my undergraduate engineering program under Mumbai University, Computer engineering , I plan to pursue a Masters from the US, I have chosen databases as my field of specialization, could you please tell me more this and other fields for masters Ask an Expert Q: What kind of salary range should a electrical engineer in the United States with a Master of Science degree in software engineering expect with 9 years of experience? I ran your question through the Salary Calculator of IEEE-USA. I assumed an employer of 51 to 500 employees; a private employer in Philadelphia, PA; 9 years of experience; 5 years with the current employer; 5 technical employees supervised; and what IEEE-USA defines as "Engineer Level 5" (equivalent to GS-12 in federal government employ or Associate Professor). The median salary came to $80,100 (base) and 89,600 (primary sources). The numbers for the 10 percentile were $57,200 (base) and $61,500 (primary sources). The numbers for the 90 percentile were $106,900 (base) and $122,600 (primary sources). This sample calculation was done through the IEEE-USA Salary Service . You can use the service to run a more precise calculation with your own data. Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year (B.E) electrical and electronics engineering student. I want to pursue my Master of Science degree in electrical or electronics engineering with specialization in aviation-related fields like aeronautics/aerospace/avionics. What is the difference among the above fields and what field should I choose? What types of jobs would I have in this field? Which universities in USA offer the degree in above subjects? My interest is totally in aviation-related fields; please advise. Definitions from Mirriam-Webster AERONAUTICS 1 : a science dealing with the operation of aircraft 2 : the art or science of flight AEROSPACE 1 : space comprising the earth's atmosphere and the space beyond 2 : a physical science that deals with aerospace 3 : the aerospace industry AVIONICS electronics designed for use in aeronautics or aerospace vehicles (AVIation – electrONICS) Discussion As you complete your BSEE undergrad work, you will have a general knowledge of EE. There are specific disciplines within EE that will be of interest to you. For example, you may have a specific interest in analog circuits design, digital circuits design, computer design, RF circuit or antenna design, transmission line (power, electrical, fiber optic), power systems, etc. This will help you decide the field of EE you want to pursue. If you are a nuts and bolts kind of person, then I suggest you find a company or college that does work in the field of your interest. In the job market, it is helpful to have as much experience as possible. If you decide to work for a company that develops electrical components, then you are an electrical/electronic component developer. If you decide to work for a company that develops subsystems for aircraft or space vehicles, then you are an avionics developer. If you decide to work for a company that integrates avionics subsystems into aircraft or space vehicles, then you are an avionics engineer. If you are not a nuts an bolts kind of person, and have a broad understanding of all the disciplines of EE and you want to get into bigger things, then you may want to pursue the Systems Engineering field which doesn’t necessarily focus on any specific electrical discipline but focuses on how systems get put together. When you refer to Aeronautics or Aerospace, these are broad terms that go beyond EE. EE is a subset of these as well as other engineering disciplines like mechanical engineering, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, mass properties, chemical engineering, structures analysis (like vibration, acoustics, loads, stress). So, if you want to work on aircraft as an EE, then you are in Aeronautics. If you want to work on spacecraft as an EE, then you are in Aerospace. Now what I’ve said is generally true. The lines define things are often blurred and there are always exceptions. Pursue where your heart takes you and you will be fine. I hope this helps. Vance Nishimoto; Systems Engineer Senior Staff (EE) of Lockheed Martin Ask an Expert Q: I am currently studying toward the Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics degree in an Indian university. This year I will be applying for graduate studies toward a Master degree. (1) I do not know the various specializations within electrical and electronics engineering. Can you explain in detail the various aspects? (2) Since childhood my interest was in Aviation. Can I choose a graduate program in Aviation-related fields? If I can, what are they? Which universities are offering relevant programs in the USA and Australia? (3) Which is the best country (the US or Australia) to select with respect to research and job opportunities after I get a Master of Science degree? Your questions cover a very wide area, we will try to provide you with a flavor for the answers and add a few useful links. (1)I do not know the various specializations within electrical and electronics engineering. Can you explain in detail the various aspects? Answer: The field of electrical and electronics engineering , while not very old, is now rather vast. It includes a large number of disciplines from signal processing to power generation, from electron devices to automatic control, from optoelectronics and laser technology to information theory and telecommunications. When a person describes his/her occupation as "electrical engineer," this descriptor must be accompanied nowadays by an additional explanation. The person may be building robots, or s/he may be developing new algorithms for the next generation video gadget. Some sense of the various fields within electrical engineering can be had by looking at the list of IEEE technical societies and councils. If you follow the links to the webpages of the societies you may get a better understanding of the scope of what makes Electrical Engineering today. You may notice that one of the IEEE societies is focusing on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, which leads us to your second question. (2) Since childhood my interest was in Aviation. Can I choose a graduate program in Aviation-related fields? If I can, what are they? Which universities are offering relevant programs in the USA and Australia? Answer: many engineers who work in aviation-related fields are electrical and electronics engineers. A person with a Master of Science degree in electrical and electronics engineering is therefore highly likely to find many opportunities in aviation, aerospace, and avionics jobs. In addition, there are many educational programs that offer degrees in aerospace and related fields both in the United States and in Australia. (We have used the excellent search features on TryEngineering.org; you can refine your searches there). While the US offers many more programs than Australia, some of the Australian programs are very highly regarded and should be considered seriously. (3) Which is the best country (the US or Australia) to select with respect to research and job opportunities after I get a Master of Science degree? This is a very complicated question, because the availability of opportunities is often related to the immigration status of the person seeking them (a citizen or a visitor on a student visa) and on the type of opportunity that is being sought (a higher degree, practical training, permanent employment). In general both the US and Australia have excellent opportunities for advanced (PhD level) studies, though at present the economics appear to be somewhat more favorable for study in the US (wider availability of stipends and lower cost of living). Both the US and Australia have a tradition of allowing immigration, and their immigration procedures favor to some extent individuals with advanced degrees in technological fields. Given the volatility of these procedures and their dependence on economical trends and political considerations it is hard to predict which country will be more hospitable to a well trained professional in aerospace engineering in the next 5-10 years. Ask an Expert Q: I was intrested in Automobile engneering but due to unavailability of the course I had to go for electronics and electrical engneering. Can you tell me that will I be able to do this course and what should I do to improve my studies?? Ask an Expert Q: I write from New South Wales, Australia. My marks in the High School Certificate (HSC) are a bit low, and I am concerned about admissions to university studies in electrical engineering. Do you have any pertinent advice? If a student gets low percentage on the HSC, does that mean that the student is not suitable for engineering? Do HSC marks affect the future course of the student? EXPLANATION – HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE IN NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA [1] The HSC is an educational credential awarded to secondary school students in New South Wales Australia who have completed successfully senior high school level studies (years 11 and 12 or equivalent). The current (22 September 2006) version of the “Higher School Certificate” entry in Wikipedia [1] provides a detailed description of the HSC requirements, course of study, and offered courses. Websites of Australian institutions provide statistics, data, and advice [2-4]. ANSWERING THE QUESTION The HSC marks play a major role in the calculation of the Australian Universities Admission Index (UAI) – which is a measure of rank of the student among the cohort of contemporary school leavers. In our estimate, a minimum UAI of about 80 is needed for study in Electrical Engineering programs in Australia with more opportunities for students with a cutoff above 83 (cutoff UAI scores go as low as 80 and as high as 98). Here is a list of current availability of programs in Electrical Engineering and the admissions requirements Alternatively, you can conduct your own search here: http://www.uac.edu.au/course_search/search.html or look for Electrical Engineering cutoffs for 2005 and 2006 here There are some differences between the cutoffs for the Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) courses, Domestic Fee-paying (DFEE) courses and International Fee-paying (IFEE) courses. We assume that the CSP numbers are applicable for this question. We suggest that you study the admissions requirements and analyze what programs would admit you and what programs would require additional information. If you are close to the cutoff (say, 5 points away) you may write to the Dean of Engineering on your target school and request special consideration. Some universities have a form that facilitates this process (e.g., http://www.eng.usyd.edu.au/pdf/flexible2007.pdf). You may also want to target universities who declare that UAI is only one of the criteria they use for admission. These universities use additional criteria in admissions, such as portfolios, interviews, auditions, questionnaires or even additional tests. Find out what the specific university allows you to present or do, and take full advantage of these opportunities. In some cases you may be able to increase your chances for admission by taking bridging courses in areas where you do not have credentials. If all these approaches fail, we suggest that you consider the following alternative path. Enroll in an Information Technology program (UAI cutoffs are 10 to 15 points lower than the cutoffs in Electrical Engineering in some schools). If you did very well in your first year in that course you may be able to transfer to Electrical Engineering later. Once you are in the Electrical Engineering program your HSC percentages will have no effect on your future course of study. Your achievement at the university will become the dominant factor. REFERENCES [1] “ Higher School Certificate,” in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, , accessed 22 September 2006 (note: since Wikipedia entries can be changes by any user, caution is advised in using Wikipedia entries for information and research). [2] Board of Studies NSW on-line [3] NSW HSC on line, Charles Sturt University [4] Universities Admissions Centre Ask an Expert Q: iam mohan from india. iam a final year ingineering student,as i want to project in web based robots, i want to know about what are the major application of these types of robot,and i want to know about the ideas this robot do u send me a some websites addresses for design a such type of robots ? is this is a good projects ? Ask an Expert Q: i am a final year e&tc engg student of pune university?my aggregate over 6 semesters is 53.5% and hence not eligible for campus placements.are there any jobs available and if yes how can i apply for them? Ask an Expert Q: What activities and coursework would you recommend to a high school student interested in civil engineering? Civil engineering is often described as having five (5) categories: environmental (design of landfills, groundwater remediation systems, cleanup), geotechnical(subsurface stability, foundation design, soils), transportation (highway design, intersections, traffic flow), structural (bridge design, building design, dams), and water resources (hydraulic modeling, hydrology, conveyance - flow of water). The high school classes that are most relevant to civil engineering are in mathematics and physics. I would recommend taking the highest level math classes available in your high school, which is usually Calculus. Perhaps taking some of the hands-on shop classes would also be beneficial. Most of those are geared towards wood working or building a structure - which is a type of civil engineering. I would also recommend extracurricular activities, such as programs and projects put together by professional engineering organizations. Visit the following organizations for programs or competitions available: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Junior Engineering Technical Society Ask an Expert Q: What academic and personality qualities or attributes must an industrial engineer possess? Before we consider the abilities and characteristics an industrial engineer should possess, we will first define what an industrial engineer does and the requirements for becoming an industrial engineer. Industrial engineering is also sometimes referred to as operations management, systems engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering or manufacturing systems engineering. A career in industrial engineering requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in one of these disciplines, and many industrial engineers go on to pursue graduate degrees in industrial engineering, business, or a related field. Industrial engineers are responsible for the design, improvement, implementation, and evaluation of integrated systems of resources including people, money, information, equipment, energy, and materials. They determine how a company or organization should best allocate these limited resources subject to the existing physical constraints of the facility. Although roughly 60% of industrial engineers work for manufacturing or service companies, their skills are so versatile that they can work in virtually any kind of industry or organization including government agencies, consulting firms, healthcare providers, communications companies, construction companies, military, libraries and education systems. Here are some simple example situations where industrial engineering can be applied: Example 1: A theme park has just reopened for summer and the visitors are complaining that the lines are too long. The owner wants to shorten the time visitors wait in line while at the same time keeping the average number of hourly employees in the park to a minimum. Example 2: (adapted from the interview with an industrial engineer working at Honda in [1]) An automobile assembly line inspects every car that passes through and repairs the ones that have defects in the paint finish. Cars that require some re-work are sent to a repair area while the rest are sent to a storage area. Cars without defects wait in the storage area until the cars requiring re-work are completed and placed back into the original position on the assembly line, ensuring the cars remain in sequence. The industrial engineer is requested to determine the size of the storage area so that it uses the least amount of space while ensuring that there will always be enough room for the cars waiting for re-work to be completed. The typical undergraduate industrial engineering curriculum includes core requirements such as chemistry and physics, mathematics through calculus and differential equations and also including probability, statistics, and optimization or mathematical programming. Some programs include core coursework in mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering. Elective courses and specializations include computer simulation, optimization, economics, engineering management, ergonomics (also called “human factors”), process control, production planning, and logistics. In practice, industrial engineers typically use computer simulation for system analysis and evaluation. Since a system may only be in the planning stage or, if it exists, there may be limited or incomplete data about the system, these computer simulations may need to rely on probability models as input. In order for the industrial engineer to properly model the input and interpret the output of a simulation, he or she should be comfortable with probability and statistics as well as developing mathematical models of systems. Often, industrial engineers (especially those who work as private consultants or work for large corporations with many locations) will be assigned to a new facility to assess the plant operations and make recommendations for improvements. The engineer should be able to quickly and systematically gather necessary information and become an expert not only in the manufacturing and production processes, but also in the specific culture (the nature of interactions between management and their subordinates, for example), problems, and challenges that the facility faces. This may entail face-to-face meetings with executives, extensive stays on manufacturing floors, and review of historical production data. In many cases, important information about the production process may only be gathered by first-person observations of the day-to-day activities in the work environment, and by talking with employees. Since many employees may feel uncomfortable being “watched”, industrial engineers must be tactful observers and exhibit a friendly personality and charm when interviewing employees in order to be effective. The industrial engineer must be able to think both critically and creatively; the best improvements to an operation do not always come from traditional business practices. Often, stagnant productivity is a result of stale modes of thinking, and industrial engineers are hired to provide a fresh perspective and suggest innovative solutions to the problem. One of the most important skills that an industrial engineer must possess is the ability to communicate effectively, both in written proposals and oral presentations. Often an industrial engineer must provide observations and suggestions to company executives who are emotionally invested in their traditional ways, and convince them to change. This process requires a confident, clear, and logical presentation by the engineer, as well as the ability to answer complex questions and be persuasive. Industrial engineers must be tactful in what they say (and in how they say it) yet they must sometimes be willing to stand by their recommendations even in the face of skeptical management. Some helpful links 1. Interview with an industrial engineer working at Honda (includes a video of the engineer at work) from www.mycooljob.org. 2. Industrial engineering profile at Sloan Cornerstone Career Center. Includes information on academic preparation, earnings, employment, career forecasts, and profiles of some industrial engineers. 3. Industrial engineering profile at princetonreview.com. Note: all of the above links were viewed on on August 25 2007. Ask an Expert Q: Iam A graduate of Aeronautical Engineering,Batch No/2 Sudam University of Science & technology. I felt disappointed after staying almost for two years with getting employed or Training opportunity in my field of study. Iam currently working in Different Sector a part from Aeronautical Engineering. Could you advise me on how to develop my carreer ,in order to do Msc or advise me how proceeed in order not to lose my professionism in Aeronautic's. Ask an Expert Q: iam an Aeronautical Engieer, What type of Engineering would you suggest for Shifting to. Iam fed up and seem's loose in Aeronautical Engineering cause it is not progresseble in my country Sudan. Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between electronics & telecommunication engineering and simple electronics engineering? Which one leads to a good salary? According to the Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Department at the Maharashtra Academy of Engineering in Pune: "The main objective of the department is to impart a strong background of theory and practical [knowledge] in Radio and Light wave communication including satellite, wireless and Optical Communication Systems, Television, Data Communication, etc." This objective statement emphasizes the principle difference between electronics and telecommunication engineering (E&TE) and electronics engineering: E&TE focuses on the theory and design of hardware for telecommunication systems, while electronics engineers are trained with a broader focus with respect to electronic devices and systems. The special attention to electronics for telecommunication systems is due to both the demand for engineers in the growing telecommunications industry as well as the complexity of Radio Frequency (RF), satellite, optical, and wired data communication systems. A more general education in electronics engineering includes learning the design and construction of analog and digital electronic circuits. An electronics engineer is qualified for jobs that include building electronic components for integration into larger systems, Integrated Circuit (IC) design work, board layout, programming micro-controllers and microprocessors, and field testing. It is important to note that many electronics engineers have the background required to enter the telecommunication field. Both Electronics Engineering and E&TE provide engineers with a background that will lead to a rewarding occupation. The salary for engineers in these areas seem to be roughly equivalent, although the telecommunications positions tend to be slightly higher. You should base your decision about which degree to pursue on your own interests. Looking at the job descriptions posted by companies seeking electronics engineers and telecommunications engineers will also provide you with a better idea of the background required and the type of work you will do, as well as an idea of the salaries you can expect. I was able to find about 230 listings for electronics engineers and over 100 for telecommunications using the IEEE Job Search engine. Ask an Expert Q: I am a 3rd year student in a Computer Science and Engineering program leading to a B. Tech degree. How do I prepare for job interviews with recruiters of various companies? The process of preparing for a job interview requires that you first identify your goals in the first 5-10 years of your engineering career. What specialty or lines of work are more (and less) desirable to you? What fields would you like to develop into? What is you long term career goal? What is the work environment you are most comfortable with? Here is a list of additional questions Even if the answers to some of these questions will change with time, it is helpful to think about them now, and to use the answers to select which interviews to seek and which recruiters/companies to contact. You need a good, concise and attractive resume. There are quite a few online guides to preparing this document, see for example: http://www.ofb.net/~niniane/resume_howto.html http://www.engineers-international.com/careerscv.html You need to send your resume to human resource departments, career centers, and organizers of career fairs. A good cover letter can help get your candidacy noticed. Read here how to compose one Once an interview with a company’s representatives has been arranged, you need to do homework about that company. Make sure you understand its core business and history, and search for recent news on its latest products, filings, or announcements. This information will help you during the interview, and has the potential to increase the interest that company recruiters would develop in you. There are many useful guides on preparing for an interview, see for example: http://www.ofb.net/~niniane/interview_howto.html http://engineers-international.com/careersinterview.html A nice resource that takes you through the process step by step is here at Texas Instruments’ Career Development site Ask an Expert Q: what does it take for somebody to become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer? First, you can go here to see our description of Electrical Engineering (EE). We also provide information on what EEs study at the university level; make suggestions for pre-university students considering EE as a career path; and link to other helpful information. Note that the terms "Electrical Engineering" and "Electronics Engineering" are typically used to describe the same field; in the Americas "Electrical Engineer" is used more often. In Europe "Electronics Engineer" is more common. To become an Electrical or Electronics Engineer, one needs to enroll and complete successfully an accredited program of study in these fields. Often this course of study requires four to five years in a university setting, during which classes on analytical subjects and technology, as well as laboratory classes and design projects are completed. To be eligible to enroll in such programs, it is usually required that the applicant demonstrate strong analytical abilities and have completed a high school program with sufficient content in the exact sciences, language, and problem-solving skills. In some parts of the world one also needs a state license to practice, especially if the work has direct bearing on the health and welfare of the public. Not less important than these formal requirements are the personal characteristics common to many EEs. They tend to be curious people with strong preference for hands-on experimentation; they also have good sense of the practical, and they love to learn new technologies and play with new methods. Electrical and Electronics Engineering are very dynamic fields - new knowledge and new approaches are proposed and introduced all the time. Those who strive in this ever progressing environment tend to be the most original and influential EEs. Ask an Expert Q: How many years of college did it take you to become what you are now? I'm 13 years old, how can I start preparing for college? The age of 13 year is an excellent time to start planning for college. If you focus on planning you would gain better understanding of yourself, discover what you really would like to do in the future, and plan the actions that will take you to your goals. A. How long does it take to become an engineer? At the present time the typical period of academic study required for entry into the engineering profession is four (4) years. However, some programs (especially in Europe) require five (5) years. Most currently-practicing engineers in the United States and Canada started their careers after earning a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in one of the engineering fields (e.g., electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical) from an accredited program that required four years of study. This is true in many other regions of the world as well. However in some European countries, typical engineering programs require five years of study. The general trend in Europe (based on the Bologna Declaration) is toward a program of three (3) years of studies toward a B.Sc. degree followed by two (2) years of studies toward a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree. Only M.Sc. holders are considered ready for engineering practice. It is estimated that about 77% of practicing engineers with engineering degrees in the United States hold a B.Sc as their highest degree (requiring on average 4 years). 19% hold an M.Sc. (requiring additional 2 years on average), and the remaining 4% hold a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (requiring on average 4 years of study after the B.Sc. degree). The number of years of college it would take you to prepare for entry into the profession depend on the career path you choose and the specific type of work you wish to do. Most engineering jobs still require only a B.Sc. or equivalent. However, if you desire to do advanced development work, an M.Sc. is likely to be required; if you wish to engage in state of the art research, you probably would need a Ph.D. degree. Needless to say, entry to the profession is only the beginning. Engineering is a dynamic and fascinating discipline that advances and changes all the time. Engineers are therefore always engaged in study, either formally (through graduate university courses) or informally (through continuing education courses and by participating in professional conferences and workshops). The majority of employers of engineers understand that learning is an integral part of the engineer's job, and provide opportunities and time to facilitate this goal. B. What kind of preparations should I make so that I can study engineering in college? 1. Understand what interests you You can gain understanding of what interests you by reading on science and engineering. Our site TryEngineering.org is a good place to start, and many useful links are also available here. Other good sites include: NASA for kids, Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century, US Army Corps of Engineers Education Center, Discover Engineering, Optics for Kids, NOAA education, Engineergirl, and JETS. Watch TV programs on science and engineering. For example, Wired Science, Science Investigators and the 22nd Century on PBS. Other programs of note are Nature, NOVA, and Scientific American Frontiers. There are many interesting programs on science and technology on the Discovery Channel. Of course there is a lot you could read. Examples include: the Oddessy magazine,YES Mag, Science News for Kids, and Ranger Rick. We recommend that whenever possible, you visit science museums. They offer a wealth of activities and many useful demonstrations. Three of our favorites are the The Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Exploratorium, and Deutsches Museum. 2. Take action You can take a more active role by participating in relevant activities at your school and in your community. Such activities include science clubs, model air plane and rocket clubs, and scouting organizations. Get involved to determine your real level of interest. Participation in leadership positions in these organizations will be of value when you apply for entrance to college. Take part in a science fair. Find a competition where you can test your interests and skills, and meet young people who share your interests. See if there is a summer camp you can participate in. Check with local universities - quite often they have camps and open houses for young people. 3. Ask around Identify friends and associates of your parents, relatives or neighbors who work as engineers or scientists. Talk to them. This is a particularly good source, as the information comes directly from people who have chosen engineering careers; they are experiencing daily the rewards, frustrations, and challenges of engineering. If you can, talk to university professors who teach engineering. Get their opinion on the different fields and on what they consider "hot" or "up and coming." 4. Visit web sites of colleges and universities Use our Find a University feature to surf the sites of engineering departments and schools in your locale. You may be able to learn a lot about the subjects they teach, and gain an understanding of their requirements and the different tracks they offer to students. 5. Make the right course selections Discuss your course choices with your school counselors, and visit the Become an Engineer section of this site that offers preparation tips. Among the advice given there are courses you want to consider and programs and projects that can help. For additional advice see the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. 6. Commit yourself to learning During the next few years of your pre-university education try to develop good study habits that will be of benefit throughout your life. Define your educational goals and make plans to reach them. Understand your weekly "time budget" and make adjustments to ensure that enough time (and the right time) is allocated to study, problem solving, and enrichment. Allocate your study time wisely between the different subjects and assignments, and make sure you give yourself the opportunity to develop and learn new subjects. Ask an Expert Q: I write from Bangalore, India. I study toward a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and wish to join later a part time Bachelor of Engineering program. Can this be done in either one of the following locations; Bangalore, Chennai, and Ajmer? The person who asked this question is working at present toward a credential which is less than a recognized baccalaureate degree in engineering. He wishes to take further studies that will provide him with a baccalaureate degree credential. He wants to accomplish this task using part-time studies. This path is not very common in India, where the undergraduate degree is pursued full time by almost all students for the degree. The question is made even more challenging by the locations the student asks about. These are: Chennai (in Tamil Nadu � South India);Bangalore (in Karnataka � South India,); and Ajmer (in Rajasthan � West India) A) Chennai The main university in Chennai is Anna University. It has more than 230 colleges affiliated to it. We searched for part-time mechanical engineering, automobile engineering, and manufacturing engineering programs using the following link, http://www.annauniv.edu/department/index.php. The results are: 1) College of Engineering, Anna University (this is one of the constituent colleges of Anna University). 2) Madras institute of Technology (B.E. Automobile Engineering , B.E. Production Engineering) 3) Thanthai Periyar Govt. Institute Of Technology 4) Govt. College Of Engineering, Salem 5) A.C College Of Engineering & Technology, Karaikudi 6) Govt. College Of Engineering, Tirunelveli B) Bangalore The admission process in engineering colleges in the state of Karnataka is governed by the CET (Common Entrance Test) which is a state level examination. The main university in Karnataka State is the Visvesvarya Technological. There are close to 100 engineering colleges affiliated to it. We recommend that the student contact the university office to get details of part-time programs that are offered by colleges affiliated to this university. C) Ajmer There are two engineering colleges in Ajmer. They do not offer a part time Bachelor of Engineering programs. The colleges are: 1) Engineering College, Ajmer; and 2) Ajmer Institute of Technology D) Distance learning: EDUSAT A very good path for part time BS/BE/BTech degree studies in India is the distance learning option. India has launched a dedicated satellite called EDUSAT for networking various colleges across the nation to provide distance e-learning programs. Ask an Expert Q: I would like to ask some questions about an engineering career for a school project related to my applied engineering class. 1)What is your typical day like? 2)What are you current responsibilities? 3)What/Who influence your career choice? 4)What are the most/least rewarding things about being and engineer? 5)What qualities do you feel defined a successful engineer? 6)Is writing involved in your work, if so what kind? 7)What courses were the most useful in preparing you for you job? 8)What would you change about your education if you could? 9)What advice do you have for potential engineers? We have sent your question to an engineer who has graduated with a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering in 2003 and now works for a large aerospace contractor in the United States. More relevant information is available on this site under “Life of An Engineer.” 1) What is your typical day like? I show up at work between 7:00 and 7:30AM (I am an early riser) and stay until about 4:00PM. I usually do technical project work between 7:30 and noon or 1PM – namely, read technical material, work on design and programming, perform testing, and collect data. I try to isolate myself from other matters during these hours. In the afternoon I read e-mail (never before 1PM! It can be very distracting). I answer only the most urgent e-mail and telephone calls that were made in the morning. I ignore a lot of less-than-urgent mail because e-mail is a huge time sink. I review postal mail (most of it is “junk mail”). I usually spend the afternoon in meetings –with my management, research and development collaborators, and technicians and co-op students who work for me. I try not to take too much work home but sometimes I do. This is particularly true when we work on a big proposal. I am away from the main plant where my office is about 45 working days a year. I meet clients and sponsors of our work, fly to work meetings with colleagues in other plants, and go to technical conferences. 2) What are you current responsibilities? I am a design engineer with a large aerospace company that does work mostly for the US government. 3) What/Who influence your career choice? My father. He introduced me early to the beauty and creativity of the engineering process, and instilled in me the realization that engineering is a useful and in fact noble profession. 4) What are the most/least rewarding things about being and engineer? My designs are used by many people. Some of the work that I did has been incorporated in early warning and communication systems that are being used by military personnel. Other designs are part of commercial devices that my company sells. I feel very good that people in tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, are using the output of my creative thinking. I believe their life is a bit easier and more efficient due to my work. 5) What qualities do you feel defined a successful engineer? A. Solid technical knowledge and the desire and ability to continue learning all the time. B. Strong self discipline and the ability to self manage. C. Good organizational skills, clear thinking, “keeping your eyes on the prize” at all times. D. Good communication skills. E. Flexibility. F. Good reading of the technical scene, our customers, our competitors and our own management. G. Patience and resilience. Grace under pressure. 6) Is writing involved in your work, if so what kind? I write memoranda to my management, the people who work for me, and colleagues and collaborators. I write parts of proposals, technical manuals and literature that accompanies our products. Sometimes I prepare formal presentations and – more rarely – public addresses and speeches. About half of my time is spent on writing. 7) What courses were the most useful in preparing you for you job? None, really. The ability to be a successful engineer does not come from this or that course. It comes from getting into the habit of learning and from developing the ability to absorb, filter and organize useful material from many classes and from reading. There are of course some classes I liked more than other, but the technical knowledge I need for my work was acquired mostly after I graduated, and though it was based on what I learned at the university, it was not directly drawing from it. 8) What would you change about your education if you could? I would take more courses that complement my technical “menu” – such as classes in economy, business, and law. 9) What advice do you have for potential engineers? Go for it. Engineering is one of the most vibrant, exciting and interesting ways to make a living while contributing to society and conducting a satisfying and intellectually-rich career. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student in the third year of Electrical and Electronics Engineering studies. I plan to continue my studies in the area of power systems, but I am not able to confine myself to any particular area within this field. Can you please help me in listing out some specific areas under which power systems are studied these days? The field of Power Systems is wide and rich. One view of the field is provided through the list of technical committees and subcommittees of the IEEE Power Engineering Society (PES). The list includes the following: Electric Machinery Energy Development & Power Generation Hydroelectric Power International Practices Insulated Conductors Nuclear Power Engineering Policy Development and Coordination Power Engineering Education Power System Analysis, Computing and Economics Computing and Analytical Methods Distribution System Analysis Intelligent Systems Reliability, Risk and Probability Applications System Economics Power System Communications Power System Dynamic Performance Power System Operations Power System Planning and Implementation Power System Relaying Stationary Battery Substations Surge Protective Devices Switchgear Transformers Transmission & Distribution The list also provides valuable links to short descriptions of the specific issues studied by each committee. Another view of the power engineering field can be gleaned by looking at the kinds of expertise that PES requires of its journal paper reviewers. Go to pages 2-4 of this document. Here is an overview of all areas covered by all publications of PES. If you want to dig deeper, you may go to the IEEE/IET Electronic Library homepage and browse abstracts in the PES publications, namely: IEEE Transactions on Power Systems IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery PES Letters Ask an Expert Q: I have a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and now working on Master of Engineering in power systems and automation. I concentrate on large scale systems. Can you suggest some good books on the subject? The term “large scale systems” (LSS) was a descriptor popular mostly between 1970 and 1990 to describe dynamic systems with a large number of variables, nonlinearities and uncertainties. Much of the work done within this area involved decomposition of LSSs into smaller and more manageable subsystems (often organized hierarchically) and coordinating information transfer and timing between them. International Federation of Automatic Control, Technical Committee of the Coordinating Committee on Manufacturing & Logistics Systems In the last few years the tools available to analyze and control LSSs have improved due to advances in computation and communication networks. In addition, new economical and environmental constraints added new challenges and restricted the solution space. To make matters a bit more confusing, the term “large scale systems” is also used now to refer to large software and computing architectures. Before we go on, we will comment that the use of the term “large scale systems” has decreased in the last few years, and work that grew out of this field is now studied under titles such as complex systems, discrete event systems, hybrid systems, and control theory in general. Part of the transformation is the observation that systems that looked “large” in 1970 are viewed as much less so now, due to progress in computer hardware and storage capabilities. Some of the areas covered by early LSS theory were (Safonov, 1984): Modeling (state-space versus descriptor versus input-output and frequency domain); model simplification (order reduction, aggregation, decomposition); design of hierarchically structured near-optimal controllers (goal coordination, interaction prediction, and perturbation and sensitivity methods); and interconnected systems stability, controllability, observability, and other so-called structural properties). In the context of power systems and automation, our first suggestion for reading material is a paper from 1978 (old but good), by N. Sandell, P. Varaiya, M. Athans, and M. Safonov: “Survey of decentralized control methods for large scale systems,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 23, No. 2, April 1978, pp. 108-128. It provides a good overview of early work on LSS. In the References section below we have included several books on Large Scale Systems. Most of them are from the 1970s and 1980s. Our favorite happens to be the book by Jamshidi. The International Federation on Automatic Control (IFAC) has a technical committee on Large Scale Complex Systems; see their web page http://ifactc54.ulbsibiu.ro/main/index.php?o=mainpage&s=1202 REFERENCES PAPERS AND COLLECTIONS OF PAPERS F.G. Filip, I. Dumitrache, and S. Iliescu: Large Scale Systems: Theory and Applications 2001 (IFAC Proceedings Volumes) (published 2002 by Elsevier). Note: IFAC was running conferences on LSS for several years, the 2004 proceedings, edited by Ohta are also available from Elsevier). Martin Grötschel, Sven O. Krumke, and Jörg Rambau: Online Optimization of Large Scale Systems, Berlin:Springer, 2001. M. Safonov, book review, IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 2, p. 15, June 1984. BOOKS Athanasios Antoulas: Approximation of Large-Scale Dynamical Systems (Advances in Design and Control) (Advances in Design and Control) Philadelphia:SIAM, 2005 Mohammad Jamshidi: Large- scale Systems Modelling and Control. New York: North Holland, 1983. A. Sage, Methodologies for Large Scale Systems. New York: Mc-Graw Hill, 1977. D. Siljak, Large-Scale Dynamic Systems-Stability and Structure. New York: Elsesvier, 1978. M. Singh, Dynamical Hierarchical Control, New York: North-Holland, 1977 and1980. M. Singh, Decentralized Control. New York: North-Holland, 1981. R. Saeks and R. A. DeCarlo, Interconnected Dynamical Systems. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1981. Ask an Expert Q: What is the reason why a logic gate cannot be made by using only n-channel MOSFETs (nMOSFETs) or p-channel MOSFETs (pMOSFETs)? The question is about a semiconductor device called metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), which is composed of a channel of n-type or p-type semiconductor material. Contrary to the premise of the question, a logic gate can be made of MOSFETs of one kind only. For example, see a design of a NOR gate using nMOS technology here. The reason such circuits are often not preferred is that whenever the output is low, DC current flows through the nMOS gate. "This leads to static power dissipation even when the circuit sits idle."[1] (A similar "mirror" problem exists with pMOS gates). "Also, nMOS circuits are slow to transition from low to high. When transitioning from high to low, the transistors provide low resistance, and the capacitative charge at the output drains away very quickly. But the resistance between the output and the positive supply rail is much greater, so the low to high transition takes longer. Using a resistor of lower value will speed up the process but also increases static power dissipation."[1] CMOS logic uses a combination of nMOS and pMOS components to create gates that ideally have no current flow except when the inputs change. "CMOS accomplishes this by complementing every nMOSFET with a pMOSFET and connecting both gates and both drains together. A high voltage on the gates will cause the nMOSFET to conduct and the pMOSFET not to conduct and a low voltage on the gates causes the reverse. During the switching time the voltage goes from one state to another and both will conduct. This arrangement greatly reduces power consumption and heat generation."[2] A nice illustration of how any type of logic gate can be created from a combination of nMOS and pMOS transistors is provided in this website of the University of Utah. References [1] nMOS logic from Answers.com. [2] MOSFET from Wikipedia. (Note: Wikipedia entries can be changed by any user at any time. Caution is advised.) Ask an Expert Q: What programs or classes does one need to take in order to be successful in automotive engineering? Can you provide samples of listing courses in automotive engineering from an established university or college? What job prospects you get or need in this field? General [G1] Definition: Automotive engineering [1] is an applied science that includes elements of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, software engineering and safety engineering as applied to the design, manufacture and operation of automobiles, buses and trucks and their respective engineering subsystems. [G2] We have provided a list of university-level programs in automotive engineering here: http://tryengineering.org/ask_archive.php?show=171&cat=eng&page=#q171 [G3] Another list (which includes institutions with minors in automotive engineering and community colleges) is available from the Princeton Review (US only): http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/majors/Schools.asp?majorID=425 [G4] A bibliography of automotive engineering is available here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~tmisa/biblios/automobile.html [1] What programs or classes does one need to take in order to be successful in automotive engineering? Can you provide samples of listing courses in automotive engineering from an established university or college? Automotive engineering university programs are often close relatives of programs in mechanical engineering, with curricula that includes elements of structural mechanics, materials, instrumentation and control, thermofluid mechanics, and aerodynamics. Pre-university courses that are recommended are mathematics (calculus and algebra), physics (especially mechanics) and chemistry. The Automotive Engineering program at the University of Adelaide (Australia) is typical of traditional Automotive Engineering programs, like the programs often offered as part of mechanical engineering degree programs with automotive concentration in the United States: http://access.adelaide.edu.au/courses/search.asp?acadgroup=ENG&m=r The Automotive Engineering program at Warwick University (UK) is an example of an integrated program with many engineering as well as non-engineering elements: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/ug/degrees/ae/degstruct/ Course content at the UCE Birmingham (UK): http://www.uce.ac.uk/web2/subjects/sa.html#auto A sample Mater of Science curriculum in automotive engineering is available here (Lawrence Technological University, MI, USA): http://www.ltu.edu/engineering/mechanical/_msaedetail3.asp See also, at the University of Bradford (UK), a combined mechanical-automotive engineering program: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/university/ugpros/mechanical.php [2] What job prospects you get or need in this field? This question is hard to answer. To appreciate the complexity, consider, for example, the following statement from the University of Bradford, made in 2005 on the 2004 graduates of that university’s automotive engineering programs: “Our graduates pursue careers in all areas of engineering, automotive and manufacturing industry, but also in wider fields such as marketing, business management and public service work.” “Our recent graduates went on to work for employers such as Ford, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Toyota, in roles including graduate engineer, design engineer, process engineer, and CAD engineer…100% of our 2004 graduates were in employment within six months of graduating.” The reason for pause is that in spite of the obvious success, several companies on this employer list have had significant economical difficulties since then (e.g., Ford, Jaguar) and that the automotive industry in general has seen strong fluctuations in profitability and return on investment over the years (see for example the analysis of Baki et al. in [2]). Just one year after 100% of Bradford graduates found employment, an analyst of engineering job prospects in Britain observed that Peugeot, Jaguar, Rover and the MG sports car all saw their fortunes fall in Britain, and that “opportunities for engineering graduates in the automobile industry are hard to come by” [4]. The automotive industry is global. Manufacturing of cars, and increasingly their design, keep migrating in search of economical efficiency [3]. Several countries (such as China and Brazil) try to become major players and acquire a considerable market share from existing players. While we are confident that the global demand for automotive engineers will grow in the next two decades, the geographical distribution of that demand is uncertain. Students of automotive engineering will therefore do well to select a suite of courses which provides a wide spectrum of skills, include good preparation in electrical and computer engineering related subjects, and develop good understanding of global economical and business trends. References [1] “Automotive Engineering” in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, on-line, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_engineering, accessed 14 September 2006. [2] M. Baki et al.: Automotive Industry Analysis - GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Ford, Honda, November 2004, on-line: http://www.academicmind.com/scholarlypapers/business/management/2004-11-000aaa-automotive-industry-analysis.html [3] Globalization and Jobs in the Automotive Industry, a Research Project Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Research Note #1: Timothy Sturgeon: “Globalization and the Threat of Overcapacity in the Automotive Industry,” October, 1997, on-line: http://ipc-lis.mit.edu/globalization/Overcapacity.pdf#search=%22Globalization%20and%20Jobs%20in%20the%20Automotive%20Industry%2C%20a%20Research%20Project%20Funded%20by%20the%20Alfred%20P.%20Sloan%20Foundation%22 Research Note #2: Teresa M. Lynch :”Leaving Home: Three Decades of Internationalization by American Autos Firms,” October 1998 in October, 1998, on-line: http://ipc-lis.mit.edu/globalization/Overcapacity.pdf#search=%22Globalization%20and%20Jobs%20in%20the%20Automotive%20Industry%2C%20a%20Research%20Project%20Funded%20by%20the%20Alfred%20P.%20Sloan%20Foundation%22 [4] Linda Murdoch: Engineering: Big Players, Transport:Automobiles, Spring 2006, on-line: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_job_sectors/Engineering/Big_players/p!egiFlkf Ask an Expert Q: I'm G.Kaviarasu,studying B.E(electronics & communication)first year at thiagarajar college of engg.,Madurai,India.I'm interested in undergoing project works on nanotechnology(for beginners).So, please guide me. Ask an Expert Q: i am studing in B.tech.INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY at thiyagarajar college of engineering,Madurai,tamilnadu,india my question is what is the correct time& way to prepare for CAT and which meterial i may use another question after finishing B.Tech may i choose NANO TECH. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student at Red Mountain High School and we would like to have an engineer come and tell us more about engineering fields. How can we arrange that? If you would like an engineer or engineering student to work with you one-on-one or come to your school to talk about engineering, we suggest that you review the engineering society links on this site and send your request directly to the appropriate society which represents the type of engineer that you would like to visit. We also recommend contacting the engineering departments at local colleges or universities, and ask if a professor or a group of students can come visit your class and discuss engineering and their experiences in an engineering department. We believe you are writing from Mesa, Arizona in the United States; in this case you may want to contact the office of Student Outreach and Retention Programs in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University. You can also find information about the different disciplines in engineering and engineering technology on this site by clicking on the engineering majors and engineering technology majors sections of this web site. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student from a Systems Engineering program, and would like to know what the main difference is between Software Engineering and Systems Engineering. I have heard a lot of discussion about these two engineering programs and some people say that Systems Engineering "does not really exist" and that it should be named Software Engineering. At my university they teach us Systems Engineering because they say we are getting prepared to manage a whole system composed not only of software, but also of hardware, processes, political interelationships, economical and business considerations, and users. You raise interesting questions on academic disciplines that are relatively young. The term Software Engineering was coined in the late 1960s and Systems Engineering became popular in the mid 1970s. IEEE Standard 610.12 defines Software Engineering as the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, namely, the application of engineering to software (as well as its study). A more detailed definition of Software Engineering is "the design, development, and documentation of software by applying technologies and practices from computer science, project management, engineering, application domains, interface design, digital asset management and other fields." The definition of Systems Engineering is a subject of significant debate. The Institute for Systems Research at the University of Maryland provides the following definition (which we have slightly edited): "Systems engineering is a discipline that develops and exploits structured, efficient approaches to analysis and design that solve complex engineering problems. Systems engineering focuses on methodology rather than physical manifestations of science and engineering hardware, therefore describing it is more difficult than other engineering disciplines. Furthermore, its description varies considerably, particularly between industrial and research communities. From an indutrial point of view, systems engineering is highly focused on applications and the rapid exploitation of tools and methods for problem-solving. Research of systems engineering (primarily in universities) concentrates on the mathematical methods and algorithms needed by these tools." According to "The Engineering Design of Systems" by Dennis Beude (New York: Wiley, 2000)"what makes SE unique, especially in contrast with traditional engineering disciplines, is that SE does not build tangible products. Whereas civil engineers might design buildings and electrical engineers might design circuits, systems engineers deal with abstract systems, and rely on other engineering disciplines to design and deliver the tangible products that are the realization of those systems." These defintions will, we hope, put Software Engineering and Systems Engineering in context. The domain of Systems Engineering is much wider, though by necessity this broader domain means that it is less specific, and less specialized. Software engineers are much closer to programming and practical computing, while systems engineers are engaged (at lower depth) with more disciplines within engineering (e.g., control and automation) and outside of engineering (e.g., economics). PREPARING THIS ANSWER IS IN PROGRESS Ask an Expert Q: I am an electrical engineering student. How do I find a project that uses the 'RENEWABLE ENERGY' concept? Renewable energy is energy that can be replenished at the same rate it is used; solar, wind and water energy are the three most common examples. To develop a project that would demonstrate renewable energy you could... create a small solar car (see an example) make a solar oven; additional plans are available here build a wind turbine make a small scale hydroelectric generator design a waste digester. Each one of these projects can be adjusted in scale to your needs, from a short one-class demonstration to a full fledged senior design capstone project. SOURCES Renewable Energy Project to Build Working Models How to Build a Solar Cooker Waste Digester Design Page, Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Florida Research Projects for High School Students, Golden, CO: National Renewal Enrgy Laboratory, www.nrel.gov ADDITIONAL LINKS http://fie.engrng.pitt.edu/fie2003/papers/1551.pdf http://www.humboldt.edu/~ere_dept/academics/energy_descr.html http://www.morrisville.edu/alternativeenergy/ http://www.matc.edu/matc_now/retec.html Ask an Expert Q: How does a capacitor charging and discharging produce a waveform? Ask an Expert Q: Can you provide a few references and links to sites where I can learn about better communication skills? (1) An excellent collection of resources exists on the Kent State University Libraries and Media Services webpage. The collection covers writing, reading, listening and speaking. Kent State University Library & Media Services (2) A nice collection of articles on different aspects of personal communication is available at hodu.com. We found the following sections especially useful: Speaking Skills and Writing Skills. (3) Staffordshire University provides a good collection of articles here: here. Some of the links are dead but most are active and quite helpful. There are descriptions of techniques (such as Mind Mapping) that are not available on other comparable websites. (4) The BT Education Programme provides several unusual resources. It is available here: here. The site requires registration but is free to use. Some of the tools it provides: Videos of interviews with job applicants with feedback by the interviewer (“the interview tapes”) A nice presentation on communication media over history – “from caveman to spaceman” How to make a photo-movie (great for presentations) How to create a pod-cast (“assignment: podcast”) (5) An interesting article on “English and Communication Skills for the Global Engineer” by Marc Riemer of Monash University in Australia . Ask an Expert Q: I am studying in B.Tech (aeronautical)3rd sem, our degree will be awarded by janardhan rai nagar rajasthan vidyapeeth deemed university will i get job in government or private sectors airline in india and abroad.will i be eligible to apply for M.Tech in india and abroad Ask an Expert Q: I plan on becoming an aerospace engineer or a mechanical engineer. I was wondering - what is the difference between engineers and mechanics? Also, do engineers build things or just plan them? Engineers are people who solve technical problems; design devices, tools, and systems; and make processes and systems work more efficiently and effectively. Engineers apply the theories and principles of science to research, and develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is often the link between perceived social needs and commercial applications. Engineers design products, machinery to build those products, plants in which those products are made, and the systems that ensure the quality of the products and the efficiency and safety of the workforce and manufacturing process. Engineers design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings, vehicles of all kinds (including for aerospace), highways, transit systems, communications and entertainment systems, power plants, and chemical plants. They develop and implement improved ways to extract, process, and use raw materials, such as petroleum and natural gas. They develop new materials that improve the performance of products. They harness multiple energy sources for use in supplying the population's power needs, and create millions of products using this power. They analyze the impact of the products they develop and the systems they design on the environment and on people who are using them. Engineering knowledge is applied to improving many processes and services, including the quality of healthcare, the safety of food products, and the operation of financial systems. Engineers usually do not engage directly in building or manufacturing for mass production. To the extent that engineers build devices, they do it in order to investigate ideas and test prototypes. Actual assembly and production is often done by individuals of different vocations. Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, rockets and missiles, and supervise the production of these products. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those working specifically with spacecraft are astronautical engineers. Aerospace engineers develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specializing in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods. They also may specialize in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial aircraft, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets, and may become experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems. A mechanic in any field is generally a person who uses many technical skills and knowledge in electrical/electronic, mechanical and other vocational areas to fix vehicles, machinery, aircraft, and instrumentation. Mechanics often troubleshoot to find and isolate failures, and perform maintenance and routine repairs on vehicles or machinery. Mechanics usually do not engage in deep analysis or mathematical modeling, and their ability to design new systems and test them is usually limited compared to that of engineers. An engineer usually receives a minimum of 4-5 years of academic schooling before starting a practice, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or a Bachelor of Engineering degree (in some countries the first professional degree in engineering is the Master of Science or Master of Engineering). A mechanic typically attends a certificate program, vocational school, or a 2-year degree program. Ask an Expert Q: Why do primary winding in the transformer are wound first and only then the secondary winding? We scratched out heads when we received this question because we do not think this is so. The order of winding in the transformer during manufacturing is not required to be primary first, secondary second (nor is it required to be in the reverse order). There may be cases when manufacturing ease or considerations of material handling and cost dictate the order, but these are specific to a manufacturer or a process. To learn more about transformers, read this article on the web site of Elliott Sound Products. Ask an Expert Q: how do i plan for an oil and gas career;i am an instrumentation and control engineer from india(graduated year 2005);do i opt for some postgraduation degree;if yes please advice on good universities related to my graduation degree? Ask an Expert Q: What programs or classes do I need in order to be successful in automotive engineering? What are the job prospects? Please provide samples listing of courses from an established university or college. General [G1] Definition: Automotive engineering [1] is an applied science that includes elements of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, software engineering and safety engineering as applied to the design, manufacture and operation of automobiles, buses and trucks and their respective engineering subsystems. [G2] We have provided a list of university-level programs in automotive engineering here: http://tryengineering.org/ask_archive.php?show=171&cat=eng&page=#q171 [G3] Another list (which includes institutions with minors in automotive engineering and community colleges) is available from the Princeton Review (US only): http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/majors/Schools.asp?majorID=425 [G4] A bibliography of automotive engineering is available here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~tmisa/biblios/automobile.html [1] What programs or classes do I need in order to be successful in automotive engineering? Please provide samples listing of courses from an established university or college. Automotive engineering university programs are often close relatives of programs in mechanical engineering, with curricula that includes elements of structural mechanics, materials, instrumentation and control, thermofluid mechanics, and aerodynamics. Pre-university courses that are recommended for students who would specialize in automotive engineering are mathematics (calculus and algebra), physics (especially mechanics) and chemistry. The Automotive Engineering program at the University of Adelaide (Australia) is typical of traditional Automotive Engineering programs, like the programs often offered as part of mechanical engineering degree programs with automotive concentration in the United States: http://access.adelaide.edu.au/courses/search.asp?acadgroup=ENG&m=r The Automotive Engineering program at Warwick University (UK) is an example of an integrated program with many engineering as well as non-engineering elements: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/ug/degrees/ae/degstruct/ Course content at the UCE Birmingham (UK): http://www.uce.ac.uk/web2/subjects/sa.html#auto A sample Master of Science curriculum in automotive engineering is available here (Lawrence Technological University, MI, USA): http://www.ltu.edu/engineering/mechanical/_msaedetail3.asp See also, at the University of Bradford (UK), a combined mechanical-automotive engineering program: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/university/ugpros/mechanical.php [2] What are the job prospects? The general answer is that over the years the automotive industry provided employment to hundreds of thousands of engineers, but the industry had seen fluctuations in its economic health and work had at times migrated across borders. To appreciate the complexity, consider, for example, the following statement from the University of Bradford, made in 2005 on the 2004 graduates of that university’s automotive engineering programs: Our graduates pursue careers in all areas of engineering, automotive and manufacturing industry, but also in wider fields such as marketing, business management and public service work...Our recent graduates went on to work for employers such as Ford, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Toyota, in roles including graduate engineer, design engineer, process engineer, and CAD engineer...100% of our 2004 graduates were in employment within six months of graduating. However, in spite of the obvious success, several companies on this employer list have had significant economical difficulties since then (e.g., Ford, Jaguar) and the automotive industry in general has seen strong fluctuations in profitability and return on investment over the years (see [2]). Just one year after 100% of Bradford graduates found employment, an analyst of engineering job prospects in Britain observed that Peugeot, Jaguar, Rover and the MG sports car all saw their fortunes fall in Britain, and that "opportunities for engineering graduates in the automobile industry are hard to come by" [4]. The automotive industry is global. Manufacturing of cars, and increasingly their design, keep migrating in search of economical efficiency [3]. Several countries (such as China and Brazil) try to become major players and acquire a considerable market share from existing players. While we are confident that the global demand for automotive engineers will grow in the next two decades, the geographical distribution of that demand is uncertain. Students of automotive engineering will therefore do well to select a suite of courses which provides a wide spectrum of skills, include good preparation in electrical and computer engineering related subjects, and develop good understanding of global economical and business trends. References [1] "Automotive Engineering" in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, on-line, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_engineering , accessed 14 September 2007. [2] M. Baki et al.: Automotive Industry Analysis - GM, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Ford, Honda, November 2004, on-line: http://www.academicmind.com/scholarlypapers/business/management/2004-11-000aaa-automotive-industry-analysis.html [3] Globalization and Jobs in the Automotive Industry, a Research Project Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Research Note #1: Timothy Sturgeon: “Globalization and the Threat of Overcapacity in the Automotive Industry,” October, 1997, on-line: http://ipc-lis.mit.edu/globalization/Overcapacity.pdf#search=%22Globalization%20and%20Jobs%20in%20the%20Automotive%20Industry%2C%20a%20Research%20Project%20Funded%20by%20the%20Alfred%20P.%20Sloan%20Foundation%22 Research Note #2: Teresa M. Lynch :”Leaving Home: Three Decades of Internationalization by American Autos Firms,” October 1998 in October, 1998, on-line: http://ipc-lis.mit.edu/globalization/Overcapacity.pdf#search=%22Globalization%20and%20Jobs%20in%20the%20Automotive%20Industry%2C%20a%20Research%20Project%20Funded%20by%20the%20Alfred%20P.%20Sloan%20Foundation%22 [4] Linda Murdoch: Engineering: Big Players, Transport:Automobiles, Spring 2006, on-line: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Explore_job_sectors/Engineering/Big_players/p!egiFlkf Ask an Expert Q: What kinds of problems do electrical engineers solve? What does the job market look like for engineers in this field? How many engineers are currently working in this field? The field of Electrical Engineering is very broad and new subject areas are added every year. A simplistic view would be to consider all of the things that have an electrical power source of some sort – a battery, wall power, hand crank. Each of these products has and electrical component and most likely includes a contribution from an Electrical Engineer. Now expand the definition to encompass something as huge as power generation and distribution all the way down to products as small as a hearing aide. All are products with Electrical Engineering content The Engineering job market is largely dependent on the economy. A good economic period results in more engineering hiring. Best advice is to take a balance of classes in college so that your skills are in demand by multiple segments of the market. It would be very difficult to estimate the number of working Engineers in the world today. Engineers are very often working in career areas of little or no relationship to “real” Engineering. Plus, in the past several years, it has been popular to re-label many career fields as Engineering, even though they are not traditional Engineering areas. Ask an Expert Q: I am a senior in high school and have been taking a class called Project Lead the Way: Principles of Engineering. In this class, we cover the basics of what engineers do and what we need to do to increase our chances of becoming engineers in the future. One of the ways we are supposed to achieve this goal is by interviewing an engineer. I was hoping you could help me. We have forwarded your questions to an engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering who works in the United States for a small private company specializing in digital control. He graduated ten (10) years ago and joined the company seven (7) years ago. Interview Q: Describe the duties and responsibilities of someone working in electrical engineering. What are some specific jobs in this field? Electrical Engineering is a deep and wide field and it will be hard for me to provide a meaningful overview in a few sentences. You may want to visit the description of electrical engineering on this site and on the Sloan Career Center site . The duties and responsibilities of electrical engineers vary – from design and testing in the laboratory to managing large teams that design future fleets and major infrastructure projects. Q: What are some projects you’ve worked on? Most of my work was on improving automation and control systems on ships. Many current architectures of control systems on commercial as well as military ships have been designed in the 1940s and 1950s. There are major opportunities to upgrade them now, using advanced electronics and computing technology. Q: Do you have assignments that seem to drag on forever, or are they usually pretty quick? I work in a structured environment, where we have customers, projects, and concrete goals, all organized along tight timelines. As a result, no major activity can be allowed to drag. If an assignment drags it was either non critical to start with, or it is an internal improvement we wanted to implement, not related to any specific project or product. Q: How much of your time is spent on the computer? I assume you mean my personal computer. Time spent on my personal computer varies dramatically. I may be on the computer two whole weeks all day, day after day, engaged in design, computer programming and communications. I may then spend two weeks installing equipment on ships and meeting with customers, with little, almost no interaction with a personal computer (I check e-mail on my Blackberry device). Q: Does your job deal mainly with people, data, or things? Yes to all. I deal with people, both inside and outside the company. I do a lot of data collection and data analysis; and I build, test, and install devices and systems. Q: Are there any specific tools or equipment required for your job? I need experimental facilities; some of them were built over the year by our company for our own use. Others we rent, or use under an agreement with our customers. I also need special-purpose modeling and simulation software, which sometimes can be very expensive and complex. Q: What are the advantages of this occupation (electrical engineering)? It is very dynamic, new inventions and techniques are constantly making old approaches obsolete. Life is very interesting, there is no lack of challenges, there is much more work than we could ever possibly do. Q: Are there any disadvantages of this occupation (electrical engineering)? Well, our occupation is very dynamic, and new inventions and techniques are constantly making old approaches obsolete... As a result, we are always in flux, and if you do not get yourself updated on a regular basis and move with the times, you find yourself behind really fast… Q: How about advancement opportunities? I work in a small company and am much less concerned about my personal advancement opportunities, and much more concerned about our company’s. If we get more contracts and grow I will grow with the company, and will also see significant financial gains (I am a share holder as well as an employee). Otherwise all of us at the company will become less important (and poorer…) Q: Are employers evenly distributed or are they concentrated in certain areas of the country? Electrical engineering employers are dispersed all over the country and the world. Our company has only one permanent facility. However you will find our employees in every major US port and in some ports outside the US, taking measurements and installing equipment. Sometimes we work on ships that are in transit, and our employees are then working “somewhere in the ocean”. Some of our employees work in facilities of or customers, in some cases for years. Q: Does where you live make a difference in your salary? It would but only to cover the differences in cost of living. The cost of living is different in Wichita Kansas, Frankfurt Germany, and Manhattan Borough in New York. Our company (and our customers) are aware of this, and our fees reflect these differences. Q: Do you have to travel? Yes, I have more frequent flier miles than I know what to do with. Q: So do most people work for themselves, private industry, or the government? I estimate that roughly 70% of electrical engineers are in the private sector, working for private corporations, about 20% are in the employ of the government, and about 10% are unaffiliated consultants and free lancers. Q: What is the beginning, average, and top pay one could expect to earn working in electrical engineering? The average starting salaries of electrical engineers in the United States are $51,888 for holders of B.Sc. degree; $64,416 for holders of a M.Sc. degree; and $80,260 for holders of a Ph.D. The median salary of electrical engineers is $71,160. The average salary of the lowest 10% is $ 47,310. The average salary of the top 10% is $108,070. Q: How many hours do you work per week? I work between 45 and 65 hours a week. Q: What are the retirement benefits? My employer has arranged for us to participate in a defined contribution program [401(k)] into which we deposit some of our salary and the employer matches some of our contribution. You can read more about this type of contribution here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/401(k). I made sure that the portfolio of my 401 (k) program (into which I rolled money from the pension plan of my previous employer) is well balanced and it has grown very nicely over the last few years. Barring a major economical downturn my wife and I will be able to retire very comfortably one day. Q: In what kind of environment is the work done? I work in laboratories of my company, universities that collaborate with us, and several customers. I do a lot of work on ships of all kinds. The environments therefore vary widely, and I may spend a week in a quiet university laboratory and a week on the noisiest Navy ship. If I have to write a proposal I may not even come to work, but stay at home and do it. Q: Is it possible to work at home (like if you’re sick)? It is possible to work at home, and I do. If my work requires mostly reading of material, analysis, or writing, I will let my supervisor know and do the work in my home office. This requires that I isolate myself from the rest of the family and lock myself in the home office(we have two small children at home) – otherwise nothing gets done… Q: Do you work alone or with other people? Yes to both. Some of my work is done alone – analysis, writing reports, preparing proposals. Some of my work – testing, integrating analysis results, designing experiments and installation missions – requires others, sometimes group as large as 10-15 people. Q: Were there any tests or licenses you had to get before you became an engineer? Theoretically I had to get a license (Professional Engineer). I do not have one, most of my colleagues do not have one, and no one seems to ever care. Q: What is your most satisfying experience so far? I was able to improve the efficiency of certain operations on ships to a degree that surprised their owners greatly. In some cases we saved the owners hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. In other cases we were able to reduce lengthy and dangerous maintenance tasks to a small fraction of their former duration. These achievements are very satisfying. Q: Is this what you thought you were going to do in high school? Not really. I had no idea what I wanted to do in high school. Only after spending some time as a “major not declared” engineering student I developed an inclination toward what I do now. Q: How about in college? I had a co-op job with the US Navy during my second year in College. This was a defining period for me. At the end of this assignment I knew I want to do control design for ships. This is my job now and possibly forever. Q: What degree did you get in college? I have a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. I have a minor in mechanical engineering. I am halfway through a Master of Science program in electrical engineering but progress is slow. Q: How long have you worked in your profession? It has been 10 years since I graduated and I have been fully employed all these years. Q: Do you have any advice for someone looking to go into electrical engineering? I think it is a wonderful profession which I recommend highly. The only regret I have is that I did not go directly to graduate school for my M.Sc. after getting the B.Sc. degree. If you can study continually until you get your Master’s you have an advantage. Q: Is there anything you like to add? Your questions did not capture the creativity that our profession requires. There are always intellectual and practical challenges that require creative thinking, non-traditional solutions, and deep analysis of systems and processes. Electrical engineering is for people who are willing to be imaginative and even daring. Ask an Expert Q: I am an electrical engineering student. I'd like to ask for your suggestions on solving AC Circuits. There are several techniques for solving AC circuits, and all of them are based on Kirchoff's circuit laws and Ohm's Law. When you solve for the voltage or current in an AC circuit, you are really solving a differential equation that is developed using Kirchoff’s laws. The different techniques are various ways of solving the basic differential equation. Three popular techniques for handling the differential equation developed for AC circuits are: 1. Using a direct "time domain" technique often involving integration 2. Using phasors 3. Using Laplace transforms I’ll briefly describe each of these techniques and provide links and resources for each one so you can read more. A.1 Solving the differential equation using a direct "time domain" technique Consider a simple circuit that has an alternating voltage source in series with a resistor and a capacitor. We’ll use the following notation: t time V(t) driving voltage A amplitude of the driving voltage Vr(t) voltage across the resistor at time t Vc(t) voltage across the capacitor at time t w angular frequency (radians) Q(t) charge on the capacitor at time t We’ll let the input voltage be V(t) = A*cos(w*t). Applying Kirchoff’s loop law and Ohm’s law, we get: V(t) = Vr(t) + Vc(t) A*cos(w*t) = I*R + Q/C Q``(t) = Q`(t)*R + Q(t)/C where the ` symbol above Q indicates the derivative with respect to time and `` denotes the second derivative with respect to time. Since the circuit has a driving voltage source, we end up with a nonhomogeneous second order differential equation. The usual procedure for solving this is to assume that the solution has the same form as the input Links on AC circuits at play-hookey.com AC circuits at allaboutcircuits.com Phasors at Wikipedia Ask an Expert Q: Q: Describe the duties and responsibilities of someone working in your field of computer engineering. What are some specific jobs in this field? Q: What is your specialty in your field of engineering? Q: What are some of the projects you’ve worked on? Q: Do you have assignments that seem to drag on forever, or are they usually pretty quick? Q: How much of your time is spent on the computer? Q: Does your job deal mainly with people, data or things? Q: Are there any specific tools or equipment required for your job? Q: What are the advantages of this occupation? Q: Are there any disadvantages? Q: How about advancement opportunities? Q: Are employers evenly distributed or are they concentrated in certain areas of the country? Q: So do most people work for themselves, private industry, or the government? Q: What are the beginning, average, and top pay one could expect to earn working in your field of engineering? Q: Does where you live make a difference in your salary? Q: Is there overtime pay? Q: How many hours do you work per week? Q: What about vacations? Q: Is there further education offered where you work? Q: Do you have to travel? Q: What are the retirement benefits? Q: In what kind of environment is the work done? Indoors? Outdoors? Q: Is it possible to work at home? Q: Do you work alone or with other people? Q: Were there any tests or licenses you had to get before you became an engineer? Q: What is your most satisfying experience so far? Q: Is this what you thought you were going to do in high school? Q: How about in college? Q: What degree did you get in college? Q: How long have you work in your profession? Q: Do you have any advice for someone looking to go into your field of engineering? Q: Is there anything you want to add? Ask an Expert Q: This is an interview with a civil/environmental engineer who works in the United States. The engineer answered a list of questions submitted by a student who participates in Project Lead the Way." These answers are responses from an Environmental/Civil Engineer. Q: Describe the duties and responsibilities of someone working in engineering. What are some specific jobs in this field? In my area (civil engineering) a typical duty would be project management and design for a civil engineering project. For instance, the engineer will design a stormwater management and collection system for a new mall. S/he will develop the grading and drainage plan and design to a peak storm event (i.e., 10-year or 25-year storm event). For classification of storms, please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm#Storm_classification Q: What are some of the projects you've worked on? Design for stormwater management. wastewater treatment. surface water treatment. environmental assessments. Q: Do you have assignments that seem to drag on forever, or are they usually pretty quick? Some assignments by nature do take significantly longer than others due to changes in scope or client preferences Q: How much of your times is spent on the computer? 60 to 70% Q: Does your job deal mainly with people, data, or things? People first, than data Q: Are there any disadvantages? Many civil engineers work as consultants. As a consultant, you do not always have a defined scope of work and your workload (as well as income) fluctuates. Q: How many advancement opportunities? Advancement opportunities depend on the office environment, but usually there are many opportunities for advancement for good civil engineers. Many leaders of big corporations are civil engineers. Q: Are employers evenly distributed or are they concentrated in certain areas of the country? Civil engineers are distributed around the world pretty evenly. They are needed everywhere. Q: So do most people work for themselves, private industry, or the government? Civil engineers work with all types of entities; private industry, public, government, developers, etc. Most of us work within a private company or a corporation. Q: What are the beginning, average, and top pay one could expect to earn working in engineering? It has been my experience that civil engineers in the United States start at $35,000 - 45,000. The average depends on level of career but overall it is $60,000 to 70,000. Top pay is $150,000 to $300,000, or even more if the engineer becomes an executive for a firm. Earning also depends on the location of the position. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the following numbers for starting salaries in the United States. Civil engineers with a Bachelor's degree $43,697; Master's degree, 48,050; Ph.D., $59,625. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the following numbers for average salaries of civil engineers. Median: $64,230; average of the bottom 10% is $42,610; average of the top 10% is $94,660. Q: Does where you live make a difference in your salary? Yes, cost of living is one factor that weighs heavily into salary differences. Q: Is there overtime pay? Yes; it depends on your engineering level and project demands. Q:How many hours do you work per week? I work 40 to 50 hours a week. Q: What about vacations? Engineers get 2 weeks minimum, up to 5 weeks depending on years of experience. Q: Is there further education offered where you work? Yes, if it is in engineering the employer will participate in paying the costs and may allocate paid employee time for education. Q: Do you have to travel? Yes, depending on the project location Q: What are the retirement benefits? Most companies in the US offer a defined contribution 401K retirement program where the employee makes a contribution and the company matches the contributions up to a certain percent of the employee's salary. Some companies still offer a defined benefit pension. [For terms see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/401k and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement_plan.] Q: In what kind of environment is the work done? Indoors? Outdoors? Most of the work is done indoors, with some field work. Q: Is it possible to work at home (like if you're sick)? Yes, using the internet. Q: Do you work alone or with other people? I usually work with others - lots of teamwork. Q: Were there any tests or licenses you had to get before you became an engineer? Yes, EIT - Engineer in Training and PE - Professional Engineering License Q:What is your most satisfying experience so far? Working in Louisiana, helping with damage assessments from Hurricane's Rita and Katrina Q: Is this what you thought you were going to do in high school? No, I actually thought I would go to medical school. Q: How about in college? I switched from Pre-Med to Engineering while in college. Q: What degree did you get in college? Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Master of Civil Engineering Q: How long have you work in your profession? A little over 7 years. Q: Do you know anything about the employment opportunities for people my age? Prospects depend on where you are located and which engineering fields you are looking for into. Researching jobs available online or in the newspaper in your area will provide you with a good indication of current employment in a specific field in your geographical area. Q: Do you have any advice for someone looking to go into engineering? Study hard and concentrate on the areas of mathematics and science. Ask an Expert Q: I have heard the term "Financial Engineering". Is this an engineering field? How does it differ from financial analysis or stock analysis? Where can I study it? Financial Engineering is a rather young field which, at least at present, is more likely to reside in schools of business than in colleges of engineering. The focus of financial engineering is on analyzing and synthesizing financial decisions (such as certain investments, trading or hedging decisions), especially in trying to quantify the risk involved. A major area of interest is the analysis of existing financial instruments and the creation of new ones. One definition of the field by Jack Marshal (of the International Association of Financial Engineers (IAFE)) , is the following: "financial engineering involves the development and creative application of financial theory and financial instruments to structure solutions to complex financial problems and to exploit financial opportunities." The primary difference between "financial engineering" and fields that fall under "financial analysis" is that the former emphasize synthesis and the building of tools. Most individuals who currently practice financial engineering (or "computational finance" as it is sometimes known) come from the academic fields of mathematics, statistics, the physical sciences, engineering, operations research, computer science, finance, or economics. Financial engineering, as a separate discipline at the graduate level, is taught in only a handful of schools, including Columbia University , Carnegie Mellon University , the University of California at Berkeley , Princeton University , Kent State University , and the University of Michigan . If you are interested in this field, our advice is that you acquire first a degree in mathematics, engineering or computer science, and make sure that your course of study is enriched by electives in operation research, optimization, economics, and finance. With this first degree you will be ready to apply to a financial engineering program at the Master of Science level. Links of interest: http://www.fenews.com/what-is-fe/what-is-fe.html http://www.fenews.com/ http://www.iafe.org/ Ask an Expert Q: can you suggest me some projects on dsp using matlab on filter designing for completion of my graduation Ask an Expert Q: What type of academic degrees are offered in engineering, and how long does it take to study for them? (A) The Baccalaureate Degree The first (baccalaureate) degree in engineering is usually the Bachelor of Science degree (in an engineering field), abbreviated as B.Sc.or B.S., or the Bachelor of Engineering degree (B.Eng, or B.E., or B.E.Sc, or BAI - Baccalaureus in Arte Ingeniaria (Latin)). Some engineering students receive a Bachelor in Applied Science degree (B.A.S.) or B. Phil (Bachelor of Philosophy, in Britain). Another baccalaureate degree title for engineers is Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech, mostly in India and Pakistan). Some degrees have the additional designation (hon) for "with honors" - often indicating additional work, lab experience, or project. In the United States the most common first degree for engineers is B.Sc. in India it is the B.Tech or B.E. The baccalaureate degree by any name requires between 3 and 5 years of study, with the most common term (everywhere but in Western Europe) being 4 years (most 3-year and 3.5-year programs are in Western Europe). There are distinctions between the different baccalaureate degrees in some countries, for example in Britain a BEng (with more Physics and Applied Mathematics) is a higher degree than B.Sc. in engineering. The British degree MEng (Master of Engineering) is also an undergraduate (4-year) degree. (B) Master of Science (in engineering) - M.S. or M.Sc. This is the most common graduate degree conferred on students who have completed additional 18 to 30 months of study after receiving their baccalaureate degree and submitted (and defended) a thesis. Some schools in the United States offer a M.Sc. to students who have taken courses only (no thesis). Others confer on such students a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree. In other countries, MEng and M.Sc. are either essentially the same or they reflect different balance between coursework and research. However, the British MEng is an undergraduate degree. (C) The "Engineer" degree The "Engineer" degree, which has become quite rare, is a graduate academic degree intermediate in rank between a master's degree and a doctorate (U.S.). In Europe it represents 6-year degree equivalent to a master's degree. (D) Doctoral degrees The most common doctoral degree for engineers who have taken advance coursework beyond the Master level requirements, and have, in addition, written and defended successfully an original dissertation is Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D., Philosophiæ Doctor; in Britain sometimes D.Phil.). Individuals who receive the Ph.D. have often complete required courses and some form of comprehensive examination (the "candidacy exam" which makes the student into "a Ph.D. candidate." ) The major task of the candidacy stage is the writing and defense of a major original contribution to the student's academic discipline. This contribution usually amounts to a written dissertation ranging in length from 50 to 800 pages (or 50,000 to 100,000 words). Dissertations typically consist of a comprehensive literature review, an outline of a methodology, and also include several chapters of scientific analysis, data analysis, or detailed description of new theory and experimentation. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ph.D., accessed 14 September 2006). The Ph.D. is usually a "university degree" as opposed to a "departmental degree" in the sense that it is conferred by the university faculty as a whole in Philosophy (and not in an engineering field; there is no "Ph.D. in electrical engineering" in spite of the ommon usage of such terms.) Obtaining the Ph.D. often requires 4-6 years after getting the baccalaureate degree. Some schools offer a "direct path" from a B.Sc. to a Ph.D. Other require an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in between. Other doctoral degrees in Engineering are: Engineering Doctorate (EngD) - awarded by twenty universities in the United Kingdom (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_Doctorate) Doctor in Engineering (D.Eng) - a structured European four year degree requiring coursework and successful defense of an original dissertation. In the United States and Canada, Doctor of Science (D.Sc or Sc.D) is an equivalent of the Ph.D. (used by schools such as The George Washington University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Queen's University.) There is a system of "higher doctorates" in some countries in Europe which we do not cover in this answer. References Here are a few Wikipedia URLs on degrees and engineering degrees. As is always the case Wikipedia entries can be changes by any reader, and caution is advised. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Science http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Applied_Science http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Engineering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_science http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineer%27s_degree http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_Doctorate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ph.D. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_doctorate Other sources: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/EngineeringDoctorates/default.htm http://www.gabbai.com/academic/articles/engineering-doctorates/ Ask an Expert Q: I am studying civil engineering for my undergraduate degree. Would I have the option to get a MS or ME in electronics? Hi, i thought over the question and im not 100% sure. I would say that it depends on where you apply to graduate school, but i think it would be better to major in electrical engineering or even mechanical engineering. Ask an Expert Q: I am pursuing a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at a university in New England. I am a bit confused as to which specialties to choose for my courses. My inclination is toward computer hardware and digital image processing, two subjects I like. However, I do not know what the job prospects in these fields are, and whether I may have better choices. Our recommendation is that you choose... computer hardware and digital image processing. Both areas are rich with theory, problems, and challenges, and both are (and will continue to be for many years) of great interest to corporations and research and development labs. One of several areas of continuing development and expansion in computer hardware is embedded systems, namely special-purpose systems in which the computer is encapsulated by the device it controls. One of several areas of continuing development in digital image processing is in the field of image-based medical diagnostics. Accurate, precise and timely detection and classification of abnormalities in images of the human body continue to challenge the engineering and medical communities. Given the magnitude of the task ahead of us, we are probably still in the pre history of image-based medical diagnostics. Unless veering in a direction which is hopelessly arcane, our advice to graduate students is always to go after the topics that excite their imagination. In your case, the topics that you are interested in are also at the center of research and development in thousands of laboratories around the world. Go for it! Ask an Expert Q: Which does engineering require more of, physics or math? If I am quite proficient in mathematics; can I handle an engineering course? I believe mathematics and English are the two most important subjects to master in order to be successful in engineering. I have worked as an engineer in the United States - and for engineers who work elsewhere a different language may substitute for English. Still, I am convinced that the role of language and personal communication in the career of a successful engineer is central. My direct answer to your second question is therefore, yes - a good background in mathematics is likely to be an excellent basis for success in an engineering program. In my field, electrical engineering, I would rank physics third in importance, after mathematics and English. In other fields such as chemical engineering and environmental engineering chemistry may be even more important than physics. For biomedical engineering, biology and life sciences may be more important. You may be surprised to read that I rank English so highly. However, in my 37 years as a practicing engineer, I relied much more on my ability to communicate ideas in a compelling way than on mathematics. Mathematics was of course still very important, especially in the earlier years of my career. However many of my success came from making others enthusiastic about my ideas (and the ideas of my colleagues). Both spoken and written language skills were critical. So besides the essential subjects of physics and mathematics, I recommend that you get all the practice you can get in working well in teams, communicating ideas to others with clarity and enthusiasm, getting others to follow you, and learning to follow and support others. Good communication skills by themselves, with no analytic basis, are not likely to be sufficient. However, neither would excellent analytical basis be sufficient if it is not coupled with the ability to communicate well. Ask an Expert Q: What the kind of courses are you taking? Currently I am in my fourth year (out of a five) in a program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. My major is Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Radio Frequency Electronics and Telecommunications. The first two years of my university-level education consisted mainly of fundamental classes in the exact sciences, including calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, mathematical modeling, chemistry, classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, computer programming, circuit analysis, electronic devices, and several engineering design laboratories. The classes I am taking now, in my fourth year, are more specific and closer to my major. These include digital signal processing, modulation and coding, electromagnetic fields and waves, and wireless/optical electronics. Since I am interested in continuing my studies toward a Master of Science degree in the near future, I have also taken a few graduate courses, including probability and random variables and linear systems. Overall, the courses I have taken in the past and the ones I am currently taking are very interesting and some are even exciting. As a first year student, it was intimidating for me to look at the curriculum ahead of me. I could not visualize myself handling all the work and learning all this complex material. However, I found that in most cases new subjects were built upon material covered in previous classes. By and large, the progression to more intense and in-depth coverage was logical and manageable. For additional information, you may want to review the curricula offered by engineering departments at different universities. This information can be found on the Try Engineering website using the Find a University option. Here are a few examples of other curricula: Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley Civil Engineering at the University of Surrey Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering at the University of Tokyo Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University Ask an Expert Q: Hi.. am a girl 18 year's old studying Network Training .. i just wanna know if i Graduated what the places i can work with or what is the work am gonna take , because am gonna be an administrator and i realy wanna know about what can i work if i graduat .. thank you for reading my msg .. bye, Ask an Expert Q: Can you point me in the direction of information concerning the new technologies that are being used in the electric power industry? Why would I want to go into power engineering? Until around 1990, when England began restructuring the electrical supply market from public control to private ownership, the electric power industry had been controlled by regulated monopolies under fixed pricing. Since then, the general trend has been towards privatization and deregulation of the electric power industry. At the same time, demand is increasing for cleaner burning fuels and power plants, efficient small-scale generation, and pollution control technologies. This confluence of privatization, deregulation, environmental pressures, as well as advances in information technology, have catalyzed a transformation of the power engineering field, resulting in a range of new and exciting technologies. Some of the new technology is represented in future power stations: The Iowa Stored Energy Park will store the energy from a large wind farm by compressing air into an underground geologic structure. During peak power demands, the stored air will be released, mixed with a fuel and used to power combustion turbines that produce environmentally friendly and economical electricity. The energy park will enable utilities to diversify their power supply with renewable energy. Another example is the Girassol Solar Power Plant will be a 62 MWp photovoltaic power station, located in the municipality of Moura, in the interior region of Alentejo, Portugal, which is one of the sunniest regions in Europe. The 62 MW project will have almost 190,000 solar panels (providing 32 MW of power) in fixed positions, and a further 52,000 panels (providing 10 MW of power) will be fitted to solar trackers which follow the sun across the sky. Some helpful links Electric power industry overview from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. IEEE Power Engineering Society IEEE Pre-University Education provides resources for pre-university students about education and career options in electrical, electronic, and computer engineering. Electrical power industry at Wikipedia: accessed on July 15 2007. Note that entries in Wikipedia may be modified by users at any time, so reader caution is advised. Power Electronics Techhnology magazine: An online magazine for electronics design engineers with a focus on power systems. Ask an Expert Q: my name is james sarkar, i am a junior at northwestern high school in maryland and i am doing a project on mechanical engineering and so if u can, can u send the competed interview asap. i will be eternally grateful. i need some answers for an interview that consists of 25 questions and here they are... 1.why did you choose mechanical engineering and ur career? 2.what do kind of products do you work on?cars....factory machinery, planes, etc.. what is your salary that you earn? 3.what degrees do you have for this field of engineering?bachelor's degree of science, p.h.d, masters, etc.. 4. what is the main goal of a mechanical engineer? 5.what engineering firm do you work for? 6.where is it located? 7.what is the most successful project that you have worked on so far? 8.why is mechanical engineering so important to the world? 9.if i was to have a career of mechanical engineering, what college courses would i have to take? 10.how many credits would i need? 11.what classes in high would you recommend to take inorder to be prepared for a future career in this field? 12.are there certain types of mechnical engineering? 13,if so, what are they? 14.what are the steps you take in designing new technology? 15.What college did you go to? 16.when did you know you wanted to be a mechanical engineer? 17.Is this the career you expected it to be? 18.how was your first day of being a mechanical engineer? 19.do you help build or do you strictly design your products? 20.at one point have you helped design cars? 21. if so, for which company, if not, have you thought about designing cars? 22.how many different kinds of machinery, equipment, and products have you worked on, desinging, and building? 23.Do you have a different task to do everyday or do u keeo working on one thing until it is done? 24.has mechanical engineering been a great learning and working experience for you? 25.what have you learned from being a mechanical engineer? my alternate e-mail address is docta j 4lif@aim.com Ask an Expert Q: I bought a 555 timer but I cannot read how the circuit works. Can you help? The 555 timer integrated circuit was introduced in 1971 by Signetics Corporation and is still available today (though many of its functions were improved, and most users actually work with the CMOS version, like Motorola MC1455). It is an inexpensive, stable, and easy to use integrated circuit for monostable and astable operations. An excellent tutorial on the 555 is available from Tony van Roon. It should answer most of your questions. If you need additional information, a compilation of tutorials on the 555 is available here Ask an Expert Q: Dear Sri, I have done Bachelor in Engineering ( Electronics and Communication).No I am working in Singapore and I am working for a consultant firm, I am practicing in the field of electoral and Instrument. I do have 14 years of field experience worked for different Ships electrical systems I have got admission for MSC (Electrical Major Control and Automation) at National University of Singapore NUS Singapore Please clarify if I complete this course weather I can work as a Lecturer in any of the Engineering colleges in India weather I can get AICT Pay for this Position. I wanted to come back to India after 2 years and settle down permanently in the field of teaching. Ask an Expert Q: I like the field of Electronics and have already signed up at a community college in order to become an electronic engineer. However, I am a bit skeptical, since I do not see electronics listed among the major engineering fields. If I could get more information about the field such as salaries, jobs, and education, I would be very glad. Thanks Electronics was and remains a key area within the general field of Electrical Engineering. In the United States it is taught mostly in Electrical Engineering departments, in Europe and other parts of the world it is taught mostly in Electronics Engineering departments. Electronics engineering is a large and growing industry focused on the behavior and effects of electrons in electron tubes and semiconductors, and within electronic devices, systems, and equipment. The applications of electronics are in a wide range of products, including consumer electronics; telecommunications; diagnostics and treatment devices for medicine; audio and video; control; computing; data storage and retrieval; photography; measurement and metrology equipment; aviation and avionics; manufacturing; natural resource extraction; and early warning and radar. Electronics has a major role in improving productivity in such diverse industries as aviation, telecommunication, entertainment, oil, energy, and agriculture [2]. Electronic circuits are the core of popular hand-held devices such as celullar phones, portable music players, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). In the steel, petroleum and chemical industries it is the electronic devices that direct, control and test production processes. The health care industry depends on electronic instruments to monitor chemical tests, apply imaging to look into the body, and measure and view body organs and functions. Functional operation and safety of cars, trucks, trains and transportation systems, as well as factories, mines and homes, increasingly rely on electronic circuits and electronic devices. Due to the wide applicability of electronics, electronics engineers find work in many industries, from designing game stations and robots to devising circuit for control of large chemical plants. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) close to 10% of US engineers are classified as "Electronics Engineers" (this number excludes engineers whose expertise is in computer hardware.) The rate of growth of this group of engineers was estimated to be between between 9% and 17% for the years 2004 to 2014. The average salary offer to an entry level electronics engineer in the US in 2004 was approximately $52,000 ($64,000 for holders of a Master of Science degree). The median salary of electronics engineers in 2004 was approximately $76,000. For news about the industry, see EETimes, Electronic Engineering Times, and EETimes UK. Here are a few educational programs in electronics engineering (we selected 10, there are a few hundreds high quality programs around the globe): Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley (US) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota (US) Electrical and Computer Engineering at Lehigh University (US) Electrical and Computer Engineering at Drexel University (US) Department of Electronics at the University of Kent (UK) Department of Electronics Engineering at the National University of Ireland Department of Electronics Engineering at Bilkent University (Turkey) Department of Electronics Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong EEIC Department at the University of Tokyo (Japan) Ecole Superieure D'ingenieurs en Electrotechnique et Electronique (ESIEE) (France) Sources [1]Electronic Engineering in Wikipedia (please be aware of the fact that Wikipedia entries can be modifed by any user at any time. The entry we cite was visited on 14 January 2007). [2]Career Option: Electronic Engineering (visited 14 January 2007). [3]US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (visited 14 January 2007). [4] Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill: The Art of Electronics, Cambridge University Press, 2001. [5] S.O. Kasap: Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices, McGraw Hill, 2002. Ask an Expert Q: Could you list current topics under Grid Computing that can be presented as a paper? Grid Computing is "an emerging computing model that provides the ability to perform higher throughput computing by taking advantage of many networked computers to model a virtual computer architecture that is able to distribute process execution across a parallel infrastructure. Grids use the resources of many separate computers connected by a network (usually the Internet) to solve large-scale computation problems. Grids provide the ability to perform computations on large data sets, by breaking them down into many smaller ones, or provide the ability to perform many more computations at once than would be possible on a single computer, by modeling a parallel division of labor between processes." Here is another definition of Grid Computing, from the IBM website: "Grid computing enables the virtualization of distributed computing and data resources such as processing, network bandwidth and storage capacity to create a single system image, granting users and applications seamless access to vast IT capabilities. Just as an Internet user views a unified instance of content via the Web, a grid user essentially sees a single, large virtual computer. At its core, grid computing is based on an open set of standards and protocols — e.g., Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) — that enable communication across heterogeneous, geographically dispersed environments. With grid computing, organizations can optimize computing and data resources, pool them for large capacity workloads, share them across networks and enable collaboration." One application of grid computing is in allowing communities to share resources as they tackle common goals. "Science today is increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary, and it is not unusual for teams to span institutions, states, countries and continents. E-mail and the web provide basic mechanisms that allow such groups to work together. But what if they could link their data, computers, sensors and other resources into a single virtual laboratory? So-called Grid technologies seek to make this possible, by providing the protocols, services and software development kits needed to enable flexible, controlled resource sharing on a large scale." (Article by Ian Foster in "Nature") Examples of "philanthropic" use of grid computing include: Compute Against Cancer; and Fight AIDS at home. These efforts link together a large number of personal computers to solve difficult computational problems of social interest. Other grid projects include: Grid Physics Network project European Data Grid Particle Physics Data Grid Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Grid The Globus Project The Global Grid Forum Here are several topics suitable for a paper on grid computing: (1) The technology and impact of "philanthropic computing" projects. (2) Economic models for grid computing (see for example Buya et al. 2003). (3) Major initiatives and tools available for grid computing. (4) Trust and security in grid computing. (5) The use of Agent Technology in grid computing. Access to abstracts (and some full papers) on the subject is available through scientific search engines such as Google Scholar and Scirus. Ask an Expert Q: I want know about retinal recognition technology or retinal scan indetity technology. Retinal scan is a technique used in Biometrics, the technology that seeks to recognize humans by physical and behavioral traits. Examples for application of Biometrics include access control based on optical scan of the retina or the fingerprint of the person who seeks entry, or idetification of a perptrator of a crime based on data from such scans. We quote from the entry "Retinal Scan" in Wikipedia: "The human retina is stable from birth to death, making it the most accurate biometric to measure. It has been possible to take a retina scan since the 1930s, when research suggested that each individual had unique retina patterns. The research was validated and we know that the blood vessels at the back of the eye have a unique pattern, from eye to eye and person to person. A retinal scan involves the use of a low-intensity light source and coupler that are used to read the blood vessel patterns, producing very accurate biometric data. It has the highest crossover accuracy of any of the biometric collectors, estimated to be in the order of 1:10,000,000. (Current) technology is capable of capturing a retinal scan in less than 2 seconds...Retina scan technology is used for high end access control security applications." A related biometric authentication technique uses Iris Recognition. See also "how does a retinal scan work?" in Wisegeek. Ask an Expert Q: Hi, I'm an electrical engineer. I've been working in the computer science for some years. I'm interested in the micro-nano electronics. Do you know a well-known master, course or equivalent about it at any University in the US? Thank you Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between Backtracking and Branch-bound algos. Which language I should follow to implement problem solving techniques for AI problems through programs.(I know c/c++). Ask an Expert Q: i am a postgraduate student of electrical engineering of bayero university kano nigeria. i need a help to more information on the following Thesis. Development of spread spectrum modullation for digital cable TV. and Adaptive control of large antenna dish. Ask an Expert Q: I am Final year B-TECH student in Electrical & Electronic Branch in india .My cources completed in May 2007.I wanr to do the Traning on PLC in USA for one year under ieee.I have IEEE student mebership. plz give information about traning and project in USA . Ask an Expert Q: I currently reside in Nepal. I got a 72% in I. Sc and I want to do either electronics engineering or aeronautics in India. I took my entrance exam at the Indian embassy but did not get accepted. I will be trying again this year also. I want to know if there is another way to get admission in India for the above mentioned courses. I would also like to get a full scholarship? Ask an Expert Q: I am a first year software engineering student. What are the job prospects for graduates of this field of study? JOB PROSPECTS IN THE UNITED STATES According to the U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prospects for software engineers is rated excellent. This site also has a lot of information on the field, including data on job outlook, projections, and earnings. In 2006, Money Magazine rated software engineering as the Best Job in America in terms of growth, pay, stress levels, flexibility in hours and working environment, creativity, and how easy it is to enter and advance in the field. Fast Company's Top Jobs 2005-2009 list software engineering as #3 on the list of top 20 jobs. SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROSPECTS IN ASIA While we do not have official projections on software engineering in other countries, the general trends seem generally favorable in most of Europe and in South East Asia. As Matthew Daley writes on the situation in Asia, "In the Asian region, there are a few important current trends: (1) Governments and NGOs are funding large-scale initiatives in e-government and e-learning. (2) Corporations of all sizes need increasingly complex enterprise-wide integrated software solutions. (3) Software and software services firms in the U.S. and western Europe are offshoring a rapidly increasing amount of their work. Currently the size of the skilled IT workforce in Asia is insufficient to meet the demands and opportunities that these trends pose. Particularly lacking are the skills required to design and implement large-scale software systems. Hiring managers report that it is easy to find Bachelor's-level graduates skilled at "programming in the small" with C++, Java, or .NET, but very few have the knowledge necessary for constructing large software systems for the enterprise. There is a feeling that only North American and European consultants have the necessary skills to build mission-critical enterprise software systems. At the same time, 30% of the world's largest 1000 firms are currently offshoring work, and the offshore IT industry is expected to grow dramatically in the next decade. The United States alone currently offshores software and software services contracts worth $10-$20 billion annually. The vast majority of offshore IT work is performed in India and China, but according to recent reports, the demand for skilled IT professionals in even in so populous a country as India with its giant educational system is already outpacing supply. Clearly, opportunities abound in south and southeast Asia for well-trained IT graduates." Demand for software engineers appears to be soaring...yet demand is not keeping up. That's not a bad spot to be in as you enter the job market. :-) Ask an Expert Q: My son, who is only 8, has had an insatiable interest in 'how things work’. He was obsessed with a documentary on the Hoover Dam at age 3, I have always had to keep my vacuum etc hidden else he takes it apart, He begs to watch the Science channel when other kids beg for cartoons, the list goes on. My problem is I don't know how to keep this interest going, He did Lego camp this summer, but the schools science is really a writing class, is there science clubs, programs, etc HELP!!! He loves all science. Any suggestions for his age now??? We live in Central Bucks area on PA Congratulations on having a precocious and inquisitive son. However, it is with some trepidation that I respond to your questions. As a retired engineer, who is also a father and a grandfather, and who was at one time a young lad with an inquisitive mind, I can only endorse your son’s behavior. Now the issue is to focus his inquisitiveness into productive, or at least, non-destructive avenues of exploration. It was easier in the good old days. Appliances were assembled using screws, nuts and bolts. Radios had discreet components (vacuum tubes, resistors, capacitors and coils). They could be taken apart safely and with little difficulty, and sometimes even put back together and restored to proper working order. On some occasions restoring the appliance to proper working order was more difficult than anticipated at the time of disassembly and required intervention by a parent, generally male. On those not too rare occasions I not only learned about technology but also about discipline and vocabulary, much to the other parent’s discomfort. Later I had to address similar issues with my children. However, technology has advanced and many appliances and electronic devices today are compact with components molded into place or force-fit and riveted. They are not easy to take apart and impossible to reassemble. Electronic equipment (and almost everything else) has chips. There is not much to be learned by looking at a chip. A new outlet for exploration is needed. There are several science and technology related clubs that may provide a positive learning experience through building. These include model airplane, rocketry, amateur radio and computer clubs to name a few. Most of these are for older children however some may let a well behaved younger child participate. I grew up across the river in Ewing, NJ and developed an interest in amateur radio. The Delaware Valley Radio Club has its club station (W2ZQ) near I-95. Having moved from the area I am no longer familiar with the membership or their receptivity to working with young people. Computer clubs may also be an area of interest. Some of the more experienced enthusiasts may have old equipment that they would be willing to provide to young people for supervised disassembly. Old desk-top computers have components that are easy to remove and replace. The Scouting program can also be a constructive outlet. The pinewood derby for Cub Scouts focuses on making a model race car. With proper supervision a child can learn about the effects of gravity, streamlining and proper preparation of wheel bearings. In some areas Lego robots are attracting the interest of young people. Ask an Expert Q: I am an undergraduate student of Mechatronics Engineering, and I developed an interest in the broadcasting field after being an intern. I wish to continue for Master of Science studies in this field. Can you recommend a university in the United States, Australia, or Japan? We find your field of study interesting, since there are so few programs at present in Mechatronics Engineering. Regardless of this issue, there are many excellent opportunities to specialize in Broadcast Technology in all three countries you mention, the US, Australia, and Japan. These opportunities are in departments of electrical engineering or electrical and computer engineering. The number of US universities with good programs in broadcasting is too large to enumerate. They include the programs in the University of Texas at Austin; Villanova University; New Mexico State University; Auburn University; and Arizona State University. In Australia I suggest you look at the Monash University; University of New South Wales; University of Queensland; University of Melbourne; the Australian National University; and Victoria University of Technology. In Japan we suggest you look at the programs of Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo. You may also want to write to the members of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Chapter in Japan, who may offer additional guidance. Additional information about Broadcast Technology may be found on the website of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society. More information can be found here and here. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student enrolled in Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) Degree Program in India. I would like to get a great job in the future. However, my 12th standard (grade) percentage marks/grades are not very good. What should I do? The short answer is: do not worry about your 12th standard marks. Focus on your Bachelor of Engineering studies. Most engineering colleges and universities in India offer on-campus placement opportunities to students. Representatives from various companies and organizations interview students on campus for full time jobs. The participating companies usually use a qualifying cut off threshold, based on the aggregate percentage (marks/grades) of the Bachelor of Engineering degree program. As long as you have a good Bachelor of Engineering aggregate percentage, 12th standard percentage (marks/grades) should not really matter. They are seldom asked about and they do not hinder the chances of procuring a good job after completing the Bachelor of Engineering Degree Program. Ask an Expert Q: I was wondering what types of mathematics an engineer uses on a day to day basis. For example, do they use calculus concepts daily? According to the definition given by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), engineering is the "profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences...is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of [hu]mankind." The definition underscores the importance of mathematics in engineering, while also reinforcing the proper role of theory with respect to applications. Unlike mathematics and natural sciences, where mathematics is used to discover truths about the natural world, engineers use whatever math they need to solve the problem at hand. Since engineers solve a wide array of different problems, the types of math they apply will vary according to the application. There are, however, some fundamental areas that most engineers are likely to encounter in their careers. Calculus is certainly one of them; any problem that has variables that are changing with respect to one another, like position and time, or voltage and time, or position and voltage involves calculus. When these variable and their derivatives are included in an equation, you have another fundamental area of mathematics for engineers called differential equations. An example of a mechanical engineering relationship defined by derivatives is that the derivative of position is velocity, and the derivative of velocity is acceleration. Knowing these relationships can help you solve for any of the variables (position, velocity, and acceleration). You can check out eFunda for a reference to the primary areas of mathematics in engineering. While some engineers may spend a lot of time at the whiteboard drawing models and writing equations, others may spend most of their time each day testing systems in the field and gathering data. Often, engineers use software programs designed for complex computation such as Matlab and Maple. But regardless of the extent to which engineers use a particular type of mathematics in their daily work, all of their thinking towards solving problems is informed by the principles and logic of these foundations of mathematics. Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between an electrical engineer and electrical engineering technologist? Both electrical engineers and electrical engineering technologists work in common fields, and career paths may be similar. There is a significant amount of overlap in the careers of these two professional fields. In both disciplines students may obtain a BS degree and continue on to graduate school to obtain a MS and PhD. In some areas local community colleges offer an Associates Degree in Engineering Technology on completion of 2 years of study. In many cases, graduates of these programs may go on to a four year college and obtain a BS in EET. To identify schools that offer these programs visit www.abet.org. Key differences between EE and EET programs are in the level of mathematics required. EE programs require a higher level of advanced math for completion of technical courses. EET programs tend to be more hands-on with emphasis on testing and analysis of results. An excellent source of information on these two disciplines is the Sloan Careers Cornerstone site at www.careercornerstone.org. In some states, graduates of EET programs are required to obtain more professional experience prior to sitting for the Professional Engineering Exam than do graduates of EE programs. Information on these requirements may be obtained from the website of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) at www.ncees.org. This site has links to the licensing agency of many states. Ask an Expert Q: Hi! I have a bechelor degree in Electrical Power Generation from Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria) and now I am studing for my master degree in the same field . I was wondering if you could give me information about the average "starting "salary in Germany and USA for electrical engineers of my field and background. Thank you! Ask an Expert Q: 1. What is your current job title, and what activities consume most of your energy and time? 2. What is the most valuable class that you received as an undergraduate engineer? 3. What is the single most important thing that an engineer must understand, know, or be able to do? 4. What is the most rewarding part of you job? 5. What is the least appealing task that you must perform in your current job? 6. What is the most daunting challenge you face as an engineer? 7. What is the most challenging ethical decision you have faced as an engineer? 8. What are the most important challenges that the profession will face in the future? 9. How would you describe the role of engineering in society? 10. What advice would you give a person interested in pursuing a career in engineering? 11. Why did you decide to become an engineer? 12. Do you find that most people understand what an engineer does? 13. What is your definition of engineering? Wow, so many questions!! Engineers hold many many different kinds of jobs in the world. Some you would recognize as traditional engineering – inventing, developing, building new products. Others are less obvious. Engineers also organize and manage large groups of other Engineers, keep projects on budget and schedule, work with customer concerns, or even hold public office! An Engineering degree will train you to think logically and to break problems into manageable chunks. These are valuable skills are in many fields in the workplace. As such, a strong background in Mathematics and Science are the most beneficial. I think most Engineers would tell you that they spend most of their time doing anything but actual pen and paper designing. Projects must be coordinated, communicated, and presented. Ideas must be sorted and approaches chosen. Meetings must be attended. I think these same Engineers would tell you this is also their most daunting challenge. They must stay focused on their project, while dealing with constant interruptions. Good time management skills are a must. I know this is not a specific answer to all of your questions, but I hope it gives you a little snapshot of what we do every day. Ask an Expert Q: How much do electrical engineers make (approximately)? A good resource for engineering related statistics, including potential earnings, is the U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. This website also offers an analysis of several topics that you might find helpful including the nature of the work, working conditions, training, qualifications and advancement, employment, job outlook and earnings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the mean salary of electrical engineers in the United States in May 2007 was $52,470. As of 2007, the average starting salary for electrical/electronics and communications engineers is $55,292 with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree, $66,309 with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree, and $75,982 with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Ask an Expert Q: I am looking for a few websites that provide up to date information on new/newer electronic technologies. Several websites that provide up to date information on current technologies, including cutting edge electronic industry related articles, news, and reports, can be found here: IEEE Spectrum Online The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) is the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology. As the online counterpart to IEEE Spectrum magazine, IEEE Spectrum Online “explores the development, applications and implications of new technologies. It anticipates trends in engineering, science, and technology, and provides a forum for understanding, discussion and leadership in these areas.” Technology Review Published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this site provides information on emerging technologies and their impact on business and society. New Electronics This website provides content on electronic design and development, electronic software and electronic design services. The Technology section provides editorial features with topics including Electronics Research and Development and Electronic System Design. EDN This online edition of the EDN: Electronics Design, Strategy, News magazine, includes information regarding electronics applications, products, technology, and design techniques. Ars Technica A technology-related website with an emphasis on personal computing. Presents news stories with commentary, articles, guides, and an online forum. Wired News A daily technology news website with in-depth coverage of current and future trends in technology, and how they are shaping business, entertainment, communications, science, and politics. Science Daily A source for the latest research news with articles, videos, images, and books on topics including health and medicine, mind and brain, earth and climate, space and time, matter and energy. Electronics news can be found under the sub-topic of electronics engineering located in the matter and energy section. Ask an Expert Q: sir i m in final year of BE,EXTC.can u tell me how can i apply for offcampus placements,ie, when i can apply, in my 8th semester or after my BE. how to apply?? Ask an Expert Q: How can I find if a university's graduate program is accredited by IEEE? Are MS studies in Electrical Engineering at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville accredited by IEEE? IEEE does not accredit programs directly. Rather, IEEE participates in the work of national and regional accrediting bodies worldwide. In the case you cite, the United States, the accrediting body that IEEE supports is ABET Inc., of which IEEE is a founding member. Most of the accrediting work done by ABET involves undergraduate programs (ABET's literature refers to accreditation of undergraduate programs as accreditation at the "basic level"). When ABET accredits an engineering program at an "advanced level" (usually a program leading to a "Master of Science" degree) it requires that (1) a program by the same name not be accredited simultaneously at the same institution at the "basic level"; and (2) graduates of the "advanced level" program be at least as proficient as graduates of a "basic level" program of the same title. These two requirements made it unattractive for many schools to seek ABET accreditation for programs at the "advanced level," and so far very few did. At present (December 2006) the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has ABET accreditation at the basic level for the following programs: Civil Engineering Electrical Engineering Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering Computer Engineering. Given that SIUE also has regional accreditation (by the Higher Learning Commssion, which is part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)) and that SIUE is authorized by the State of Illinois to grant degrees, there should be no concern regarding the recognition of its M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering by other institutions and employers. SIUE is in the same "accreditation status" as the other university which is part of Southern Illinois Univesrity(namely, the University of Illinois Carbondale), as well as all other reputable engineering programs in Ilinois (including those of the University of Illinois). Ask an Expert Q: I am a junior in high school and all my life I have enjoyed building things, solving problems and drawing plans for various devices. After doing a little bit of construction with an engineer on a mission trip with church, I am pretty sure I want to go into engineering. My only problem is that when I understand math I love it, but there are times when I don’t understand it and then I can’t stand it. I am in Trig Analysis / Pre-calculus this year and I like solving the problems, but I still have mixed feelings. Do you or any students that you work with have the same problem and do you think it would be a big hindrance to me if I want to succeed in Civil Engineering? We think that your creativity and enthusiasm for solving problems make you a perfect candidate for a career in engineering. Although there is no doubt that mathematics is an important component of engineering education, it is far from being the most important component. In fact, you do not need to be a great mathematician in order to be a great engineer. I was an undergraduate in Computer Engineering, and noticed that some of the most successful (and happy) students in my class were not the ones with the greatest analytical abilities. Rather, they were the students who were driven by genuine curiosity, interest in solving problems, and the desire to design and implement innovative ideas. These students were often involved in group projects with other classmates, or worked on a research project with a favorite professor. One group built wheeled robots with microcontrollers and sensors; another designed controllers for a small rocket. Though these students could do problems in math at an acceptable level, they were more interested in using mathematics as a tool in their projects than in working out a few more problems in differential calculus at the back at the textbook. Here is an example from my own experience. When I was a freshman, I took a work-study position in one of the Chemistry labs in our university. I was to set up experiments and monitor them to ensure that the temperature inside the main vessel (where a slow chemical reaction was occurring) remained within a predetermined temperature range. I was monitoring these experiments for hours each day, unable to do anything else at the time; this was both boring and inefficient. One day it occurred to me that there must be a way to monitor the temperature remotely so that I could walk about the lab and work on other tasks while the process is monitored automatically. I called a classmate who was good at programming. We met and discussed a possible solution which included a simple calculation performed automatically on the data collected within the vessel. In a few hours we had a working remote monitoring system that tracked the temperature of the experiment using a thermistor, and sent an alarm message to my cellular phone when the temperature was too high, or rising too fast. I did not expect the Nobel Prize for this invention, but it certainly made my time in the lab more productive and more pleasant. This episode remains one of my most favorite "engineering moments." I must admit that I have never had an easy time with math courses. I am therefore quite familiar with the frustration of not understanding the material sometimes. However, I was persistent, got help with homework whenever I could, and eventually learned what I was assigned (and sometimes a bit more). Now I am a graduate student, pursuing my Ph.D. Looking back on my undergraduate engineering education, it is clear to me that what motivated me to work through frustrating difficulties in class was the satisfaction and excitement of applying what I was learning to real world problems. In the end it was my enthusiasm and curiosity, not the math handbooks, that got me through. My opinion is therefore that your occasional difficulties with math classes will not be a serious hindrance to your success in Civil Engineering. My advice is to remain persistent, curious and optimistic. There are few professions that reward these characteristics more than engineering. Ask an Expert Q: I have completed my B.E(computers) and i wish to do my post graduation.What course should i opt for? Ask an Expert Q: What are the differences between ACM and IEEE ? Based on your question I assume you are interested in knowing more about professional and technical organizations for individuals who may pursue a career in computers and information technology. Both ACM and IEEE have extensive programs for computing and information systems professionals and students preparing to enter the field. The following information was taken from the IEEE and ACM web sites. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. - www.ieee.org The IEEE, a non-profit organization, is the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology. The full name of the IEEE is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., although the organization is referred to by the letters I-E-E-E and pronounced Eye-triple-E. IEEE members are engineers, scientists and allied professionals whose technical interests are rooted in electrical and computer sciences, engineering and related disciplines. Through its global membership, the IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics among others. Members rely on the IEEE as a source of technical and professional information, resources and services. To foster an interest in the engineering profession, the IEEE also serves student members in colleges and universities around the world. Other important constituencies include prospective members and organizations that purchase IEEE products and participate in conferences or other IEEE programs. As of 31 December 2006, the IEEE has: » more than 370,000 members, including more than 80,000 students, in over 160 countries. » 319 sections in ten geographic regions worldwide. » 1676 chapters that unite local members with similar technical interests. » more than 1,526 student branches at colleges and universities in 80 countries. » 39 societies and 5 technical councils representing the wide range of technical interests. » 132 transactions, journals and magazines. » more than 450 IEEE sponsored or cosponsored conferences worldwide each year. » over 800 active IEEE standards and more than 400 in development. With nearly 100,000 members, the IEEE Computer Society is the world's leading organization of computer professionals. Founded in 1946, it is the largest of the 39 societies of the IEEE. The IEEE Computer Society's vision is to be the leading provider of technical information, community services, and personalized services to the world's computing professionals. The Society is dedicated to advancing the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing technology. Through its conferences, applications-related and research-oriented journals, local and student chapters, distance learning campus, technical committees, and standards working groups, the Society promotes an active exchange of information, ideas, and technological innovation among its members. In addition, the Society maintains close ties with the US Computing Sciences Accreditation Board and Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, monitoring and evaluating curriculum accreditation guidelines. With about 40 percent of our members living and working outside the United States, the Computer Society fosters international communication, cooperation, and information exchange. To meet the needs of our members conveniently and efficiently, the Society maintains a service center office in Tokyo, Japan; a publications office in Los Alamitos, California; and its headquarters in Washington, DC. Association for Computing Machinery - www.acm.org ACM is the world's oldest and largest educational and scientific computing society. Since 1947 ACM has provided a vital forum for the exchange of information, ideas, and discoveries. Today, ACM serves a membership of computing professionals and students in more than 100 countries in all areas of industry, academia, and government. ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of information technology. With a world-wide membership ACM is a leading resource for computing professionals and students working in the various fields of Information Technology, and for interpreting the impact of information technology on society. Ask an Expert Q: My question is, what is the best field in engineering to choose if you live in Pakistan. I personally like Computer Engineering but can't go for it as there is no scope as far as I know in my country, so I decided to do electrical engineering; is this decision of mine correct or not do tell me. I also want to ask that what is the usual salary an engineer get when he starts his job and what advancement is there in the future. Ask an Expert Q: who is better in work fields electronics or computer engineering? what is the fields of work for both of them? and how can i gain money from being an engineer Ask an Expert Q: My son wants to do engineering. Is it necessary for him to go thru MH-CET. Is it ok if he does diploma and then shift to degree. will it make any difference later on in his career? Ask an Expert Q: I am Diploma Holder in Instrumentation Technology and Controls, presently working as a Design Consultant for Tebodin Middle Ease, Abu Dhabi. Now I want to do my graduate work in Engineering, either in control Engineering, Computers or Electornic, but I unable to go classes at on campus. Are there any universities providing online courses in engineering? Please suggest the best options for me to continue my education. Ask an Expert Q: I am from India in my third year studying engineering on electronics and communications. Is it useful for me to continue my studies and pursue a MBA so that I can get a better salary or should I just apply for jobs with my Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree? If 'better salary' is the only criterion, a higher degree (MBA in your case) usually helps. The following article highlights the fact as to how an MBA degree from a reputed university/college provides extra ordinary pay packages. However, one needs to be careful while choosing the university/college based on the rankings, programs, courses and overall reputation. Many times a company/organization takes into account the university/college from which it is hiring freshers. Admissions to MBA programs in India and USA are based on the results of various entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, SET, etc (for India)/GMAT (for USA). Ask an Expert Q: i am a student from eritrea but i want to apply for scholarship Ask an Expert Q: Im a student of gordon cooper, looking for an interview with an electronics/electrical engineer that would be willing to answer a few questions about thier workplace, etc. Ask an Expert Q: I am a senior in high school and I am seriously thinking about majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I wanted to know how much money biomedical engineers make. I also want to know if biomedical engineers do research for cancer because I would really like to be able to do research on diseases and ways to fight/cure them. Where could you get a job in biomedical engineering in Pennsylvania? Biomedical engineering is becoming an increasingly exciting field with many research and industrial opportunities. Biomedical engineers work on a variety of interesting devices and technologies including bio-fluid mechanics, soft tissue mechanics, functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) research, orthopedic research, digital image processing, neuromechanics and biologic nanotechnology. Advances in these areas have led to devices such as a continuous insulin pump for diabetics, artificial hearts, and non-invasive detection and treatment for diseases. A biomedical engineering education is a compilation of several types of major engineering fields, with medical and physiological applications as a focus. Electrical, mechanical, chemical, and materials engineers all participate in providing biomedical engineering solutions. In the past, if a student was interested in biomedical research, a degree in one of the above fields was obtained and research into biomedical applications was pursued at the master and doctorate levels. Because of the growing interest in the field, there are now undergraduate biomedical engineering programs being provided at many universities across the country. There are many opportunities for bioengineers to work on cutting-edge cancer research. Currently, most of the research and work being done is focused on developing new and better ways to detect and treat certain types of cancer. This work is significant and important due to the inaccuracy, risk and discomfort associated with existing cancer screening and treatment techniques. Examples of universities doing interesting research in biomedical engineering, specifically cancer related studies, can be found at the University of Texas, Dartmouth, and Case Weston Reserve University. Additional links you may find interesting are the Biomedical Engineering Society, The Whitaker Foundation, and the Biomedical Engineering Network A good resource for finding information on jobs in the Pennsylvania area can be found through this site at Drexel University located in Philadelphia, PA. This site is a comprehensive listing of links, databases, and books containing useful biomedical engineering related information. Ask an Expert Q: Hi, i just learned about the software called Pro/E. Well, i really like the way it works, so i want to work on it more but i don't have the software. i seems like it is very expensive. is there any ways (as a sutuent) i can have a copy? thank you. is thsre any popular software for electrical engineering that as a new student i can maybe buy and start working on? please fell free to ask any questions for clarification. Thanks Ask an Expert Q: What is the latest news in the area of wireless sensor network? Can you provide useful resources for this topic? Ask an Expert Q: My sonis doing his second year diploma in automobile engineering. He has done his Higher Secondary education and also one year part time in automobile engineering. He has scored 81% in his first year. He wishes to go to Melbourne to do degree in automobile engineering. Is there any other study after completion of diploma besides degree that will be recognised and valid for future prospects. thanks. Ursula Ask an Expert Q: My son is a senior in high school and is considering majoring in Mechanical Engineering (interested in Automotive design) but he is also interested in robotics. What would be the appropriate major / degree for a career in the robotics field? To build a robot it requires many different engineering disciplines. The different types of engineering that go into the design and construction of a robot involve software engineering for the computer controls, electrical engineering, and the mechanical component requires a mechanical engineer. As you can see, it requires the skills of many types of engineers to build a robot. Degrees related to robotics are: Mechanical Engineering Computer Engineering Electrial Engineering An additional websites that maybe resourceful: http://www.learnaboutrobots.com/roboticsEngineer.htm Ask an Expert Q: I have bsc(emcs)degree.which course you advise me to study for master? Ask an Expert Q: Hello! I'm from Brazil and...I just love cars, especially sports cars. My intentions are to work as an automotive engineer in areas related to performance of sports cars (not their style). I am also a little aged: 22, and still waiting for admission. What should I study? Simply Mechanical Engineering? And where will I find work after graduation? Japan? While there are some specialized Automotive Engineering educational programs, we believe that a solid Mechanical Engineering program, with the appropriate selection of elective courses, is probably the best way for you to get into the field of car (and sports car) design and performance enhancement. There are 83 Mechanical Engineering programs in Brazil, and you can search among them based on various criteria here. Automotive engineers are often categorized as being product engineers, development engineers, or manufacturing engineers and you may want to direct your studies in one of these directions by making the relevant course choices. Cars are designed and manufactured in many countries and one of the growing centers of activity is Brazil, where several well known car models are manufactured at present. In fact Brazil is the 8th largest manufacturer of cars, with more than 2.5 million cars made there every year. The long term projections for the automobile industry in Brazil appear positive, and in all likelihood you will find that at the time of your graduation, automotive engineers with strong Mechanical Engineering background will be in demand in your home country. Should you seek employment elsewhere, the largest manufacturers of cars in the world are (in that order) Japan, the US, China, Germany, South Korea, France, and Spain. Finally, we believe that we can say quite authoritatively that no one should feel "aged" at 22. Your whole life is still ahead of you, and the opportunities are limitless. Ask an Expert Q: I have a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering from an Indian university. I have applied to four (4) universities in Australia for a Master of Engineering program in Mechanical Engineering. The universities are: 1. University of Wollongong; 2. University of Technology, Sydney; 3. Curtin University of Technology; and 4. The University of Sydney. How do I go about selecting one of these universities if they all accept me? Let us start with the good news. You will do well wherever you go because all four universities have, in general, good reputation, solid infrastructure, and well known researchers and faculty who can provide apt guidance to Mechanical Engineering graduate students. A key factor in deciding on graduate studies is the identity of your thesis advisor (we assume that you will choose a program that requires a M.Sc. thesis). You may want to review the names of the Mechanical Engineering faculty, look at the published work of those who work in your field(s) of interest, and even try to engage some of them in correspondence on their research projects. Our experience is that an engaged and caring advisor is the most important element of a successful graduate studies program. If you are able to develop a relationship with a researcher whose studies are of interest to you, and who cares about his/her graduate students and gives them time and attention, you are half way there. As you are review the faculty lists of the four programs, you may note that they differ in size and demographics. Programs with larger faculty, with more faculty with terminal degrees (Ph.D. or D.Sc.), and with more faculty whose degrees are from reputable universities, are, in general, better. The second factor we would explore is the availability of courses and laboratory facilities in your area of interest and in other important areas (such as engineering mathematics). Schools with a large number of diverse offerings of courses and with many laboratories and research centers tend to provide a more meaningful experience than places with slim pickings and few facilities. The third issue is reputation. University ranking lists are notorious for their deficiencies, but big differences in rankings (say between the second highest ranked university and the twentieth ranking university) are often meaningful. Some rankings of Australian universities are available on the website of the Australian Education Network and on the website of Huazong University of Science and Technology (see also the summery provided here). It goes without saying that the availability of scholarships and differences in tuition and other economic factors would also play a role in your decision. We assume that you can make these assessments on your own, based in part on your personal economical circumstances and constraints. Ask an Expert Q: My 17 year old son likes small schools, and is at the Early College at Guilford College (North Carolina, US)- as a high school junior he is taking all college courses including physics and calculus right now. He might want to be an engineer, but is thinking about staying at Guilford College and doing a physics degree, then maybe doing a master's in engineering. His main interest is aerospace engineering. What are the pros and cons of this strategy? He really likes small schools, and I can't find small engineering schools in the southeast. You describe a highly constrained problem... Guilford College has approximately 2600 students. If we define Southeast USA as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina there are no schools under 2000 undergraduates that offer Aerospace Engineering in this region (we used "Find a University" on this site). In fact the only school that satisfies the size and major constraints is in Arizona. We do not recommend the path you describe, namely a degree in Physics first and a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering second. While this is a possible path, it has several disadvantages. These include future ineligibility of your son to register as a Professional Engineer upon graduation from the M.Sc. program (due to lack of undergraduate degree in Engineering). There may be ways around it, but these are complex and may not be available when your son graduates. Also, our experience is that the transition of Physics majors to engineering graduate programs is often not smooth, with additional imposed requirements and time wasted on meeting them. We do not say this plan cannot work, but there may be better ways to satisfy your son's needs and constraints. If we allow for schools that have 2000-5000 students (which are still quite small) we can actually find several schools that satisfy the "small school constraint" and offer Aerospace Engineering. Florida Institue of Technology in Melbourne Florida enrolls 2300 undergraduates. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach enrolls 4400. Tuskegee University, a historically black college in Alabama, enrolls 2480. If we relax another constraint, and allow Mechanical Engineering (since many Aerospace Engineering practitioners come from this discipline) we get in addition: The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida (undergraduate student body 2300); and The Citadel, which admittedly is very different in mission and atmosphere from Guilford (the Citadel is a military college in Charleston, SC with undergraduate enrollment of 2120). You may want to use our "Find a University" feature for additional searches. If you try "Aerospace Engineering" everywhere in the United States, several other interesting options are presented. There are quite a few small schools (2000-5000 undergraduate students) that offer the major, and many more if you expand the search to Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Ask an Expert Q: i am an electrical/electronics engineering student in nigeria,can you give me an insight on my course and future information. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student preparing to proceed into the electrical/electronic engineering field and I want to know what courses will I have to take to prepare me to be an engineer at Disney World. The number of engineers who work at Disney World and related Disney enterprises is relatively small. Therefore we suggest that you prepare yourself to work in the more general fields of multimedia and entertainment rather than concentrate just on one company. Engineering for entertainment is a growing field. Engineers contribute increasingly to the design of computer games; video and audio effects in concerts, presentations, movies, Internet and TV programs; theme and amusement parks; gambling and gaming; and virtual reality simulations. To prepare yourself to work in this industry I suggest that you consider educational programs that emphasize elements of multi-media and entertainment. There are several ways of doing this. You can select a traditional engineering program in a relevant area of engineering (e.g., electrical engineering or computer engineering) and select or emphasize courses that are relevant to entertainment tasks (e.g., signal processing and image processing classes, courses on embedded systems and advanced programming, classes on modeling of electromechanical systems and computer aided design). The advantage of this approach is that it provides you with a degree that can be used outside the entertainment field (and protects you if the entertainment field sees an over-supply of engineering labor at one point in the future). You may then select a Master of Science level program in entertainment technology for your graduate studies. An alternative approach is to select a program of study that focuses directly on entertainment and multimedia. Here are several programs of interest, at both the Bachelor and Master of Science level. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has a new program on Entertainment Engineering and Design. The DigiPen Institute at Redmond Washington offers Bachelor and Master level degrees related to entertainment. The University of Colorado at Denver offers Music and Entertainment Industries Studies. The University of Miami offers studies in Music Engineering and Music Engineering Technology Southern Methodist University offers a Master-level certificate in digital game development. The University of Southern California has several Master of Science level programs in multimedia technologies. Information about entertainment technology related programs in Carnegie Mellon University is available on the webpage of the university’s Entertainment Technology Center. The Newport School of Computing and Engineering in the UK offers programs in Artificial Intelligence and Games Development, and in Digital Special Effects and Animatronics. You will note that we did not mention specific opportunities in mechanical and civil engineering (e.g., design of roller coasters). In our estimate most of this work is (and will continue to be) done by engineers who come from traditional programs. References Thomas K. Grose: The Science of Fun, ASEE Prism, Vol. 14, No. 5, January 2005. David Kushner: Let Us Entertain You, IEEE Spectrum, 2005. Ask an Expert Q: I am studying surveying and geoinformatics for my first degree, but want to major in aeronautical engineering for a Master degree. I dream, think and feel aeronautics all the time. Which US university should I apply to? Aeronautical Engineering concerns airplanes, helicopters, missiles and other air vehicles. Aeronautical engineers interact with some of the most exciting elements of technology in a multi-disciplinary environment, designing vehicles to operate in extreme environments and under exacting conditions. They then manufacture, operate and maintain these vehicles. Though you have not done your undergraduate studies in aerospace engineering or related area, many programs in aerospace engineering accept students from other fields. For example, the Aeronautics and Astronautics program at Purdue University specifically offers degrees to students whose undergraduate degree is in an engineering field different from Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as to graduate students whose undergraduate degree is in the physical sciences or mathematics rather than in engineering. Please note, however, that a program may require that you take additional classes to remedy deficiencies in your background before admitting you to the regular Master of Science track. All admission committees would like to see a strong background in mathematics and physics, and most prefer candidates with familiarity with an engineering discipline. A typical list of admission requirements for a Master of Science program is provided by the Aerospace Engineering Science department at the University of Colorado at Denver. Applicants must... 1. Have undergraduate courses in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. 2. Have two semesters of undergraduate calculus-based physics. 3. Have at least two semesters of upper-division undergraduate courses in engineering, physics, or chemistry. 4. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing (or the equivalent). 5. Have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.00. 6. Provide official GRE scores from an examination taken within the last 5 years. 7. Provide four letters of recommendation. 8. Provide a statement of purpose. To identify schools with programs in Aerospace and Aeronautics in the United States you can try our Find a University feature. Among the schools with related programs are the following: Air Force Institute of Technology Auburn University The University of Colorado at Boulder Cornell University The University of Florida Georgia Institute of Technology The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign The University of Maryland Massachusetts Institute of Technology The University of Michigan The University of Minnesota Mississippi State University North Carolina State University Notre Dame University The Ohio State University Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Purdue University The University of Southern California Texas A&M The University of Texas at Austin The University of Washington Ask an Expert Q: I am applying to a university and would like to get a part-time job so that I can work while I am in school? How would I maintain a good GPA while working? In order to maintain a good GPA while working, proper time management skill are necessary. You have to carefully examine your courses and figure out how much time you need to allocate each week for homework and study. Once you figured out how much time you need for schoolwork, you can plan your part-time job schedule accordingly. Following this process yields two positive results: (1) you are able to accomplish the work that you need to do each week to maintain a good GPA; (2) you have time to work at a part-time job without worrying about schoolwork. Many college students are able to balance schoolwork, part-time jobs, and social activities by planning well and they are able to maintain good GPA's in the process. When in doubt remember the 5 P's: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Ask an Expert Q: i am an electrical/alactronics student and i plan to go into communication under it and also plan to do information technology in my masters degree.pls can you give me alttle insight on this plan of mine? Ask an Expert Q: Another question of mine is that which field Electronics or Electrical engineering has more options for Masters programme and I want to do my masters from abroad. I will try to go for MIT so any help you can render in this regard so as I can choose amongst the two. Ask an Expert Q: I am a UK based artist and am in the process of developing a new interactive performance work that will involve the triggering of LED displays each time a performer makes physical contact. I am hoping to collaborate with an electrical engineer on creating the technical interface necessary to achieve this and it strikes me that it might be a good project for a student to work on. Please could you advise me whether you believe students would have enough time to accommodate this type of project into their workload and at which level of education/ type of course I should approach? Ask an Expert Q: Good evening.Now I am studying electrical engineering final year. Ihave more intrested in "designing of heavy electrical machines"(electrical machine design).How is job opartunity for this field ? How can I do specialization in this field? Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year Computer Science Engineering student and I have to do my final project. I would like to do my final project in an area that would benefit me when I go for an interview in a company. I am thinking about doing my project on software or networking. Do you have some ideas or resources that I can use to get help for a good project? Ask an Expert Q: I recently asked the following question but gave the wrong degree. I have a BSEET (electronics engineering technology). I have a BSEET degree (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology), and have been working as a mechanical designer/drafter for three years now. I want to use more of my degree, cross over into electrical design and go back to college to earn a MENG degree. Am I better off going this route or trying to get a BSEE degree? I will have a senior electrical engineering mentoring me throughout this process. Your Answer: Answer: We could not reach total agreement about your question among practitioners and educators to whom we posed this question. Most of them thought that if you can be accepted into a reputable Master of Engineering or Master of Science program in Electrical Engineering it would probably be a better route toward upward mobility in the workplace. Those who favored this route indicated that it would open the door for you to be interviewed for positions for which you would not be eligible with a BSEET degree. Assuming you have earned the BSEET from a reputable program and with a high enough GPA, there may be quite a few graduate programs that will admit you for a course of study leading to a Master of Science degree (perhaps with some requirements for remedial course work). Your MSEE studies would be more interesting than the alternative BSEE studies (since there is much overlap between standard BSEE and BSEET programs), and the length of your studies toward a degree would be shorter. The key here is to get the MSEE degree from a reputable university. If this is not possible in your case, a BSEE program (perhaps with some exemptions on account of your past BSEET work) is the remaining alternative. Ask an Expert Q: I'm a junior in high school right now. While attending a university, if I enter into a specific field of engineering such as chemical engineering, can I switch later on to aerospace engineering if I don't exactly like the field I chose as much as I thought I would? In my experience, you shouldn't feel that you must stay with your initial choice of major. You'll gain perspective along the way that will enable you to make more informed decisions about your major. In most universities the engineering curriculum covers fundamental courses including mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering design during the first two years. I am an Electrical Engineering student in my fourth year of studies and it was not necessary for me to decide my major until my second year. Even if I changed my mind during my second year and had chosen another engineering major, I would not have been behind in any of the coursework. However, this flexibility depends on the university you attend and how closely related the major you are switching from is to the one you would be switching to. For example, it would be easier to transfer from an electrical engineering major to a computer engineering major in most schools because a lot of the courses overlap. The same would be true for chemical and materials engineering majors. Another factor to consider is that the school you choose because of their excellent chemical engineering curriculum may not have an active aerospace engineering program, if they have one at all. Also, some majors may be easy to get into while others may be oversubscribed and difficult to enter. If you are choosing between these two engineering fields specifically, it may be worth it to research specific universities to find out about the engineering majors they offer and their procedures for switching majors. A helpful resource for investigating engineering universities can be found at our University Finder where you can search for schools based on their accredited engineering programs. Also, here are links where you can read more about what to expect in your engineering education and career as a Chemical Engineer or an Aerospace Engineer. Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year student of electronics and communication engineering studying in india . I want interested in studying my masters in automotive engineering from america . Can i go for my masters in automotive engg. or not in america ? Ask an Expert Q: relation between speed and frequency for motor Ask an Expert Q: i want to know for industrial training Ask an Expert Q: I am six year experinced person in teaching and now i have got admission for MS in Electrical & Computer science , Kettering university, USA. Apart from hte teaching , will it be vauable to open doors for me in industry for USA? Ask an Expert Q: I am a freshman in college and my major is Computer Engineering. I am taking an Introduction to Electrical Engineering class. Is it bad that I do not understand the topics discussed in class? We just started class and it seems like the other students all know what the teacher is talking about, but all the things I am interested in like computers, the hardware and how it operates are never discussed in this class. Although we do not know what exactly is being covered in your Introduction to Electrical Engineering course, the syllabi for such classes are similar in most engineering schools. For example, Columbia University's course EE E1201 covers electric variables, circuit laws, nonlinear and linear elements, ideal and real sources, transducers, operational amplifiers in simple circuits, external behavior of diodes and transistors, and first order RC and RL circuits. The course also introduces digital logic. Students are not expected to be familiar with these topics before taking the class. However a course in calculus (basic differentiation and integration) is normally a prerequisite. If you have not taken the prerequisite course, or if you think that you need to refresh your calculus and pre-calculus skills, you should seek assistance in these areas. This will ensure that you have the mathematical background necessary to follow the class. A more likely reason why you may be having difficulty with this course is that you are not sufficiently motivated to invest your time in learning the material. One study of Electrical and Computer Engineering curricula by Carnegie Mellon in 1995 describes the lack of perspective that Computer Engineering students sometimes exhibit towards Electrical Engineering courses: "As faculty, we were often surprised when, after a few weeks in class, in the middle of some intricate technical discussion, a brave Sophomore would ask something like this: Exactly what does a computer engineer do? And how does this material help me to be a computer engineer? Is this different from computer science? Is the difference that we do hardware and they do software? When I graduate will I only be able to design big computers, or do computer engineers do something else as well? And why am I taking all these circuits classes-isn't that for the electrical engineers?" [1] It is possible that your teachers did not discuss these issues with you. They should have told you that Computer Engineering is a field that "combines topics in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with Computer Science. The Computer Engineering curriculum trains Electrical Engineers who specialize in computer hardware, interaction of software and hardware, and design of software. " Since Computer Engineering is so closely related to Electrical Engineering, you should not be surprised that electrical circuits, components of electrical circuits, and electronics will be part of the knowledge that your teachers provide you. More importantly, circuits and electronics are principal elements of computer systems. Signals flow through computer systems, circuits and components carry them through and process them. Circuits, electronic systems and signals therefore form the foundation that allows implementation and operation of computers. Without electronics and electrical circuits there are no computers (…yes, we have heard of all-optical computers or computers that use biological components, but in the field of human-made artificial computers these non-electrical designs are still curiosities). If all this motivation talk did not help, we have one final bit of advice - it may be beneficial to be patient. Quite often we are conditioned nowadays (by television and the Internet) to expect immediate gratification from our activities. However, education in a large and deep field such as Computer Engineering is often a complex affair. Knowledge is built in stages, gradually, brick by brick, bit by bit. It takes a whole series of courses, laboratories and projects to develop enough depth and perspective that give the student (and the practitioner) the insight and comprehensive view of integrated systems. A single introductory class in Electrical Engineering by itself cannot provide all that much. Even if you do not see today what this Electrical Engineering class offers you, your view may change in a few semesters once you gained more knowledge and saw the connections between the different elements that build a computing system. In the arena of engineering education, good things do happen to those who wait. ============================================ For more information about the planning of Computer Engineering curricula and the body of knowledge associated with Computer Engineering, we invite you to check out the following articles and reports: McGettrick, A.; Theys, M.D.; Soldan, D.L.; Srimani, P.K., "Computer engineering curriculum in the new millennium," IEEE Transactions on Education, vol.46, no.4pp. 456- 462, Nov. 2003 Joint Task Force on Computer Engineering Curricula, IEEE Computer Society, Association for Computing Machinery, "Computer Engineering 2004: Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in Computer Engineering", December 12, 2004, pp. A.43-A.45. Sources: [1] Director, S.W.; Khosla, P.K.; Rohrer, R.A.; Rutenbar, R.A., "Reengineering the curriculum: design and analysis of a new undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering degree at Carnegie Mellon University," Proceedings of the IEEE , vol. 83, no. 9, pp. 1246-1269, Sep 1995. Ask an Expert Q: I do not stay at a dorm at school; I commute everyday. Is it harder to find a club or activity to join if you are a commuter? It is true that commuters are at some disadvantage in schools that have a strong dormitory system (like most traditional universities in the United States). Often there is a very effective information sharing system in the dormitories: students remind one another of coursework requirements as well as registration and drop/add deadlines; students share and discuss information about opportunities and recent news. Commuters sometimes miss out on these networks, and need to develop an alternate circle of classmates (often other commuters) for consultation and support. Many universities make special arrangements for commuters, and I would inquire about services to commuters before I enroll. These services help commuters meet other students, and provide amenities such as a commuter lounge. The commuter lounge is a dedicated space provided for commuters to study, have light meals, relax, and meet with other students. A good commuter lounge has lockers for commuters - to store books, clothes, and other belongings while on campus. Some universities have a commuter organization (for example, Drexel University has a group called the Drexel Commuters). The organization plans and sponsors events geared toward commuter students, provides an avenue for such students to connect with one another, and enhances the campus life experience of commuters. It also represents the interests of commuters in dicussions with the university administration. Before enrolling at a university, check also the Student Life Office at that university. See what the office offers; review the list of student organizations and find out about their activities. Identify an organization or group that suits your interests. I have met many students with similar interests to mine by attending seminars and weekly meetings held by my university's IEEE Student Branch (go here for the IEEE Student Concourse for more information.) Depending on your field of study and your country of residence, you may find a similar professional group associated with an organization such as AIChE, ASME, ASCE, ACM, ASHRAE, IET, SEE, VDE, etc. On most campuses you will have no problem finding a (technical or non-technical) activity or organization that caters to your interests. The key is to seek active participation and not let the fact that you are a commuter limit your social and professional opportunities. Ask an Expert Q: I am a junior Electrical Engineering major and I have been contemplating changing my major in light of the current difficulty I have been having in several of my classes. I don't want to give up because I have a genuine interest in engineering but I wonder if I will be able to achieve success not only in future classes but in the working world as well, given my performance so far. I was wondering if there was ever a point in your studies where you felt so frustrated and doubtful of yourself that you felt like giving up on engineering. If so, what motivated you to continue and what advice can you give to someone who, like me, is thinking about quitting? Your question was sent to me by a colleague who answers questions for TryEngineering.org because he knew I had hard time in college. Yet I have been working as a project engineer for two decades now in a large corporation specializing in process control design, and I consider myself to have had a very rewarding career in engineering. The answer I am about to give you now is different from the answer that I gave myself years ago, when I had to take (and re-take) several of my junior-level classes (I had special difficulties with electromagnetic fields and complex variables). At the time I simply knew that I had to become an electrical engineer. Before he became an electronics technician, my father was a student of engineering, but due to the eruption of a war in the country where he lived he never completed his studies. For my family and for me, my becoming an electrical engineer was therefore an unusually important goal, it had a symbolic value... I simply could not disappoint my parents (and myself) by dropping out. I had to conquer this challenge. However, looking at the subject today, from the distance of many years, I have a much better answer for you. While formal studies in college are certainly important, they are not the only ingredient that makes a successful engineer. In addition to the technical understanding of models and equations, one needs lab skills, good sense of units and orders of magnitude, the ability to work with the technical literature (and nowadays with Internet resources), the ability to learn new areas on one's own, natural curiosity, good organization, time management, self discipline, people skills, the ability to write well and to speak in public, patience, maturity, tenacity, self discipline, and… sense of humor. What I lacked as an undergraduate in the formal studies department, I was able to compensate-for in the workplace (after finally getting a degree) by other talents. Moreover, in time I decided to go back to the technical literature, picked up books and articles on subjects that interested me (industrial control and digital control), studied the market, developed my own ideas, and started a small business of my own (I sold it, with significant profit, 8 years later). After selling my business I was able to convince a local university to take me for part time M.S. studies (this required some persuasion) and later I have joined my current employer. Here is another relevant observation. Overall I have done professionally and personally much better than many of my nominally-brighter fellow classmates, those who always appeared on the Deans' List. Some of the best students in my college class certainly had very gratifying careers and contributed much to society and to the profession. Many others did not – I have done much better than them both professionally and economically. They for sure had the formal-knowledge advantage over me, but they must have lacked other characteristics that are needed for a successful career. Maybe they did not have tenacity; maybe they were disorganized; maybe they did not have a sense of humor. In fact I think I may have become a better engineer because I struggled so hard in college. It made it easier for me in the struggle of life. So, my answer to you is that knowledge of the books, while certainly important and desirable, is not all that is needed to become a great engineer... If you indeed have "a genuine interest in engineering," and if your difficulties in class are not so severe that they will prevent you from ever getting a degree, I believe there may still be (a lot of) hope for you. You should also know that (with the exception of the time I tried to get into graduate school) no one ever wanted to see my grades after I got my first job. My supervisors did not care about my grades when my prototypes proved better than those of the competition. The customers who bought the products of my company never asked for my college transcripts. I was able to prove myself in the arenas that matter most, the workplace and the marketplace. Eventually I got into graduate school too. Not every tale of struggle ends with a victory (I feel that mine did). Yet I hope that my experience will be helpful to you. Genuine interest in engineering is a precious attribute, and in time it may compensate handsomely for deficiencies in this or that subject matter and for bad grades here and there. Ask an Expert Q: where do i find faqs fore oral ewxams ? Ask an Expert Q: How much do engineers usually get as salary? For complete information on earning of engineers in the United States please visit the earning tables provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. A few highlights: The average starting salaries of engineers with a Bachelor of Science degree in the United States is in the $50-65,000 range; for engineers in the employ of the US federal government, mean annual salaries ranged from $70,086 to $100,059 in 2005, depending on specialty. Here are some additional United States statistics (from 2004). Electrical Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $57,540 and $79,920 . The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $42,610, while the highest 10 percent earned over $108,070. Civil Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $51,430 and $88,400 . The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $47,310, while the highest 10 percent earned over $94,660. Chemical Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $60,920 and $94,740 . The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $47,310, while the highest 10 percent earned over $115,180. Computer Hardware Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $63,730 and $102,100. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $50,490, while the highest 10 percent earned over $123,560. The earnings of engineers put them ahead of most other professions dominated by holders of a first baccalaureate degree (e.g., B. Eng, B.Sc.), but behind professions that require higher titles as the first professional degree (e.g., M.Sc., Ph.D., PharmD). In most countries, engineers' salaries lag those of pharmacists, physicians and lawyers. Engineers in most countries earn more than teachers (in kindergarten, elementary, middle, or secondary schools), registered nurses, accountants (with the exception of directors of accounting and auditing), and commercial pilots. The salary distribution of engineers in the United States is similar to that of economists and chemists. Ask an Expert Q: I am a freshman attending a community college in the US, currently working toward the degree "Associate of Science in Electrical Engineering." I have recently acquired a taste for business as well, and am wondering if it is plausible to study both business and electrical engineering. Are there any career paths that integrate the two, and if so, would it be better to study them at the same time or one before the other? There are numerous opportunities to combine business knowledge with electrical engineering. Indeed, many engineers (including many electrical engineers) hold Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. Engineering associations such as IEEE have organizational units that concentrate on management, and publish journals on engineering management. One can make the argument that some understanding of business and economics is in fact necessary for practitioners of engineering. Engineers with business background can apply their skills to product development and marketing, the development of new businesses and business alliances, entrepreneurial activities, and advancing in a management track within an engineering corporation. Not surprisingly, many schools developed joint engineering/business tracks. For example Carnegie Mellon University offers a joint MBA and Civil and Environmental Engineering degree, as well as a joint MBA/Software Engineering program. The University of Texas at Dallas offers a program that combines a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with an MBA. Iowa State University offers a Engineering BS/MBA Concurrent Degree program. Similar arrangements are available at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, the University of Tennessee, the University of Notre Dame, and quite a few others. However, most engineers who acquire a business degree take a different route. They earn first a baccalaureate engineering degree and seek a business degree afterwards. Proponents of this path believe that it is better to focus first on engineering studies (and develop a deeper appreciation of the scientific and technological aspects) before concentrating on the business aspects. Engineering students can still take a few business classes during their engineering studies as free electives. It is hard to make a firm recommendation whether simultaneous engineering/business studies are preferred to engineering-then-business plans. We note, however, that very few individuals select the business-then-engineering path; it appears that understanding the engineering field first makes the study of business more purposeful and better focused for most professionals. Ask an Expert Q: How the Post Graduation is there..i m a student studying Bio-Medical Engineering in India......... How can i admit there in P.G Should i take GRE.. to get admitted into P.G there when i should take my GRE exam.. When the Academic year start there in P.G.. Give me some information regarding the scholorships they provide in University... is there any restrictions for scholorships to get.to get scholorship when i should take my GRE exam... Thankful to u......... Ask an Expert Q: I am from India, currently enrolled in the final year of an undergraduate engineering program. I would like to pursue studies toward a Master of Science degree in the United States. How would I go about it? Should I take the GRE? When should I take the exam? When does the typical academic year start there? GENERAL The United States hosts more than 550,000 students from other countries in its institutions of higher education. Of these, about 75,000 students are from India, and about 60,000 are from China (see this report for more information). The popularity of the US with students from other countries is explained by the quality and diversity of the higher education system in the US, and the economic and social conditions that made the US (and many US universities) hospitable to non-US students. With the exception of a small decrease in 2003-2004, the total number of non-US students enrolled in US universities has been growing steadily in the last 30 years. THE ACADEMIC YEAR Most US universities use a system based on semesters or quarters. More schools use a semester system. 1) Semesters The Semester system has three (3) academic semesters which usually start and end as follows: a) Fall Semester (mid/late-August to mid-December), b) Spring Semester (mid-January to mid-May), and c) Summer Semester (June to mid-August). Most students take courses in the Fall and Spring semesters only and take a vacation or (more likely) a Summer job during the Summer semester. All the universities that follow a semester system offer admissions for the Fall semester. Many universities also offer admissions for the Spring semester. 2) Quarters The quarter system consists of four (4) academic quarters lasting three months each: a) Fall Quarter (October to December), b) Winter Quarter (January to March), c) Spring Quarter (April to June) and d) Summer Quarter (July to September). Most students take courses in the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. All the universities that follow the quarter system offer admissions for the Fall quarter. Some universities also offer admissions for the Winter quarter. THE BASIC STEPS The following are the basic steps involved in applying to US universities. These steps are listed here for students who live in countries other than the US, and are neither US citizens nor US permanent resident aliens. 1) Decide what specific field and major you want to pursue for your graduate studies, and investigate programs that offer the education you seek. You need to examine thoroughly the courses offered, research work of professors, ranking and reputation of the program/university, and admission requirements. Contacting prospective thesis advisors is advisable. It also makes sense to contact the graduate advisor of the program you are interested in (by phone or e-mail) and discuss your interests and prospects. This step can save a lot of unnecessary correspondence and effort later. 2) Most US universities require that candidates for graduate study in engineering/computer science submit scores of standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Some universities have announced minimum thresholds on scores required on these tests. You need to make sure that you took the tests well ahead of your expected enrollment date, to make sure the program can get your score in time for full consideration. 3) Procure all the materials required by the admissions department of the university to which you are applying (here is an example of what one program requires.) These requirements often include the following: a) Academic Transcripts, officially sealed by your college/university. b) Letters of Recommendations from your Professors/Employers. c) Statement of Purpose/Essay. d) Financial Statement (here are examples from Georgia State University and the State University of New York). Each university has its own application deadline. You should be very careful about the deadlines and send all the required material on time. Procuring and assembling all the material can be very time consuming and incomplete documentation can jeopardize your efforts. Plan ahead, and give yourself plenty of time for these tasks. 5) Once an admission decision was made, you will be notified via e-mail or postal mail (the online status of your application is also often available). If you are admitted, the next step would be to obtain a visa to the United States (in most cases a student F-1 visa) from a US Consulate or Embassy. In India the US Consulates are located in Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta. The US Embassy is located in New Delhi. Please consult the following links for visa procedures 1) Mumbai Consulate 2) Chennai Consulate 3) Calcutta Consulate 4) New Delhi Embassy. Screening of student applicants for visas may be a long process. Plan ahead of time, and make sure your documentation is complete and clear. The decision to admit you to the US (a decision made by the US Government) is almost independent of the decision to admit you to a university (a decision made by the university). In addition to planning your course of study, you will have to make careful financial planning. Students for a Master of Science degree are usually less successful than candidates for a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in obtaining assignments as teaching assistants or research assistants at the university. The ability of students with nonimmigrant visas to work in the US is limited by their visa restrictions. Ask an Expert Q: I am writing from Bangalore,India. I am currently doing my first year of electrical and electronics engineering. I'd like to know if i could do masters in aeronautical engineering in the future. Is it better for a mechanical engineer to pursue a career in aeronautics? The field of Aeronautics engineering involves design, manufacture and maintenance of products such as aircraft, missiles and space satellites. The Aeronautical engineering bachelors and masters degree programs include study of multidisciplinary topics such as Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, Materials, Technology, Fluid Mechanics and Aircraft Structures, Control Systems, Sensors and Actuators. There are many colleges and universities that offer such degree programs. The School of Aeronautics & Astronautics at Purdue University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. The program structure and course details can be found at and Being a student of Electrical and Electronics engineering, you can definitely pursue a masters degree in aeronautical engineering, since most Aeronautical engineering departments accept students with electrical engineering background. A strong fundamental knowledge of topics like engineering mathematics, control theory, digital communication, and electronic circuits is important for doing well at masters level. A standard bachelors degree program in Mechanical engineering includes many courses like kinematics, dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical design amongst others that overlap with courses offered in an equivalent Aeronautics engineering program. While this might be beneficial for a mechanical engineer pursuing masters in aeronautics, students from other technical backgrounds can easily gain knowledge of these topics by taking some extra fundamental courses during their masters studies. Ask an Expert Q: I wanted to know how good the life of an engineer is....if a person is a computer engineer or a civil engineer would he (or she) be able to live life to the fullest and earn good money for himself and his family ? Also I want to know how a person in the given fields spends his/her day. The standard of living of engineers in most countries puts them in the social group known as middle class, and engineers with specialized knowledge or demonstrated leadership abilities tend to advance quickly into the "upper middle class." The average starting salaries of engineers with a Bachelor of Science degree in the United States is in the $50-65,000 range; for engineers in the employ of the federal government, mean annual salaries ranged from $70,086 to $100,059 in 2005, depending on specialty. Here are some additional United States statistics (from 2004). Electrical Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $57,540 and $79,920 . The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $42,610, while the highest 10 percent earned over $108,070. Civil Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $51,430 and $88,400 . The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $47,310, while the highest 10 percent earned over $94,660. Chemical Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $60,920 and $94,740 . The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $47,310, while the highest 10 percent earned over $115,180. Computer Hardware Engineers: the middle 50 percent earned between $63,730 and $102,100. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $50,490, while the highest 10 percent earned over $123,560. The earnings of engineers put them ahead of most other professions dominated by holders of a first baccalaureate degree (e.g., B. Eng, B.Sc.), but behind professions that require higher titles (e.g., M.Sc., Ph.D., PharmD) as the first professional degree. In most countries, engineers' salaries lag those of pharmacists, physicians and lawyers. Engineers in most countries earn more than teachers (in kindergarten, elementary, middle, or secondary schools), registered nurses, accountants (with the exception of directors of accounting and auditing), and commercial pilots. The salary distribution of engineers in the United States is similar to that of economists and chemists. Job security of engineers has been the subject of some debate recently, especially in the context of job migration and the globalization of the engineering labor market. It is still fair to say that engineers have enjoyed much lower unemployment rates than those experienced by other professionals. Engineering employment has been on the rise for most of the 20th century, and current predictions are that this trend will continue for at least the next two decades (expected average growth of engineering employment in the US over the next 10 years is in the 7% to 19% range). Growth is likely to be slower in the manufacturing industries and faster in the service industry. There are also significant differences between disciplines. According to the US bureau of labor statistics, growth of jobs for biomedical engineers and environmental engineers in the next 10 years is expected to be much faster than the average, while growth in industrial and electronics engineering will be only "as fast as average." To find out how a person in a given field spends the day check our own portal ("Life of an Engineer") as well as the portal of the Sloane Career Cornerstone Center. Ask an Expert Q: For school I have to do a project on my future career. To get full credit I need to interview someone in the field. Can you help me with that? Ask an Expert Q: I want a career in engineering but more specifically in telecommunications and microelectronics. Which branch of engineering should I concentrate on in for my undergraduate studies? Ask an Expert Q: For school I need to do an interview with a person in the field that I would like to have a job in. Is there any way you can help me interview a nuclear engineer? Ask an Expert Q: Are there any professional examinations available in the electronics and telecommunications engineering field? Where do I get the listings of these examinations, and how do I apply for them? Who is eligible to write such examinations? We assume that by "professional examinations" you refer to examinations that lead to a license to practice engineering. Such examinations are administered by various governmental bodies (sometimes a ministry in the central or federal government, sometimes an agency of a State or a Province). They are often offered at more than one level (e.g., entry level, advanced level) and provide the successful test taker with a credential such as a "Professional Engineer." In many jurisdictions this credential has legal ramifications. Practitioners that hold the title are allowed to perform some functions (such as sign and seal certain kinds of engineering plans) that other practitioners are not allowed to undertake. In almost all jurisdictions the exams are administered only to individuals who have graduated, or are about to graduate, from a relavant academic program which is accredited. The title "engineer" is legally protected in some jurisdictions (such as many US States); individuals who have not passed the requisite exams and received a State License are not allowed to hold the "engineer" title, nor offer engineering services to the public. In other regions, such as the United Kingdom, "engineer" is unregulated, but more specific titles (e.g., "Chartered Engineer" and "Incorporated Engineer") are legally protected. Examinations that lead to titles such as "Professional Engineer" or to intermediate titles are often composed by panels of experts from Academia and Industry convened for that purpose by advisory bodies to the government or by professional associations that lend assistance to the government. A. United States The process followed by most jurisdictions in the United States is described at the website of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) thus: Each state and territory varies slightly, but in general, there is a four-step process required to obtain engineering licensure (see below). Step 1: Graduation The first step is graduating from an ABET-accredited engineering program at a college or university. ABET stands for Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the nationally recognized accrediting organization for engineering and technology curricula. Step 2: FE Exam The first exam in the licensure process is the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE). This exam is offered in April and October every year. Most students take the exam right before graduation or soon after while the technical information they've studied is still fresh in their minds. Once you pass the exam, you are classified as an intern, also known as Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training (EIT). Step 3: Work Experience After passing the FE exam, you will continue your journey toward professional licensure by gaining engineering experience. Many jurisdictions have specific requirements about the type of experience you need to gain. Most require that you gain experience under the supervision of someone who is already licensed, and that your experience involve increasing levels of responsibility. Once you begin work, contact your licensing board to find out what experience is needed and talk with professional engineers in your company to find out how you can gain this experience. Step 4: PE Exam Once you have gained the appropriate experience required, you can take the second exam in the licensure process, the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE). This exam is given in a variety of engineering disciplines. Most disciplines are offered in both April and October, but some are offered only in October. After completing all the steps in the engineering licensure process—education, experience, and examinations—you are eligible for licensure by your licensing board. Once you are granted licensure, you may use the distinguished designation "professional engineer," or P.E. B. Canada The process of licensure in Canada is described by the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) thus: Normally, to be licensed as a professional engineer by a provincial or territorial engineering association, candidates must: (1) Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (Citizenship or permanent resident status is required to apply for licensure. It is not possible to be licensed before immigrating to Canada.) (2) Possess an undergraduate (Bachelor's level) degree in engineering from a recognized Canadian university program, or possess an otherwise recognized engineering degree and complete an assigned exam program. Recognition of degree equivalency by a Canadian university or other organization is unrelated to recognition of your degree by the CCPE and its constituent associations. (3) Complete three or four years of engineering work, depending on the association. Experience obtained outside Canada may be acceptable if sufficient documentation is provided. A minimum of 12 months experience must be in a Canadian environment to ensure that you are familiar with Canadian codes and standards. (4) Write and pass a professional practice examination on professional practice, ethics, engineering law and liability. (5) Be of good character and reputation. (6) Be proficient in English (French in Quebec, English or French in New Brunswick). C. The United Kingdom The process of registration in Britain is described by Engineering Council UK. Incorporated Engineer is a first-cycle qualification for Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree holders. Chartered Engineer is a second-cycle qualification usually reserved for holders of integrated Master of Engineering degrees or Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science plus Master of Science degrees. Both IEng and CEng require substantial professional experience, a professional review and interview. There are no written exams ECUK emphasizes the professional and prestige benefit of registration rather than any legal advantages, except that most registered engineers are eligible to be included in the International Professional Engineer Registry that may assist them with mobility and getting recognition outside the UK. D. Other countries Registration in Australia is governed by the National Engineering Registration Board For information on professional licensing in France, please see the website of SNIPF. The website of the The Institute of Professional Engineers, Japan provides information on professional licensing in this country. For New Zealand see the website of IPENZ. Professional licensure in Pakistan is governed by the Pakistan Engineering Council . If you are interested in professional registration in South Africa, look for the Registration tab on the website of the Engineering Council of South Africa. Ask an Expert Q: What are the prospects for mechatronics engineers in Malaysia? Further, what is the likelihood of a non Malaysian landing a job in this field? Thanks! Ask an Expert Q: I am a community college student and I am trying to decide if I should transfer to a university that has both Engineering and Engineering Technology programs. However, I can't find the difference between Engineering and Engineering Technology. Could someone please explain the difference? The difference between Engineering and Engineering Technology The main issue that separates Engineering from Engineering Technology is the focus of Engineering Technology on implementation. While Engineering is considered to include components such as design, analysis, optimization, forecasting and validation, the focus of Engineering Technology is almost solely on implementation. The US National Society of Professional Engineers describes the difference between Engineering and Engineering Technology thus: "Engineering programs are geared toward development of conceptual skills, and consist of a sequence of engineering fundamentals and design courses, built on a foundation of complex mathematics and science courses. Engineering Technology programs are oriented toward application, and provide their students introductory mathematics and science courses, and only a qualitative introduction to engineering fundamentals. Thus, engineering programs provide their graduates a breadth and depth of knowledge that allows them to function as designers. Engineering technology programs prepare their graduates to apply others' designs." Engineering Technology Programs versus Engineering Programs Due to the emphasis on implementation, the Engineering Technology curriculum will differ from an Engineering curriculum in that the course selections will contain less theoretical and analytical courses. According to ABET's FAQ page: "Engineering undergraduate programs include more mathematics work and higher level mathematics than technology programs. Engineering undergraduate programs often focus on theory, while technology programs usually focus on application. Once they enter the workforce, engineering graduates typically spend their time planning, while engineering technology graduates spend their time making plans work. At ABET, engineering and engineering technology programs are evaluated and accredited by two separate accreditation commissions using two separate sets of accreditation criteria. Graduates from engineering programs are called engineers, while graduates of technology programs are often called technologists. Some U.S. state boards of professional engineering licensure will allow only graduates of engineering programs, not engineering technology programs, to become licensed engineers." International Recognition of Engineering Technology: The Sydney Accord The Sydney Accord is an agreement between institutions that are responsible for accrediting Engineering Technology programs in different countries. Essentially this agreement states that graduates of accredited programs in any of the signatory countries should be recognized by the other countries as having met the academic requirements for entry into the practice of Engineering Technologist. The signatory countries of this accord as of February 2007 are Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The United States has not signed the Sydney Accord, primarily because the engineering technology profession is not well defined as a separate profession (distinct from professional engineering) in the United States. For a complete explanation, see the National Society of Professional Engineers' position on Engineering Technology. Note that although the United States is not a signatory to the Sydney accord, the principal accrediting body for Engineering and Technology in the United States, (ABET), provides accreditation to Engineering Technology programs. We provide five (5) examples of universities in the U.S. that offer an accredited degree in Engineering Technology. To find them, we used the TryEngineering University Finder and selected Engineering Technology from the list of accredited fields. The universities are: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, LeTourneau University, McNeese State University, Temple University, and the University of Central Florida. More Information [1] Northeastern University School of Engineering Technology website: What is Engineering Technology, accessed February 1, 2007. [2] NSPE (2006) NSPE Issue Brief: Engineering Technology, Publication #4049 [3] University of North Carolina website: Engineering versus Engineering Technology , accessed February 1, 2007. [4] Wikipedia.org: Engineering Technology, accessed February 1, 2007. Caution: Wikipedia entries can be changed arbitrarily by any user at any time. Ask an Expert Q: HELLO i am a fourth year student in the university down here in nigeria studying electrical/electronicsengineering.i wish to know the difference between control engineering and communication engineering under electrical/ electronics engineering and the courses to be taken for masters science(Msc)for each of them. Ask an Expert Q: Which universities woudl you recommend for a student who graduated in Electronics & Communication Engg from a university in India, and is interested in purusiing a MS/PhD in mobile/wireless communications? Ask an Expert Q: Hello, I am a sophmore high school student at Marshall High School and I wanted to know how could I apply or turn in a resume for a student internship at IBM Houston? Ask an Expert Q: I have completed my Bachelors in biomedical engineering from India with distinction. I want to pursue a Masters degree in this same biomedical engineering field in the United States. I see myself as an entrepreneur rather as a researcher/analyst/scientist. What is the future for a biomedical engineer in industry? The field of biomedical engineering is very vast field whose foundations are built on the principles of fundamental science and engineering and methodologies in solving medical challenges. This field is further divided into interdependent, yet, closely related focus areas. These areas include: Biomedical Instrumentation Medical Imaging Systems Physiology Biomechanics Biosensors Biomedical Informatics Biosystems Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Computational Biomedicine Chemical Engineering in Biomedicine Depending on the field of your interest, you may choose to specialize in any one or more of the above listed fields. Bioengineering encompasses many other engineering disciplines. For example, in the Biomechanics field, it might help to have some mechanical engineering background, whereas, in Biosensors, an electrical engineering background could help. As far as the future of a Biomedical Engineering in the Industry is concerned, the latest U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics website writes the following Job Outlook for Biomedical Engineering: Biomedical engineers are expected to have employment growth that is much faster than the average (Increase 27 percent or more) for all occupations through 2014. The aging of the population and the focus on health issues will drive demand for better medical devices and equipment designed by biomedical engineers. Along with the demand for more sophisticated medical equipment and procedures, an increased concern for cost- effectiveness will boost demand for biomedical engineers, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and related industries. However, because of the growing interest in this field, the number of degrees granted in biomedical engineering has increased greatly. Biomedical engineers, particularly those with only a bachelor’s degree, may face competition for jobs. Unlike the case for many other engineering specialties, a graduate degree is recommended or required for many entry-level jobs. Biomedical engineering is assuming a role of vital importance in our daily lives. With new products and services being developed to improve the quality of human life, the future of a biomedical engineer in industry is extremely bright. Ask an Expert Q: I live in Canada and I am looking for an online undergraduate computer/software engineering program in Canada or USA, which is accredited by ABET or CCPE. Could you kindly give me advice on where I can do engineering online/ distance learning? Besides, I have 60 credits in computer science and engineering (CSE) from India (AICTE) which I got evaluated by josefy & silny company in Florida. Ask an Expert Q: I need information about wireless transmission of power. The advantages of wireless transmission of power are obvious — who would not see the benefits of freedom from wires and transmission lines? Realization of this idea will have enormous practical and economical implications. Some forms of wireless transmission of power are already in use. As described recently [4] in an article in MIT Tech Talk, "scientists and engineers have known for nearly two centuries that transferring electric power does not require wires to be in physical contact. Electric motors and power transformers contain coils that transmit energy to each other by the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. A current running in an emitting coil induces another current in a receiving coil; the two coils are in close proximity, but they do not touch. "Later, scientists discovered electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves, and they showed that another form of it — light — is how we get energy from the sun. But transferring energy from one point to another through ordinary electromagnetic radiation is typically very inefficient: the waves tend to spread in all directions, so most of the energy is lost to the environment." Not surprisingly, the quest for wireless transmission of power is not new either. The following offer was contained in section 3 of The Rules and Regulations Governing the Aeronautic Competition of the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904: "One-prize of $3,000 is offered for a successful attempt to drive an air-ship motor by energy transmitted through space, either in the form of electric radiation or in some other form of electric energy, to an actual amount of 1/10 (0.1) H.P. at the point of reception at a distance of least 100ft. The test must be made on the exposition grounds by experts satisfactory to the jury." Attempts to achieve efficient wireless transmission of power go back to the late 19th century, most notably to work by Nikloa Telsa, to whom a letter [1] is attributed at the 5 March 1904 issue of Electric World and Engineer describing efforts to achieve and commercialize wireless power transmission (a June 1900 Tesla article in Century Illustrated Magazine provides another discussion of these experiments [2]). A short summary of the various attempts to achieve wireless transmission of power is available in a recent popular article by Reno Rossetti [3]. He describes the efforts by Tesla as well as later work by William C. Brown (the rectifying antenna, or rectenna), Peter Glaser, project SHARP (Stationary High Altitude Relay Platform)), NASA, and Japanese research agencies. Most recently, a new method involving non-radiative energy transfer was proposed by Marin Soljacic, Aristeidis Karalis, and John Joannopoulos of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Their theoretical calculations and simulations show, among other results, that their method may be able to power a laptop-size device wirelessly from a power source at a distance of a few meters away. REFERENCES [1] Nikola Tesla: "The Transmission of Electrical Energy without Wires," Electrical World and Engineer, March 5, 1904. [2] Nikola Tesla, "The Problem of Increasing Human Energy," Century Illustrated Magazine, June 1900. [3] Reno Rossetti: Cutting the Last Wire, Planet Analog, on line: http://www.planetanalog.com/columns/guest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=171201034 September 27, 2005; accessed November 2006. [4] Davide Castelvecchi: "Wireless energy could power consumer, industrial electronics," MIT news office bulletin, on line: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/wireless.html, 14 November 2006; accessed November 2006. Ask an Expert Q: Dear Sir, I am a Bangladeshi Student. I am interested to study aeronautical engineering or mechanical engineering at your University. I got CGPA 5.00 out of 5.00 both at secondary School Certificate (S.S.C) and Higher. Secondary School Certificates (H.S.C) respectively from Science group. Would you please send me the following information as early as possible? Course fees, Duration, Hostel facility, Prospectus, Scholarship program (if any) and admission criteria for overseas student. I look forward to hearing from you. Ask an Expert Q: I am a final year student of electrical and electronics engineering in India leading to a Bachleors Degree. I am interested in working in Aviation Industry like automatic controls etc after I receive my M.S. degree. What major should I choose for my M.S.? What would you recommend for my undergraduate final project? Ask an Expert Q: What courses should I take in high school to prepare for college? I want to be an aeronautical engineer. Students preparing to enter college to study engineering should plan to take as many math and science classes as possible. Your school guidance counselor can help you to plan your school schedule such that you enroll in the courses that will help your future studies. Examples of high school classes in the math and science fields needed for engineering are: Math: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Probability & Statistics, Calculus I, and Calculus II. Science: Physical Science, Biology, Applied Biology/Chemistry, Advanced Physics and Chemistry. Although all these classes will help your engineering studies, as a future aeronautical engineer, the Math and Physics classes will be the basic knowledge that you will build upon. If your school does not offer all of these courses, you might be able to take some of these classes at a local college or community college. Your guidance counselor will be able to help you make some of these arrangements. If you do not have an opportunity to take all of these classes, do not be discouraged. Where ever you attend college, faculty advisors will assess the classes you have taken in high school and make sure that you are enrolled in the college classes that you need to take to assure you have the fundamental background you need to be a successful aeronautical engineer. It is never too soon to begin researching colleges to obtain a list of prerequisites for entrance for the program you have selected in aeronautical engineering. Best of luck! Ask an Expert Q: Is my HSC mark inportant for further courses in engineering. Ask an Expert Q: Dear sir This is Reza 28 year_old from Iran .I work for a company as an electronic engineer ,I have worked so professionally in this science ,but I am going to live and work and progress my study in California because of some reasons ,so could you help me in this matter ? what should I do first ,should I first apply for University or find a job ? Regards Ask an Expert Q: I am a third year student of biomedical engg in Gujarat,India.I want to do postgraduation afterwards so that i can enter research field.For which course i should go to be in research field and in which it would be better? Ask an Expert Q: i am a final year biomedical student ... i want to get some ideas for my final year project(instrumentation) Ask an Expert Q: I am currently studying for my Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technology. However, I was just wondering what exactly are the main differences between this and Electrical Engineering Technology? They look very similiar in my academic bulletin. Also, what types of careers are available for those who have earned their B.S. CET? Ask an Expert Q: what is the specfication of fiber optic cable for user and channel for data transfer? Ask an Expert Q: (1) What is the average salary for an Aerospace engineer? (2) When you were becoming an Aerospace engineer, how much Chemistry did you have to take? Was it more Physics or more Chemistry? (3) Most importantly, do you enjoy being an Aerospace engineer? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the mean salary of aerospace engineers in the United States in May 2007 was $92,700. As far as starting salaries, in 2007 these were... For engineers with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree, $53,408. For engineers with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree, $62,459. For engineers with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, $73,814. ================================================== We have two specific answers for your questions, coming directly from practicing engineers. ANSWER 1 by Thacker, a Systems Engineering Manager from California, USA: (1) Typically, the average starting salary for an aerospace engineer (as an aircraft company we call them aeronautical) here in California is between $40,000 and $50,000. Most people start around $45,000. (2) As for the Chemistry, that is a sore subject with me. I had to take a full year of Chemistry and it was a struggle for me. However, I appreciate the knowledge I gained from studying this subject because it has helped me in my job several times. As for Physics, it required a year's worth of course work, and it too proved to be very helpful for my practice as an engineer. (3) I really enjoy being an aerospace engineer. I love aircraft and being around things that fly. It is fun to look up at an aircraft and know you had some part in getting into the air and allowing it to do its mission. ANSWER 2 from Larry, Staff Aeronautical Engineer at Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics, Palmdale, California, USA: 2) As to your questions on Chemistry and Physics, both are very important for a person who wishes to be an advanced designer. In the course of developing your design to meet requirements, you will be working with a variety of engineering disciplines. Selection of materials, processes to manufacture and means to assemble your design often require knowledge about Chemistry, Physics, and other disciplines. Often I do not possess all this information myself, and I need to consult with experts in Chemistry and Physics. However, in order to communicate with them, ask the right questions and understand the answers, I need to have basic knowledge myself. I have seen more than one assembly scrapped and/or rebuilt because the designer made assumptions regarding materials and/or processes that ruined the design - either in the short term or long term. (3) As to my career, I have been very fortunate. I progressed from Research and Development in general aviation, to Production Flightline Delivery Support, Flight Test Support, and currently Advanced System Development and Integration. My career is not based primarily on what I know at the present time, but on my willingness to step up to new challenges, and research and learn new knowledge. For example, I learned 3D CAD (Three-dimensional Computer Aided Design) techniques in my late 40s. At the time there did not seem any immediate use for it. However, a year later I was promoted into a new assignment because my 3D skills were needed. I used them for Advanced System development and integration. All careers see "ups and downs" but if you are resilient, stable and patient, you get through them, take on new assignments, and conquer ever more important challenges. Ask an Expert Q: before big bang was entropy zero? Ask an Expert Q: what would be the best classes for me to take in high school? Ask an Expert Q: BACKGROUND: We live in Sierra Vista, AZ....about 70 miles SE of Tucson. My 17 yr old son is a HS senior & wants to become an engineer, but is still undecided which engineering sub-category he wants to specialize in. He is interested in robotics and maybe nanotech. He has taken Advanced Placement classes in English, Math & Physics. His unweighted, cumulative GPA is 3.37, with a core GPA of 3.25. He already has earned some college credit by signing up for Dual-Credit classes. QUESTIONS: We are split over 2 options: 1) Sending him for the 1st 2 years of college to a community college (Eastern Arizona College, aka EAC) which actually has a 2-yr Pre-Engineering Program, & then for the last 2 yrs of college, on to a traditonal university (Northern Arizona University, aka NAU). 2) Sending him as a freshman straight to a 4-yr institution (NAU). What, if any, are the pros & cons of both options? Is there an industry bias out there when it comes to hiring an applicant who either completed a 4 yr program right away or first did a 2 yr program & then finished up for a 4 or 6 yr degree? CONSIDERATIONS: We would like to avoid universities in the 2 nearest large cities (Tucson & Phoenix) because of their big city diseases (crime, distractions, higher cost of living, traffic, very large student-to-teacher ratio, etc.). We also feel that a smaller institition, with smaller class sizes, will provide a more forgiving atmosphere during the 1st 2 years for a teenager to mature w/o making life-altering mistakes. EAC reps state that the 4-yr institutions appreciate their pre-engineering students more than their own freshman, finding them more focused & up to speed on engineering. Could just be a sales-pitch. On the other hand, an electric engineer family-friend of ours states that, however unfair it may be, that his company will hire a new engineer that attended a 4 yr institution for all 4 yrs over any applicant that first completed a community college & then finished up with a 4 yr/6 yr institution, even if he has higher grades. Alledgedly, their reason is that a poorer community college doesn't have the funds to attract higher-paid, more experienced, engineer teachers, as do the larger, richer, 4 yr institutions. This lesser experienced engineer teaching supposedly resulting in students who are consequently, also, lesser quality. Our experience (supported by published research) is that students who transferred into a 4-year institution did not suffer from future employer prejudice on account of their taking the first two years in a community college. The search for engineering talent is rather aggressive nowadays; matters of appearance (such as this), that may have been a consideration 20 or 30 years ago, ceased to be a meaningful factor. There is enough research that shows no gap between students who started as freshmen in a 4-year institution and transfer students when it comes to graduation rates, GPAs, and wages (examples: a study from the University of Florida; a study from Wisconsin; see also a paper by Hilmer quoted below as [1] and a report by Hess [2].) The factors that need to be checked are the quality and reputation of the Pre-Engineering Program at EAC (where you are considering enrolling). The main disadvantage of the community college route is that sometimes the quality of the classes offered there does not match the expectations at the 4-year institution. Since you have identified both the community college and the 4-year university you are interested in, you ought to find out from NAU (not relying solely on the advice of the representatives at EAC) what is the track record in providing transfer students from the pre-engineering program to NAU. We suggest that you meet in person with an academic advisor (perhaps the undergraduate assistant department head of the electrical engineering or mechanical engineering department), and hear from him/her directly (1) what courses must your son pass and with what GPA in order to be accepted as a transfer student into the department you choose; and (2) what is the university's experience with past transfer students from EAC. You may also want to find out if there is a formal articulation agreement between the institutions. Such an agreement (see example) states the conditions under which graduates of the 2-year institution can transfer to the university with a Junior status. We were not able to find a specific agreement between NAU and EAC, but Arizona state institutions participate in the Course Applicability System (CAS), which provides transfer guides from Arizona community colleges and public universities that provide detailed lists of courses that the student would need to take at EAC to transfer into a specific program at NAU (or any other state university). The list of courses should be verified by an undergraduate advisor at NAU. It is not unusual for students considering an engineering education to be unsure of the specific field into which they wish to enter. Our suggestion is to consider one of the more general disciplines that have a broader scope, so that your son will have opportunities in the future to change majors, if necessary, without having to take many additional courses. These areas include electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, both of which are offered at NAU and have transfer guides for a transition from EAC. Many of courses taken in the first two years of engineering education are foundation courses that every engineering student, regardless of major, will need to take. For example, the list of courses in the transfer guide at EAC for Electrical Engineering (EE) at NAU includes chemistry, calculus, physics, differential equations, and engineering design. The requirements specific to EE include electrical engineering lab, introduction to programming, and microprocessors. Because proficiency in the fundamentals of math, science, and computing are assumed in the Junior and Senior years, these foundation courses are vital to the engineering student's educational experience. In the context of your question, the primary advantages of starting the academic path at a community college are economic, and sometimes location of the community college is also an advantage. Community college classes are often smaller than introductory classes in 4-year institutions, and their teachers are often dedicated solely to teaching (in many 4-year institutions professors have many other obligations, and sometimes they send their assistants to the class). The primary disadvantages are that many community colleges lack the college atmosphere that is part of the academic experience (e.g., they do not have student branches of professional associations), and they sometimes have fewer laboratory and library resources (including scientific and engineering software). More importantly, some community colleges do not do a very good job in preparation to college (hence our suggestions above that you check carefully the reputation and track record of the community college). Overall we believe that the community-college path to an engineering degree, which splits the four year period between two institutions, is viable and practical. With appropriate preparations (and with prior consideration of compatibility of courses between the institutions) the advantages that community colleges offer are undeniable. REFERENCES [1] Hilmer, Michael J., "Human Capital Attainment, University Quality, and Entry-Level Wages for College Transfer Students" Southern Economic Journal: Vol. 69, No. 2, pp. 457–469, 2002. From the abstract: "This paper examines the returns to institutional quality for college transfer students. The quality of university from which a transfer student graduates has a positive effect on his or her future earnings. However, the quality of university initially attended has an insignificant negative effect. Such evidence suggests that a student's entry-level earnings depend only on graduation quality and not on the quality of education received throughout college." [2] Ryan Hess: "Earnings of 2-year Transfers Beat Traditional College Grads" Employment and Training Reporter, on-line: http://www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/news/reports/Wkflarep.pdf, July 28, 2003 (accessed November 2006). Ask an Expert Q: BACKGROUND: We live in Sierra Vista, AZ, about 70 miles SE of Tucson. My 17 year old son is a high school senior and wants to become an engineer, but is still undecided which engineering sub-category he wants to specialize in. He is interested in robotics and maybe nanotechnology. He has taken Advanced Placement classes in English, Mathematics and Physics. He already has earned some college credit by signing up for Dual-Credit classes. We are split over 2 options: 1) having him attend for the first 2 years a community college which has a 2-year Pre-Engineering Program, and then have him attend a traditional university for the last 2 years of college; or 2) having him start as a freshman in a traditional 4-year institution. QUESTIONS: What, if any, are the pros and cons of both options? Is there an industry bias out there when it comes to hiring an applicant who either completed a 4 year program right away or first did a 2 year program and then finished up a 4 year program? Our experience (supported by published research) is that students who transferred into a 4-year institution did not suffer from future employer prejudice on account of their taking the first two years in a community college. The search for engineering talent is rather aggressive nowadays; matters of appearance (such as this), that may have been a consideration 20 or 30 years ago, ceased to be a meaningful factor. There is enough research that shows no gap between students who started as freshmen in a 4-year institution and transfer students when it comes to graduation rates, GPAs, and wages (examples: a study from the University of Florida; a study from Wisconsin; see also a paper by Hilmer quoted below as [1] and a report by Hess [2].) The factors that need to be checked are the quality and reputation of the Pre-Engineering Program at the 2-year community college where you consider enrolling. The main disadvantage of the community college route is that sometimes the quality of the classes offered there does not match the expectations at the 4-year institution. If this is the case, the transfer student would have to take additional classes (or face failure in his/her junior-level classes). Since you have identified both the community college and the 4-year university you are interested in, you ought to find out from both institutions (most importantly, the university) what is the track record of the specific community college in providing transfer students to the university. We suggest that you meet in person with an academic advisor (perhaps the undergraduate assistant department head of the electrical engineering or mechanical engineering department) at the target university, and hear from him/her directly (1) what courses must your son pass and with what GPA in order to be accepted as a transfer student to the university from the specific community college you are considering; and (2) what is the university's experience with past transfer students from that community college. You may also want to find out if there is a formal articulation agreement between the institutions. Such an agreement (see example) states the conditions under which graduates of the 2-year institution can transfer to the university with a Junior status. In the context of your question, the primary advantages of starting the academic path at a community college are economic, and sometimes location of the community college is also an advantage. Community college classes are often smaller than introductory classes in 4-year institutions, and their teachers are often dedicated solely to teaching (in many 4-year institutions professors have many other obligations, and sometimes they send their assistants to the class). The primary disadvantages are that many community colleges lack the college atmosphere that is part of the academic experience (e.g., they do not have student branches of professional associations), and they sometimes have fewer laboratory and library resources. More importantly, some community colleges do not do a very good job in preparation to college (hence our suggestions above that you check carefully the reputation and track record of the community college). Overall we believe that the community-college path to an engineering degree, which splits the four year period between two institutions, is viable and practical. With appropriate preparations (and with prior consideration of compatibility of courses between the institutions) the advantages that community colleges offer are undeniable. REFERENCES [1] Hilmer, Michael J., "Human Capital Attainment, University Quality, and Entry-Level Wages for College Transfer Students" Southern Economic Journal: Vol. 69, No. 2, pp. 457–469, 2002. From the abstract: "This paper examines the returns to institutional quality for college transfer students. The quality of university from which a transfer student graduates has a positive effect on his or her future earnings. However, the quality of university initially attended has an insignificant negative effect. Such evidence suggests that a student's entry-level earnings depend only on graduation quality and not on the quality of education received throughout college." [2] Ryan Hess: "Earnings of 2-year Transfers Beat Traditional College Grads" Employment and Training Reporter, on-line: http://www.workforceflorida.com/wages/wfi/news/reports/Wkflarep.pdf, July 28, 2003 (accessed November 2006). Ask an Expert Q: How would I know if I would be good engineer? How did you know? I took calculus, physics, and algebra in high school and although I struggled I did okay. I understood the concepts but it was still difficult. Do you think that this is sufficient to study engineering at college? I also took geometry, but I could not understand it. When I began my studies in engineering, I didn’t know if I would be a good engineer. I knew that I was attracted to the field because of the interesting and complex technical problems the field addresses and because I am fascinated by learning more about the physical world and being a part of creating useful technological applications. However, I did not have advanced mathematics and sciences preparation in high school and I wasn’t sure of my capabilities in these areas. The first year of my university studies was a bit difficult. I was taking calculus and physics courses for the first time and sometimes I struggled with learning the concepts being taught. I made it through these classes and did well mainly because of hard work; I cannot say that I possessed any natural ability in these areas. Mathematics and science courses are vital to engineering students primarily because they provide a vocabulary in which to speak with other engineers (and mathematicians and scientists) about the designs and projects you will be working on in your career. As an engineer in industry (as opposed to research) you will not spend your entire time solving math problems. You will be using what you know to be physically or mathematically true in order to creatively approach new problems or design specifications. As valuable as math is to an engineer, it is equally important to have good communication skills and imagination. It is vital to keep in mind that subjects like mathematics get easier the more you are exposed to them. Over the course of your engineering education, you will have plenty of opportunities to practice and improve the areas in which you presently feel less confident. My advice is to be persistent and get help when you are feeling unsure of the material being taught. Ask an Expert Q: I have been invited for a chemical engineering technical interview and was just wandering what sort of things can I expect to be asked? Ask an Expert Q: Hi, My name is Ankit Doshi. I have MS degree in Physics and right now doing MS in Electrical Engineering. I like the field of embedded systems and digital systems like microprocessors and microcontrollers. I have knowledge of assembly language programming but I dont have any knowledge of C programming. Should I go for embedded systems or not? Ask an Expert Q: I am a second year student of B.Eng(Information Technology) in India. I want to do my post graduate study (M.S.) at MIT in the U.S. but I have no idea where to start ? MIT(Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is one of the world's leading technical institute. Admissions to MIT are highly competitive and a lot is expected out of the students who are admitted at MIT. Since MIT has a substantial focus on research in fundamental science and engineering applications, a student's application for graduate studies (M.S.) is evaluated on the basis of research projects, research papers and academic performance at the undergraduate level. The following link should be referred to for further information: Each department may have its own additional requirements in terms of GRE and TOEFL scores. Please refer to the following link for more information Ask an Expert Q: i would appreciate if you could provide the directions as to how to get employment in the oil and gas field;myself has done engineering in instrumentation,shall i opt for a masters degree if yes please guide regarding universities.i have done my engineering from india.thank you Ask an Expert Q: hii,i am planning to do certification in dsp before i go for my ms in fall 07?would it be help ful in getting me any kind of aid at the university?Is java certification a better option than dsp certification? Ask an Expert Q: I am a freshman in high school and I enjoy building, designing, and using technology to solve problems to make or design new things. But I'm not sure what type of engineering would be good for me.I was thinking mechanical but I'm not sure. Ask an Expert Q: I had Diploma in Mechanical Engineer from Board of Technical Education. I am Currently working. I wnt to pursue my degree in mechanical engineer. Please suggest some institute in mumbai do it as a part-time. Also specify the duration and Fees required for it. Ask an Expert Q: What does a Computer Software Engineer do? Could you give me a description of the field? Computer software engineers apply the principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and the systems that enable computers to perform their many applications. Software engineers are involved in the design and development of many types of software, including software for operating systems and network distribution, and software for compilers (which convert programs for execution on a computer). In programming, or coding, software engineers instruct a computer, line by line, how to perform a desired function. Software engineers must possess strong programming skills, but are often more concerned with developing algorithms and analyzing and solving programming problems than with actually writing code. Typically software engineers, working in applications or systems development, analyze first the needs of the user. They then design, construct, test, and maintain computer applications software or systems to meet these needs. Computer Applications Software Engineers Computer applications software engineers analyze user needs and design, construct, and maintain general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. These engineers use different programming languages, depending on the purpose of the program. The programming languages most often used are C, C++, and Java, with Fortran and COBOL used less commonly. Some software engineers develop both packaged systems and systems software, or create customized applications. Computer Systems Software Engineers Computer systems software engineers coordinate the construction and maintenance of a company's computer systems and plan their future growth. Working with the company, they coordinate each department's computer needs - such as ordering, inventory, billing, and payroll recordkeeping - and make suggestions about the appropriate technical direction. The engineers also might set up the company's intranets, namely the networks that link computers within the organization and ease communication among the various departments. Systems software engineers work for companies that configure, implement, and install complete computer systems. These engineers may be members of the marketing or sales staff, serving as the primary technical resource for sales workers and customers. They may also be involved with technical support to the company's customers. Since the selling of complex computer systems often requires substantial customization for the purchaser's organization, software engineers help to explain the requirements necessary for installing and operating the new system in the purchaser's computing environment. One of the major responsibilities of systems software engineers is ensuring a proper level of security across the systems they are configuring. Additional information on software engineering can be found at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center Webpage of software engineering. Ask an Expert Q: Hi, my name is Lukinho, i am doin a project for my pre engerniering class on areospace. In the future i would like to become a pilot of a commerical airplane. SO can you hellp to tell me as much as you can about the feiold of piloting and what is need in school to become a piilot. Ask an Expert Q: I am still preparing for engineering examinations for the next year.I want to know how can I get admissions in pune colleges as I am from Delhi and also that how can I get admission in IIIT .I want to know the procedures and exams for these? Ask an Expert Q: I am Indian, with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering(10+3) now working with an Europian MNC in the Oil&Gas sector. Now I want to pursue Engineering in USA. Would my Indian Diploma make me eligible to get any exemption for admission into an undergraduate engineering college in USA? Is there another way other than the conventional way to enter an undergraduate school thru SAT etc, where I can use my Engineering Diploma and professional experience to enter a USA engineering school/university? Ask an Expert Q: I have several questions about electrical engineering as a career. What would be your description of your job as an electrical engineer? What should I be doing now to get ready for this job? What classes should I take now? What school would you recommend that I attend to get a degree or prepare for this career? Are there any down sides to this job? Is the salary normally in line with the number of hours that this job requires? Did you have any internship or previous work experience you had before this job? What college classes should I take? What physical and mental labor is involved with this job? Is there any other advice you can give me for a successful career? Ask an Expert Q: I am a student attending high school and I have to do a report that involves interviewing an automotive engineer. I have several questions to ask you and I hope you will be willing to answer them. 1) About how many years of college would it take to become an automotive engineer? 4-5 years 2) About how much money does an automotive engineer make per year? $50,000 - $100,000 3) What would be the best college to attend if you wanted to become an automotive engineer? A technical school with an internship/co-op program. Best recommendation is to look for schools that have an ABET Accredited program with engineering association affiliations. 4) Does your job deal with data, people, things, or all three? All three 5) What is the average number of hours an automotive engineers works per week? 50hours 6) Do you have to travel a lot when becoming an engineer? Yes, sometimes up to 50% travel. It depends on the project. 7) What is a daily routine of an automotive engineer? Solving problems at suppliers, on the line, or in the market 8) What are some advantages and disadvantages of being an automotive engineer? Cutting edge technology (advantage), disadvantage not very flexible on your schedule 9) Does being an automotive engineer interfere with your family life? It can, the amount of time spent at the office or traveling can present challenges to family life. Many jobs today require more than 40 hours per week and travel. This can make it difficult to attend regularly planned family activities. 10) On average, how much time do you spend a day on a computer? 2-4 hours 11) Do you have to work overtime on some days? Almost every day 12) What are some of the benefits of being an automotive engineer? It is always changing. It changes from time to time what I am working on and is never dull. 13) How much vacation time does an automotive engineer get? 3 weeks Jason Rounds, Exterior Performance Engineer Ask an Expert Q: now iam doing my 3rd year B.Sc electronics and communication in chennai . what are the possiblity are their for PG coureses after doing this degree ? Ask an Expert Q: I am an executive recruiter who specializes in placing outside sales representatives. One of my clients has asked me to help them in locating candidates who are recent mechanical or electrical engineering graduates for several field service engineering positions they have across the country. My question stems from a possible candidate that I spoke with who has a degree in physics engineering. He explained that in obtaining his degree that he took some of the same classes that a mechanical engineering student would take, i.e. Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, and would be a fit for these positions. While researching the two degrees I came across this website and am hoping that someone would be able to give me some insight on the differences between the three degrees and provide me with information to help me decide if his education is in line for what my client's needs are. According to Wikipedia, Physics Engineering is an undergraduate and graduate degree program which refers to Engineering Physics or Applied Physics. The term Physics Engineering seems to be used primarily in Turkey; Hacettepe University, for example, has a Physics Engineering department. Our search has found Engineering Science to also be a related field. A search on the TryEngineering University Finder returns 30 institutions in the USA that have either an Engineering Physics department or an Engineering Science department. For example, Cornell University has an Engineering Physics department , Southeast Missouri State University has a Department of Physics and Engineering Physics , and Colorado State University has an Engineering Physics concentration in its Engineering Science department. The distinguishing feature of Engineering Physics is its focus on the fundamentals of physics and mathematics. However, the students will select technical electives from Electrial Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics in order to concentrate on a particular field of study. While some students may focus their studies on a particular technology, others may opt for a broad formal background. Reviewing several Engineering Physics curricula, it seems that if a student chose technical electives from Mechanical Engineering, then his/her educational background would be very similar to a student with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In order to see if your candidate has a suitable background for your clients needs, you should view his transcripts to see what technical electives he has taken. Ask an Expert Q: In my opinion, many people are choosing careers in IT, Computer Science & ETC engineering because of a boom in the IT industry. I believe they have higher salaries in IT sectors. What about an Electrical Engineering student? What is the career perspective for an Electrical Engineering student? Can an Electrical student enter into a chip manufacturing company like INTEL? What is the demand for electrical engineers? Ask an Expert Q: Questions about Electrical Engineering: i.What is the future of Electrical Engineering in terms of getting a job or other factors? 2.Is it possible to become a scientist with Electrical Engineering major? What are the steps and/or criteria’s? 3.What do I need to focus on before I transfer to a higher education? And, what difficulties do you think I may be faced when I transfer? 4.What are the degree levels of Electrical Engineering, and how many years do they take? 5.What are the bad and good things of becoming an Electrical Engineer? 6.How is working as an Electrical Engineering look like (difficult, busy, boring, more of practical, more of research, more of interaction with people, more of management or supervising)? 7.What special skills or behaviors an Electrical Engineer needs to practice? 8.What are the specialties of Electrical Engineering? What are the factors to become a Research or Design Electrical Engineer? 9.Are most of the courses in a University applicable in a job area? 10.Do an Electrical Engineer works (substitutes) other Engineers task or only electrical related tasks? Ask an Expert Q: I am a senior attending a small rural high school in the United States. I am very interested in majoring in Biological Systems Engineering in college. I would like to get some information on: 1. the criteria you used in choosing an engineering college; 2. the high school requirements that you had to fulfill in order to qualify; 3. what is the most interesting impact that you feel that engineering brings to the world around us? Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) is also known as Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE). It is an important and expanding discipline that combines elements of biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering, and water and environmental resources. BSE applies engineering principles to "efficiently produce, distribute and process biological products, such as food, feed and fiber, while conserving natural resources, preserving environmental quality, and ensuring the health and safety of people" (UCD). Graduates work with living systems and the environment, in areas such as food production, environmental engineering, and ecological system management. Biological Systems Engineering and other engineering disciplines have had a profound impact on the manner by which the world produces food, fiber, timber, and energy products. Consider, for example, that "in the early twentieth century, even in industrialized countries, production of the world's food supply required the labor of at least half the population. Today, thanks in large part to advancements made by biological and agricultural engineers, developed countries can accomplish this using only a slim 2% of their populations" (ASABE). As the world's population grows, more food, energy, and goods are required. However, natural resources are limited, and we need both higher productivity in exploiting them and assurance that we do not degrade our environment as we are improving our yields. These requirements motivate a search for new ways to use and re-use natural and agricultural products, byproducts, and wastes. Engineers must respond with viable, economical and environmentally sustainable solutions. BSE is a broad field of study with a large number of specializations. Your specific interests will help narrow the search. Some of the specialized tracks offered at the universities we looked at are: Aquacultural engineering Ecological systems engineering Energy systems engineering Environmental engineering Food engineering Forest and Fiber Engineering Machine Systems Engineering Sensor and Control Engineering Soil and Water Engineering We recommend that when choosing a program of study, you first check that the program is accredited by a credible accreditation body. All the programs that are reviewed in our University Finder section are accredited. In the United States, most BSE programs are accredited by ABET. The criteria for choosing a program are involved – they include... (1) the content of the program (what do they teach and how much variety and choice they offer); (2) the facilities (good laboratories are critical in BSE studies); (3) the reputation of the program and the university; (4) the placement of graduates (where do they go and what do they do); (5) the univerity's location; and (6) costs. Our recommendation is that you study carefully the websites of schools and programs you consider, and then try to visit the 3-4 top schools on your list. Make sure that your visit includes a meeting with the BSE program undergraduate student advisor, as well as a meeting with some students who go through the program (these meetings have to be arranged in advance with the program you are visiting, and the process will tell you a lot about how these programs approach and treat their students.) Here are several institutions that offer degrees in BSE in the United States: University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Virginia Tech, Washington State University, University of California Davis, and Texas A&M. The Tryengineering University Finder shows 40 institutions with accredited programs in Agricultural Engineering. Like any engineering program, Biological Systems Engineering and Agricultural Engineering programs require that new students have some background in mathematics and science. The typical mathematics requirement is four (4) years of high school math, including two (2) years of algebra, one (1) year of geometry, and one (1) year of trigonometry and pre-calculus. Most universities also require three (3) years of natural science, including one (1) year of physics and one (1) year of chemistry. There may also be minimum requirements on standardized tests (such as the SAT or ACT in the United States. Our University Finder lists average SAT scores and/or ACT scores for any university that requires these tests. There are also links to the admissions department for each of the universities.) For more information on careers in BSE and BAE, visit the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of 3rd year chemical engineering i want know (i)for what project i'll go for as it become a headache for me to choose a topic ? (ii)future prospects in jobs or in my carrier after my B.tech ? (iii) what kind of knowledge should a chemical engineeer have while giving campus interviews? Ask an Expert Q: Nano Technology--there are nano products for fuel saving and electrical energy saving. Are these products effective? Ask an Expert Q: I graduated in Aircraft Systems Technology from a defense university in Ethiopia with an advanced diploma, and I would like to get my Master degree in a related field. How should I proceed? From the information we were able to gather, you will need to look to universities outside Ethiopia for programs leading to a Master of Science degree in Aircraft Technology or related field. We assume you will be looking for programs in Aerospace Engineering or Aerospace Engineering Technology. You can identify some potential universities through our university search. However, we think that your first step should be to obtain an evaluation of your Ethiopian diploma by a reputable agency. This evaluation will determine the equivalence of your degree to a degree common in countries that offer programs of the kind you are seeking, for example, the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, and Japan. Once your degree was evaluated and declared equivalent to a recognized degree in the country where you wish to study, it will be much easier for you to apply. The equivalency determination done by the organization that analyzed your transcript is not binding on any academic institution. However, in most cases it will be accepted, and it establishes a good basis for preparing an application. The City College of San Francisco provides a list of organizations in the United States that provide foreign transcript evaluations for a fee. Other US lists can be found here, here, and here. Another resource for US transcript evaluation is the list of members of NACES, the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. For service related to UK institutions you may want to check the recognition and evaluation services of UK NARIC. For information on other European countries consult the website of ENIC-NARIC. Please note that we at TryEngineering.org did not evaluate the various agencies mentioned or referred to in the previous paragraph, and they are listed here for reference only with no recommendations or guarantees. Ask an Expert Q: I am mahesh[BE in Telecom-2005 Pass out] from Bangalore,INDIA.I am planning for MS program in USA,but later i found myself interested in Aviation field [esp in Air traffic contoll].My question is "As i am Telecommunication engineer,can i enter this field or there is any job opportunities in this field with my telecom field or anything that i will be able to perform in aviation field".Please guide me in this issue bcoz if i don't have any job opportunities in this field than i will pursue my higher education i.e. MS program in USA.If there is any opportunities in aviation field[in USA or India or australia],then please provide the information (i.e.job or course details)ASAP Ask an Expert Q: Where should you place the motor in a car for the best speed and preformance. Where should weight be placed in a car to help it go up a hill? Do you follow the major automobile manufacturers?? Porsche has continually won various track and world records in different classes with their “REAR ENGINE” 911 series and other model race cars. Ferrari and Lamborgini have won most of their records with “MID – ENGINE” cars, and yet many race course & track records are held by “FRONT ENGINE” cars like the newest Chevy Corvette. Many manufacturers invest millions of dollars to build a very detailed “Specialty Versions” of their best models to “tweak” them for one specific track or road race course. Part of the “Tweaking” cars go through include “UP” & “DOWN” hills as well as curves, power straight-aways etc. ……………. Oh yeh !! … Don’t forget -B-R-A-K-I-N-G-!!!!!!!!!! Ask an Expert Q: I´m a telecommunications engineer and I have taken some classes about embedded systems. I`m searching for locations where can I work in this area. Automotion, Avionics, and robotics are areas of my interest. So, here it goes my question: Which country of the world is more advanced in this area? Which are the best universities, research centres, where I can do a masters and project work? I know that "embedded system" is a very ambiguous term, but I would like to know which place is the most advanced technology or research effort in this area. In other words, if I find an university, I don´t know how to judge the quality of the masters program. Which ones would you recommend? It is possible to study embedded systems in general, but being useful for all of the areas mentioned above? Ask an Expert Q: I am really interested teaching electrical engineering. How do I go about this? I am currently in my 2nd year of EE. Do I need to take some education courses to become an instructor? Teaching can be very rewarding. I worked in industry for many years and am now teaching part time at the university level. In most, if not all cases, you will need a PhD in your major to teach engineering level courses. A Masters degree in your major is a minimum for teaching technology classes. I don't believe you will need teaching courses per se but if you can fit them in it would be helpful. A few years of industrial experience on your part would help bring a different perspective into your classroom. Another option is to work in industry as a consultant during your summer break while you are teaching. Your best resource for specific requirements and suggestions is your current school. Karl Huehne, Electrical Engineer Ask an Expert Q: I am a German citizen currently serving in the German Air Force. My enlistment ends in May of 2007 and I want to come to Colorado to study mechatronic engineering. My understanding is that the University of Denver is the only school in that area that offers a degree in my field. I'm hoping for some guidance and advice on how to best and most economically pursue my education in Colorado and also how to obtain an internship at Lockheed Martin while I am there. Could you possibly help me along those lines? Ask an Expert Q: I am working as a piping engineer after I received my BE in mechanical engineering in India. But I am not satisfied because the present job does not challenge me. Do I need any additional training? What is the future for piping engineers in India? Ask an Expert Q: I am a high school student, entering college in less than a year. I'm pretty sure I want to be an aerospace engineer. However, I do not want to have a desk job, I want to work "in the field". Is there such an opportunity for aerospace engineers, or is there a better engineering field for me to go into? There are many types of disciplines in aerospace engineering that are not “desk jobs.” There are opportunities for engineers in flight testing, testing labs, production engineering, accident investigation, and technical sales (to name a few). I would encourage you to visit an aircraft manufacturer and a testing laboratory to see these various types of jobs. Ask an Expert Q: I would like to make a brushless motor, and need to know: (1) How to make it generate the power (in Watts) that I want? (2) How to make it works with the voltage I want? (3) How to make it accelerate and decelerate? A. What is a brushless DC motor? (from [1]) A brushless DC motor (BLDC) is an AC synchronous electric motor that from a modeling perspective looks very similar to a DC motor. "In a conventional (brushed) DC-motor, the brushes make mechanical contact with a set of electrical contacts on the rotor (called the commutator), forming an electrical circuit between the DC electrical source and the armature coil-windings. As the armature rotates on axis, the stationary brushes come into contact with different sections of the rotating commutator. The commutator and brush-system form a set of electrical switches, each firing in sequence, such that electrical-power always flows through the armature-coil closest to the stationary stator (permanent magnet). In a BLDC motor, the electromagnets do not move; instead, the permanent magnets rotate and the armature remains static. This gets around the problem of how to transfer current to a moving armature. In order to do this, the brush-system/commutator assembly is replaced by an intelligent electronic controller. The controller performs the same power-distribution found in a brushed DC-motor, but using a solid-state circuit rather than a commutator/brush system." See also the Motor Technologies article [2]. B. How do I build a brushless DC motor? There are many sites of manufacturers and hobby groups that provide advice on building brushless DC motor (our favorite is a user group on Yahoo which you may want to check out). Unless you have access to machining equipment you may be better off buying a prepared kit for your first attempt. An example of a site that provides a step-by-step set of instructions based on a kit is provided by the German group Torcman. We like their Assembly Procedure because it provides the basic theory and relates the key parameters, namely Z - Number of NiCd or NIMH Cells (determines battery voltage) P - desired output power in Watts n - number of propeller-turns per minute H - length of the stator (metal only) in mm D - stator diameter in mm. Another site with useful and practical information is Fly Electric! Here are a few comments from David Theunissen, the author of this site: "At the end of 2000 Christian Lucas, Ludwig Retzbach and Emil Kuerfuss published a design of a home-made brushless motor in the German magazine elektroModell. Although commercial brushless 'outrunners' had been available for some years already in Europe (e.g., by Actro), these guys demonstrated how anyone with a lathe could make these motors themselves. This style of motor has now become known as 'LRK' after their names. Things have moved on since then and the 'CD-Rom' revolution has arrived. Suddenly it became possible to rob your old PC for parts to make incredibly powerful motors, often without even a lathe. This caught my imagination. Aided by the efforts of GoBrushless.com, new components became readily available and production started." GoBrushless.com, mentioned in the quote, is another source for kits. You may also find useful kits on Simplemotor.com. References [1] A brushless DC motor (BLDC) from Wikipedia (Note: Wikipedia entries may be changed by any user at any time. Caution is advised.) [2] "Brushless Motors" in Motor Technologies. Ask an Expert Q: Subject: Signaling at night with lamps. So far I was of the opinion that such lamps are of two kinds : those where the light is on all the time, like for example the Search Lights, and signals are made by moving a shutter in front of the light; and those in which the light itself is flashed on and off. Both sorts are worked by a key or tapper, with which Morse Code signals are made by turning the bulb on and off. Having participated to a tender for the supply of an authority with flashlights, I offered an American torch the button of which (ON and OFF) meets the requirement of visual Morse Code signaling. Another participant has offered a flashlight made in Far East the button of which has opposite function. For example, someone must press the button setting so the torch in continuous lighting condition and then by pushing the button the light shuts off. It is claimed that this flashlight is suitable for Morse Code signaling regardless if its button has opposite function in comparison with the traditional ones. I would be most obliged if you kindly advise your comments or if you could guide me where to search for a regulation, standard or an article where it is explained what should be the acceptable function of a flashlight’s function for Morse Code signaling. Sincerely yours Dimitri Diamantopoulos D. Diamantopoulos & Co. 2 Archimidous Street 177 78 Tavros Athens - Greece Tel : +30 210 4810552 Fax: +30 210 4811970 e-mail : dimitri@diamanco.gr Ask an Expert Q: What are the prospects of becoming a biomedical engineer in Canada? What career opportunities, working places, environment, salary range and job advancement should be expected? If I'm attending a university in Canada, which ones have the best undergrad program for this specific area of study? Thanks. Ask an Expert Q: I graduated from high school in 1999. I took classes in Aviation Maintenance, and loved them. I have done a lot of research in engineering, and have become very interested in pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Biomedical Engineering. I have never taken any advance classes (as far as in high school), but I did attend some college classes at ITT Tech. I did great in all the classes accept Physics. I have nine classes to go before I graduate with an Associate Degree in Computer Electronic Engineering Technology. However, after all the time spent attending ITT, I found out that not many companies will hire individuals from ITT no matter what their GPA (grade point average) is/was. I have a 3.52/4.0, but like I said problems in Physics. I have researched several colleges in my area for engineering, and I am having a hard time deciding. So I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me. 1.How hard are the classes at a traditional University for engineering? 2.How big of a part is physics after you get your degree, in most jobs in the engineering profession? 3.What would you suggest as far as reentering college after not being in school for several years? As far as what to expect, are there many students/teachers willing to help you understand any thing that you are having trouble understanding (such as physics). 4.Do you know of any companies that would be able to give me some more insight on minimum qualifications in order to obtain a job with their company in the engineering field? College classes are hard, no two ways about it. They are not impossible, though, and success depends on your commitment as a student. Based on the detail of your opening paragraph and questions, it seems like commitment to your education is not going to be a big problem. Remember, potential employers will be more attracted to you as an employee if you have demonstrated a willingness to tackle the harder classes in college. Most courses of study in Engineering are going to include a strong foundation in mathematics and science. A background in these subject areas is necessary to train your mind in problem solving, which is our primary mission as Engineers. As far as going back to school, the biggest challenge should be re-arranging your life to allow the time to accomplish your studies. While the instructors will be supportive and will admire your commitments, they must not lower their expectations for you. (And, you would not want them to do this) So, keep a positive mental attitude and open yourself to learning, and the rest will happen. Yes, you are going to have to work harder to strengthen your problem areas, but the responsibility is yours. Again, your instructors will be supportive, but you can attend study groups and tutoring. Take advantage of all opportunities presented. As to the job market, you will just need to keep searching until you find a good fit. There should be placement resources available to you through ITT. They should be able to point you to companies who have hired their graduates in the past. Ask an Expert Q: how increase air compresser pressure(performance) to transfer through in pipe from 8Kgf/cm3 to 200Kg/cm3 Ask an Expert Q: I am doing my MS in Mechatronics Engineering in South Korea. I am searching for job for the coming year. What kind of salary range should a new mechatronic engineer with a MBA from Bangalore (India) expect with 2 years of work experience as a mechanical engineer in the United States ? Ask an Expert Q: What internships or previous work should you do to get a job in Electrical Engineering? There are opportunities you can take advantage of while in school for engineering to gain valuable experience to prepare you for a job in your field. You can work with a professor at your school who does research in an area that interests you to gain experience; your professors may also have leads to local internships and co-ops. I am currently a senior in electrical engineering and I have worked in a research lab for the past two years on a funded project that deals with reliable wireless communication networks for naval vessels. I have gained not only technical experience by working under the supervision of several graduate students, but I have had to prepare reports, give presentations at regular meetings, and meet deadlines. My experience in the lab will be very useful when I prepare for work in industry. Internships and cooperative education (Co-op) programs are another tool that will help prepare you for a career in engineering. Often these work experiences lead to employment after college, give the student an opportunity to see what it is like to work with professional engineers solving problems, and provide money to support college expenses. Co-op programs vary widely from school to school. At some universities, co-op is a mandatory part of the engineering program (TryEngineering's university search engine will indicate whether a school has this type of comprehensive program available for undergraduates). At most universities, however, participation in co-op work is up to the student. Students often receive academic credit for the co-op assignment. The degree of assistance that universities provide to students seeking internships and co-ops will also vary. Universities with a mandatory co-op will often have a well-staffed engineering co-op office that identifies opportunities and matches students with those positions. If your school does not offer these programs, there are programs you can to apply for internships during the summer or during other times when you do not have classes; you should speak to an advisor at your university's career office or your academic advisor about internship opportunities in your area. Ask an Expert Q: I am in my first year of chemical engineering in D.J.Sanghvi College of Engineering. Can you tell me the scope for chemical engineers in U.S. and in India? How much salary can one expect after being a chemical engineer? Ask an Expert Q: I am a second year student in electrical engineering. I have been assigned to write on "the scope of electrical engineering in the 21st century". Would you please provide me with some guidance? We think you have been given a very difficult task. Just imagine a student who was given an assignment like yours (to predict the future of electrical engineering) 100 years ago, in December 1906. As talented as this student might have been, there was no way the resulting effort would have been of much predictive value. Could one predict in 1906 the RADAR, transistor, development of electronics, television, laser, digital computer, compact disc and DVD? Talking about "the 21st century," is, in our opinion, overly pretentious. If you could limit your essay to a shorter horizon (say, 15 years) there may be some rational predictions you can quote. An interesting list of research topics for the next two decades is covered in this high level meeting of OECD (especially sections 19-24). The future of broadcasting is discussed in this article. The future of the Internet is discussed here. An interesting article about the future of electronics reminds us of how much electronics have changed in the last decade. The future of nanotechnology is the subject of two articles by Richard Jones, here and here. Among other matters, Jones reviews the debates on "radical nanotechnology." Technical challenges in the area of transistor technology are described in this article by a group of engineers from Intel. They discuss fundamental limitations on miniaturization of transistor circuits. On challenges in software engineering, please see this presentation by Ian Sommerville. Here is a short summary of energy challenges. See also this document of the US Department of Energy. An issue of great concern is cyber crime and terrorism. So is biodefense. Information retrieval is emerging as a grand challenge. For a collection of articles on the engineering workforce in the US and other developed countries (with direct ramifications to electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science professionals) see the references of this advocacy article. The references include recent publications of the US National Academy of Engineering. We hope you have enough here for a good start! Ask an Expert Q: Which field in engineering requires a lot of physics? What are the prospects of the future of a girl doing mechanical engineering? Every field in engineering involves physics. The main difference between physics and engineering is that engineers concentrate on applying physical principles towards practical ends. For example, in electrical engineering, the focus is mainly on electricity and magnetism when studying communication and wireless theory. The study of optics is important to applications including lasers or optical communication, and solid state physics is used heavily in the design and fabrication of electronic devices. Mechanical engineers primarily use physics to analyze and design mechanical systems. This physical focus includes thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, kinematics, and fluid mechanics. The applications are almost limitless and a good description of many of the sub-fields can be found here. Also, here is a link to a senior mechanical engineering student describing her experience in engineering. Other interesting engineering fields that use a lot of physical principles include bio-medical engineering, materials engineering, and chemical engineering. I am currently a senior studying electrical engineering and I first began my studies with an interest in physics. I was so excited and interested by my first electro-magnetism physics course that I knew I wanted to learn more about it. I decided to major in physics and I began working in a physics lab. I found out early on, though, that not only did I want to understand the principles behind the physics I was learning, I wanted to apply them in a broad range of applications. In talking with other physics graduate students, I realized that their work was extremely specialized and that a doctorate degree was almost a requirement to do interesting work in the field. I feel electrical engineering was a practical choice for me and I have found my undergraduate education to be very rewarding. As for your future prospect as a mechanical engineer, or any engineer, there hasn’t been a better time for women to get involved in engineering. Universities and industries are aware of the need to get more women involved in engineering and are developing ways to make this a reality. Also check out EngineerGirl.com and this Eweek article regarding women in engineering. I hope the fact that your question has been answered by a girl in engineering is also encouraging:). Ask an Expert Q: i wanna do masters degree in automotive technology...so i want to know where to search for universities outside india, offering masters degree in automotive related courses.. im right now doing B.tech in automobile Ask an Expert Q: I'm a current college student in my second year. I thought I wanted to major in Industrial Design but I wasn't happy with that major. Even though I was not a fan of math or science in high school, I believe they are important, and as a result, I have decided to jump into engineering. I have read many books, including, Algebra II, Physics, Calculus, and Trigonometry For Dummies Editions, and now I am about to transfer to an Engineering school. Do you think I have a chance of success if I apply myself and study like there is no tomorrow? In my experience, there are a few characteristics that all successful engineering students possess. These include curiosity and eagerness to learn, the ability to work hard and overcome obstacles, an aptitude for mathematics and science, and finding an overall enjoyment in creative problem solving. It is true that mathematics and science form a basis for engineering, and they are the languages engineers use to communicate, describe, and design. However, being an engineer is much more than just being good at math. If you possess the above mentioned characteristics, then you do have a good chance of being a successful engineer. For those interested in studying engineering who have not had exposure to college-level mathematics courses, it is recommended to try studying on your own, as you have, to get an idea of the math courses that will be included in your first year of engineering school. Many students find it helpful to enroll in a local community college to take these courses. Many community colleges offer algebra, trigonometry, and calculus courses and, depending on the level, some of these courses may even transfer over to the university you will be attending. Remember that understanding mathematics takes time, experience, and practice. Over the course of your engineering education, there will be many opportunities to improve your mathematical skills and understanding. You seem to possess all of the essential traits of a successful engineering student, and I hope that you will remain persistent and eager to learn more. Ask an Expert Q: I am a college senior majoring in electrical engineering. I have started to look for jobs and I am wondering what kind of knowledge I will be expected to have in the workplace. Though I am a decent student (B average) sometimes I feel like I don't know much or I have forgotten a lot of what I learned. Will I be expected to know most of the things I learned / was supposed to learn in the classroom? While your course of studies has positioned you as an attractive employee to a recruiting company, it has not necessarily provided the specific skills you will need. Companies involved in college recruiting know this and normally prefer it. They will expect you to have the foundations of Engineering and be able to attack and solve the tasks they assign. They will not, however, expect you to be able to solve these problems independently. You will normally be placed into a team of Engineers working on a project. This team will assign tasks based on your capabilities and with the expectation that you will learn most of the information you need on the job. This gives a company the opportunity to train you in their accepted practices and grow you into a contributing employee at a faster pace. Ask an Expert Q: How many hours does a Civil Engineer spend working a day, and is he always outside or in the office(Because Im from California and I enjoy the weather outside)? Also do they get their hands dirty, with the rest of the construction workers? Ask an Expert Q: How many hours per week would you have to devote to science and math courses in college? Are the classes very difficult? Is it true that only the smartest of the smart succeed in math and science, or is something that anybody can do with effort and dedication? As an undergraduate electrical engineering student in my fourth year of studies out of a five year program, I study on average 2-4 hours per day in order to get the most out of my classes (with a typical 5-6 class per term schedule). It has been my experience that the classes I took early on in my engineering education (fundamental math and science courses) seemed more difficult. This was due to many factors: being exposed to a large amount of new material all at once, learning how to develop methods of effective time management, and learning when and how to make sacrifices in order to accomplish my goals. As I progress in my engineering curriculum, the material covered in my classes gets more specialized and detailed and at times more difficult. However, I have learned useful techniques for studying and retaining information that include preparing ahead of time for each class, doing all assigned homework problems (and often unassigned problems for more practice), being consistent with my study habits (studying a little every day), asking questions in class, and not giving up no matter what. It is true that engineering can be a difficult major; I find that the challenges I have faced and overcome make the field even more rewarding and interesting. I wouldn't consider myself "the smartest of the smart". I would attribute my doing well in engineering to a sincere curiosity in the subjects covered, desire to learn as much as possible, and a lot of "effort and dedication". Helpful resources for students who are interested in pursuing an engineering degree can be found at TryEngineering.org: Become an Engineer: Preparation Tips and also at the ASEE Engineering K12 Center. Ask an Expert Q: Hi, I am Bachelor Of Engineering graduate working in telecom industry as a test engineer and want to pursue Masters in telecommunication feild can you please tell me what are the different options for me , I am in India.... Ask an Expert Q: Hello; I am doing a term paper for school and the topic is interview an Industrial Engineer and ask them how costs in their area of activity are managed, cost control is maintained and cost reduction achieved; what kind of cost analysis is being done and how this information is applied. I don't know any Industrial Engineers at all so I hope someone can help me with those questions. Thank you. Please respond as soon as possible. Ask an Expert Q: I am in my final year of undergraduate studies in Telecommunication Engineering and looking for a good idea of a final-year project, preferably in Communication. Ask an Expert Q: I complete B.Tech in Electrical Engineering.I want to do Master/Research in Digital signal Processing.My main aim is to do research in Signal of brain and other bio -electric signal.So what course shoud i choose in master degree so that i get a chance to do research in the same field.And so for this what subjects from B.Tech. are needed and what are the possible subjects in master for the same course which iam interested. Now iam in a process to go japan, so tell me the suitable university for that course there. Also please clear me that what type of jobs after master and doctor degree from same course. Ask an Expert Q: I have done my bachelors in engineering in electronics and communication.Now I would like to work as an avionics engineer in any airlines.But I have been told that I require a license course certifying me as an avionics engineer by any recognised body.This course can be done right after 12th grade,so since I have already done my bachelors in engineering,is there anyway that this course can be subsidised for me because most of the modules seem to be a repetition for me.Kindly do the needful.Thanx!! Ask an Expert Q: i am from pakistan.i did my diploma of associate engineering(DAE)its duration is three years now plz tell how can i apply to the austalian engineering? and which university is best for me? and can i get addmission there as a undergraduate student? tell me the whole prosses to apply. i will be very thankfull to u Ask an Expert Q: give me information about electronic engineering? Ask an Expert Q: What are the current trends in power system stability? I am interest in doing my project in that field. Power System Stability is a subject of intense study within the field of Electrical Engineering. As Kundur et al. [1] observed, "power system stability has been recognized as an important problem for secure system operation since the 1920s. Many major blackouts caused by power system instability have illustrated the importance of this phenomenon. Historically, transient instability has been the dominant stability problem on most systems, and has been the focus of much of the industry's attention concerning system stability. As power systems have evolved through continuing growth in interconnections, use of new technologies and controls, and the increased operation in highly stressed conditions, different forms of system instability have emerged. For example, voltage stability, frequency stability and interarea oscillations have become greater concerns than in the past." The different interpretations and defnitions of stability and the large variety of configurations and objectives of power systems have created a very rich field of stability studies. In order to answer your question, we have visited the electronic library of IEEE and searched for articles in IEEE Journals that used "Power Systems Stability." Among the topics that were covered by these papers are the following: (1) Design of controllers for stability enhancement. (2) Design of multivariable adaptive control for power systems. (3) Use of reinforcement learning in power system control. (4) Analysis of dynamic system behavior for nonlinear systemss with applications to power systems, discussions of saddle node bifurcations, Hopf bifurcations, and limit cycles. (5) Islanding of interconnected networks. (6) Robust stability for power systems. (7) The application of "intelligent" techniques such as fuzzy logic and neural networks to the study of power system stability. (8) Applications of distributed artificial intelligence and the use of "agents" for stability enhancement. (9) Studies of major grid blackouts in North America and Europe. The references section includes good overviews of the subject. REFERENCES [1] P. Kundur et al.: "Definition and Classification of Power System Stability," IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Vol. 19, No. 2, May 2004. [2] IEEE Task Force of Power System Stabilizers: "Overview of power system stability concepts," Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting, Volume 3, pp. 13-17, July 2003. [3] M.J. Basler and R.C. Schaefer: "Understanding power system stability," Proceedings of the 58th Annual Conference for Protective Relay Engineers, pp. 46-67, April 2005. Ask an Expert Q: i am a b.tech third year studend in electro and comm branch.sir please tell me about the future carrier option in this field.what type of work has to be performed by us. would it be of our interest. what we have to do in future to avail best job. Ask an Expert Q: I am an underguate in a nigerian university interested in building a system for condition monitoring of engine oil quality.I really do not have a head on at the moment ,pls can u put me back on track. Ask an Expert Q: I am a student at CFCC in Ocala, FL and am writing a research paper on my major. I can currently about to graduate with an AA from this facility and will be moving on to the UCF to continue my degree. I hope to become an electrical engineer and for my paper I have to execute an interview. I am sending as many emails as possible as I am not sure if I will get a response from these. Unfortunately, I do not know an electrical engineer off hand to ask these questions to. If you are unable to answer these, could you possibly forward them to someone who can assist me? Thank you for your time and any interest you may have had. What experience or knowledge is required to be successful at doing your job? What types of projects, assignments or deadlines must you meet each day? What is a typical day on the job like? Does your job require overtime? What is your regular work schedule? What is the typical starting salary range? What preparation or course work did you find necessary or helpful when entering this career field? What are some of the biggest challenges you encounter? What are some of the biggest rewards of this career? Please if you would state your name, job title, career field and place of employment. Once again, thank you for any time you may have taken on this. Sincerely, Raelene Ask an Expert Q: I am currently working in the semiconductor industry as a Service Engineer. My formal education consists of military training and a few college credits, but nothing to write home about. I am seriously considering getting my BS degree in electromechanical or electronics engineering technology. Due to my job demands, I am looking at distance learning oppurtunities at ABET accredited schools. I'm down to 2 finalists: Rochester Institute of Technology and North Carolina A & T. Which school would be considered the better choice by engineers in industry? Also, how difficult would it be to transition from BSEET to a BSEE degree, if in the future I desire to move into a full engineering status? Ask an Expert Q: I want to develop an earthquake resistant building (model), for this I want to know the latest technology in civil engineering. Can you provide me with the required information. Ask an Expert Q: At the moment, I have an Associates of Applied Science in Electronics Technology. I would like to get a 4 year degree in Electrical Engineering, but I am also thinking about a 4 year degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. Is there a big difference between the two and is the pay much different? Will a company hire me if I did this online? There are a few key differences between a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and a degree in Electrical Engineering. A degree in Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) prepares a student for practical work as an engineering technician. Fundamental mathematics courses, basic circuit theory, automatic control systems, digital logic design, network analysis, linear electronics, microprocessors, and circuit board design courses are included in most EET programs. The description of one university's EET program is given here. A degree in Electrical Engineering is more general and academic in nature with an emphasis on mathematics, theory, and design. There are many sub-disciplines in electrical engineering including power, electronics and microelectronics, controls, telecommunications, signal processing, and computer engineering. Although electrical engineering students are taught practical applications, the focus is more on design, research, and development. With a degree in electrical engineering, a student is more equipped to perform a broad range of engineering duties that involve a deeper theoretical and scientific understanding as opposed to being trained to perform a number of specific tasks. In addition, a degree in EET will not provide you with an opportunity to become a licensed engineer. A description of engineering and engineering technology can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor site. On this site, under Education and Training, it notes that an engineering technology degree focuses on current issues in the "application of engineering principles and prepares students for practical design and production work, rather than for jobs that require more theoretical and scientific knowledge. Graduates of 4-year technology programs may get jobs similar to those obtained by graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Engineering technology graduates, however, are not qualified to register as professional engineers under the same terms as graduates with degrees in engineering. Some employers regard technology program graduates as having skills between those of a technician and an engineer." The median annual earnings in May 2006 of electrical/electronic engineering technicians were $50,660. For electrical engineers and electronics engineers, the median annual earnings were $75,930 and $81,050, respectively. More information can be found at the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (here for electrical technicians and here for electrical engineers). In response to pursuing an online degree, it is not recommended. There are many fields that lend themselves to online learning; from my experience, an undergraduate degree in engineering is not one of them. The very nature of engineering education is based on hands-on experience, projects involving teamwork, laboratory instruction, and the ability to apply mathematics to real world problems. To my knowledge, there are no ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited online programs that provide an undergraduate degree in engineering. I was able to find ABET accredited programs for electronic engineering technology for schools including several locations for DeVry University ( here is information on their accredited technology programs), and Excelsior College. My personal recommendation (I am an undergraduate senior studying Electrical Engineering) would be to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. Due to the fact that you have already completed an Associate degree in engineering technology, there are universities with engineering programs you may to transfer into. Although there is a lot that can be done with a four year technology degree, an electrical engineering degree is more prestigious, would give you a greater number of career options, allow your work to be more diverse, and would provide you with higher earning potential. Ask an Expert Q: I have been researching alternative energy for a few years now and there are lots of exciting (but sometimes dodgy) stuff out there. I have recently become interested in Tesla pumps/turbines. If my understanding of how they work is correct I think I have a working engine "design" (meaning its all in my head). My question however is more to do with electrical motors. If you use an electric motor to turn something (say a tesla turbine), and the electric motor turns at 1000rpm, but the thing it is turning starts to overtake it (say it builds upto 3000rpm). Is there a point in which the machine and electric motor null each other out? My whole idea is that you have a tesla pump which is started by the electric motor. The fluid that it is pumping is a closed system, its simply pumping the fluid back into itself. So from what I know if you can get the tesla pump to higher rpms then it should be generating the electricity rather than using it. Im not trying to create overunity or anything. Its basically an electric car/motorcycle with the tesla pump acting as a recharger for the batteries. When the tesla pump reaches higher rpms its feeding electricity back into the batteries, or you stop at some lights and your foot isnt on the accelerator but the tesla pump is still winding down and therefore turning the motor and recharging batteries. You are either using the electric motor or the tesla pump to power the vehicle (whicherever one has the higher torque/rpm curve)but the tesla pump is recharging, and theoretically prolonging the time you can drive around without having to plug-in. Is this a sound idea, or just mixed facts in my head. I'd really love to know an experts opinion. Thanks Ask an Expert Q: I have done Computer Engineering from Pakistan. Now I got admission in Masters of Electrical Engineering in University of New South Wales, Australia. But I am little confused about selecting specialization (Right now I have following order for selection: Microelectronics, Photonic, Telecommunication, Signal Processing, Control System, Power Electronics). Can you please tell me that: 1) Which specialization would be in highest demand in Australia, Pakistan and internationally in coming years? 2) What are the job opportunities in Australia, Pakistan and internationally specially for Microelectronics and Photonics? Ask an Expert Q: samples of project time table. planing, excuting as contractor, for reidential building 9block of flats or villa etc. Ask an Expert Q: If I want to convert 25 millivolts to volts I just move the point three places to the left, so it will look like this: 0.025 Volts. How do I convert 45 kilovolts to volts? From the Columbia University Press Encyclopedia: volt [for Alessandro Volta], abbr. V, unit of electric potential and electromotive force. It is defined as the difference of electric potential existing across the ends of a conductor carrying a constant current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated is 1 watt. The kilovolt (1,000 V), the millivolt (0.001 V), and the microvolt (0.000001 V) are units derived from the volt. 1 kilovolt (kV) is equal to 1,000 volts. Hence 45 kilovolts are 45,000 volts. Ask an Expert Q: I have a B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from an Indian institute. At present I am working In New Delhi, India as a VLSI front-end design engineer. I wish to pursue MS degree in the USA in the area of Automated Intelligent control Systems, Telerobotics, and Avionics. Could you please suggest some universities in the USA which have a strong research in these areas? There is a large number of US universities with excellent graduate-level programs in the areas you asked about. We will mention here only a small sample - please understand that a comprehensive list will require that we describe more than 100 programs. The General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory is an inter-disciplinary research center at the University of Pennsylvania. The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is a large center for studies in robotics and intelligent control. Stanford University operates SAIL, Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, as well as labs on Biomimetic robotics and Aerospace robotics. The Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as Mechanical Engineering programs at the University of Maryland include extensive intelligent control components. Princeton University has a program in robotics and intelligent systems. Several interesting projects were reported from the Ohio State University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Drexel University. Ask an Expert Q: hi i am a student of electronics and communication engineering. i need some new ideas for projects in embedded systems Ask an Expert Q: I would be grateful if you could help me find activities that I could use to teach children about engineering. A useful resource for lesson plans and activities designed for students from age 8 to 18 can be found at TryEngineering’s Lesson Plans page. The site provides material that helps to teach students various engineering principles. Some examples of the activities described there are Cracking the Codes “The Cracking the Code activity explores the concept of how computerized barcoding has simplified distributing and pricing of products. Students learn about encoding and decoding, the barcoding system, and how a mathematical formula is embedded in barcoding to safeguard against errors. Students use websites to identify product barcodes, test codes from everyday product, and work as an "engineering team" to come up with the next generation of information embedding systems.” and Give Me a Brake “The Give Me a Brake activity explores the concept of how brakes can stop or slow mechanical motion. Students examine the operation of a bicycle brake and use low cost materials to devise a simple braking system, then work as a team to suggest improvements to current bicycle brake designs.” Included on this TryEngineering Lesson Plans page are full PDF versions of lesson plans and rich-text-file versions of student worksheets. Another valuable resource can be found at TeachEngineering. This website provides a digital library with teacher-tested, standards-based engineering content for K-12 teachers. The engineering lessons connect real-world experiences with curricular content already taught in K-12 classrooms. An engineering education portal has been established at Engineering Pathway. Engineering Pathway is a portal to high-quality teaching and learning resources in applied science and math, engineering, computer science/information technology and engineering technology, for use by K-12 and university educators and students. Ask an Expert Q: I am an undergraduate student studying toward a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in electrical engineering. (1) What kind of a pay should I expect from an internship at my second year? (2) What kind of a pay should I expect to get from a job after I have completed my studies? There are several surveys of internship pay - made available by universities with engineering programs. Carnegie Mellon University: 19.68/hr University of Texas at Austin: 22.43/hr University of Michigan: 18.63/hr Virginia Tech: 15.04/hr U.S. Department of Labor surveys show the average starting salary for an Electrical Engineer with a B.S. degree in 2005 to be $51,888. The middle 50 percent earned between $57,540 and $79,920. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $42,610, while the highest 10 percent earned over $108,070 [1]. Sources: [1] US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (visited 24 January 2007). Ask an Expert Q: I am a network engineer for a large firm, I am ready to scream! As a salaried employee, I am working nights weekends and I have 3 bosses on me constantly. What kind of business can I start on my own? Ask an Expert Q: i am studying 3rd b.tech i.t .how can i get previous year questions for environmental science subject? Ask an Expert Q: I wanted to know if it is hard to keep a job while going to an engineering school or doing something maybe more time consuming. (E.g. Computer and Electronics Engineering) How much "free time" (when your not studying or attending classes.) do you have? Also I'm in an online High School, does it make it harder to get in to a good college? And what (high school) classes would you recommend for preparing for a career as a Computer and Electronics engineer? And is typing a "must" if you want to succeed? I was working part time when I began my studies in electrical engineering. Many of my friends were also studying engineering and they all had different experiences with working while going to school and the types of extra curricular activities they could balance while going to school full time. For me, I soon realized that I was not able to do my best in the classes I was taking while working a part time job outside of school. However, I did find a job in a research laboratory at school and that was a very good fit for me. In the research environment, I learned many practical skills and topics that aided me in my studies and enriched my technical understanding. I do know students that worked part/full time while taking engineering classes full time. However, they all admit they could be doing better in their classes if they did not spend so much time working. As far as the amount of free time for an engineering student, experiences vary. Some students have to work harder and study longer hours in order to do well in school while others have more time to participate in school sports, spend time with friends, etc. A good resource for getting information on various students’ experiences while in school for engineering are the student profiles listed at The Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. The students answer questions including those related to school/life balance, steps they took to prepare for their college experience, and how they decided to go the university they chose. High school classes that can prepare you for a degree in Computer and Electronics Engineering include college level calculus, physics, chemistry and computer programming. You also mentioned concerns regarding typing. Typing skills are very helpful for writing the numerous lab reports required while studying engineering and for various papers and assignments. However, this is a skill you can pick up over time with practice and your level of ability will not interfere with your overall college experience. You expressed concerns regarding the online high school you are attending and your ability to be accepted into an engineering university. Each university has a different undergraduate admissions policy. However, they usually involve requiring four years of math (algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus) in addition to chemistry and physics. Universities often require specific standardized test scores, personal essays and recommendations from high school teachers. Some examples of engineering university engineering admissions policies are here, here, and here. Often, universities have transfer agreements for students who do not have the prerequisites to enroll immediately following high school. This involves starting your education at a two- or four- year school and taking the required coursework that will allow you to be admitted to another school. If you are denied admissions to the school of your choice due to not having the proper preparation, find out what schools they have transfer agreements with. Ask an Expert Q: A. Write a procedure to implement highlight as a blinking operation. B. Desighn an implement of the inputs functions for event mode. Ask an Expert Q: A. Determine the result of performing two successive block transfer into the same area of a frame buffer using the binary arith operations. B.Device an algorithm for weiler – atherton polygon clipping,where the clipping window can be any specified polygon. Ask an Expert Q: im currently studying aeronautical engineering at the university of witwatersrand(just completed second year).for the first two years -mechanical and aeronautical are common.we now hav to branch of.am i making the right decision to choose aeronautical??? (knowing that there is no scope for aeronautical engineers in South Africa) Ask an Expert Q: I would like to no more about the field of Computer and Electronics Engineering.Its hard to find info on this subject so any thing that you could give me would be a big help.The salary info, education preparation, work they do,How in demand are they and will be in the future, How much schooling is required,and any website that could give me more information. I'm looking in to this as a career and I wanna know any and every thing about this career. The up the downs, the good the bad, every thing. Ask an Expert Q: Dear sir, I am from chennai.I did my diploma in mechanical engineering in 2005 .I am so interested in BE in mech. engg.But can't study, because of family situation . Know i am working MNC company . I want to study partime BE- Mechanical engineering . i DOn,t know about the partime engineering colleges in chennai, Please give suggestion & college details for parttime engineering. thanking you Ask an Expert Q: I have read that the circumferential velocity of a spur gear must not exceed 25m/s, yet many race car gears far exceed this (4-5 inch diameter gears spinning at 10,000rpm), and cary well over 1000kW of power and 1000Nm of torque. Even a 3 inch OD gear carrying 1200Nm torque (which I have never seen) needs to reach 32m/s before creating 1005kw. What is the maximum speed a spur gear can spin at and how does it effect the power capacity of the gear? Ask an Expert Q: Sir, Iam a 3rd year B.TECH student and Iam interested in doing a project on digitalised speed control of electrical motors,is there any scope for this project?I will be grateful if u give me some ideas regarding the project. Ask an Expert Q: I am studying in 12th (HSC) from Mumbai. 1. I want to know the difference between computer science, software engineering and computer engineering. 2. Out of these three which is more advanced and whose scope is more in the future? 3. Which are the colleges which provide these courses in Mumbai and which of them have their own private entrance examinations for these courses. Ask an Expert Q: I am an electrical student. I am preparing for a seminar about "Tandem Converter". I found some documents on internet but it isn't enough. so where can i find it? thank you very much! Ask an Expert Q: I have a question about centrifugal fans. What kind will yield the biggest amount of thrust? (I'm holding constant motor power and impeller diameter - but please correct me if these are the wrong things to hold constant). I have read that backward curved/slanted impellers, especially if caged, are more efficient than ones with radial vanes (i.e. vanes that go the shortest distance from centre to circumference). On the other hand, the pictures I have seen of impellers in jet engines seem radial, and they must be very good at compression and acceleration - which could provide thrust. (Please note I am not asking about jet engine thrust, as that involves further stages - I am interested just in the thrust that can be generated from a centrifugal fan). Any information you can provide about principles that will help me to think this through clearly will be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance! Ask an Expert Q: what is use of octadecimal number system? we are using binary system in for so many purposes. what is the use of octa, hexa decimal system? Ask an Expert Q: I have been studying engineering for only one semester... I have looked at my other options and have come to the conclusion I don't know what I want to do. I don't particularly enjoy physics and math, but I like the idea of being able to create and build and fix things. But when I think about myself in the working in this field I'm not sure if I will really enjoy it, considering I don't absolutely enjoy it now.I guess my question is... how can I know if I will enjoy what I will be doing? Clearly, you will not be successful in a career you don’t like, so your instincts are good! It’s very difficult, nearly impossible, with only a few semesters of college to know what exactly you want to do for a career. Many Engineers find themselves in several careers in their lifetimes, not always Engineering careers. An Engineering education is designed to train your mind to think and solve problems. With this problem solving background, Engineers become suited for many career fields. Unfortunately, Engineering uses concepts of Mathematics and Science to form the underpinnings of their problem solving process. Just because Engineers are trained in this type of problem solving does not mean this is the only way to solve problems. Everybody is different, and different people approach problems in different ways. So, consider your current situation as a realization that your problem solving method needs to be based in concepts other than Mathematics and Science. The trick, then, is to find out what does interest you. That’s YOUR next problem solving assignment! Ask an Expert Q: I need information about the silicon controller rectifier(scr, triac)... please answer Ask an Expert Q: Iam doing my b.tech final year in electrical engneering.could you please tell me about any live projects in power electronics for my final year project? Ask an Expert Q: I am working in large smelter plant in gulf and have complted the Sec-A of AMIE(I) ,after completing Diploma in Engineering.I want to go for a Degree engg. Pl advise if I could some course of IEEE. Ask an Expert Q: looking for options to do automobile diploma in mumbai Ask an Expert Q: I completed a diploma in elecronic engineering(instrumentation and control systems)and want to study for b tech instrumentation &control systems by distance learning.Any institutions that offer this degree? Ask an Expert Q: What is a good strategy for building a strong weight-withstanding card house? Designing a strong house of cards illustrates many of the principles used in designing real structures, found in civil and mechanical engineering. Forces acting on a building need to be resisted by internal forces in the structure. To distribute the forces with playing cards, you can build a basic truss by setting a series of triangles across each layer of the house of cards. Triangles are extremely strong and distribute forces well. The joints of the trusses are important to ensure the stability of the structure; you can make stronger joints by bending or tearing the playing cards. Here are two links that demonstrate techniques and give instructions for building a house of cards. Worsley School House of Cards Demonstration: explains how the internal forces in the cards resist the external force of gravity. Wikipedia Demonstration: a simple tutorial for building a card house. The following link contains an image gallery of amazing structures made with cards. Bryan Berg: Guinness Book Record holder for the World's Tallest House of Playing Cards. Good luck and have fun! Ask an Expert Q: I am an engineering student in Biotechnology, presently studying in Karnataka, India. I am interested in research in the Biotechnological field. What are the possible best opportinities waiting for me throughout the world? Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between Robotics and Mechatronics? Also, how does Mechanical and Automation Engineering differ from Mechanical Engineering? A. Mechatronics The word mechatronics was invented by the Japanese engineer Ko Kikuchi in 1969. It is a combination of the terms 'mechanical' ("mecha" for mechanisms, i.e., machines that 'move') and 'electronics'. The word reflects the basic nature of this field, to integrate electrical and mechanical systems in a single device. Mechatronics is said to be the junction where concepts from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science are merged to design, build and operate products. The leading scholarly publication on mechatronics is IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. A1. Definitions of Mechatronics Here are several definitions of mechatronics: (1) The incorporation of electronics into mechanisms [1] (2) The integration of mechanical engineering with electronics and intelligent computer control [1] (3) The use of a synergistic integration of mechanics, electronics, and computer technology to produce enhanced products or systems [2] (4) The application of complex decision making to the operation of physical systems [1] (5) The addition of intelligence to a mechanical design or replacing mechanical designs with an intelligent electronic solution [3] (6) The synergistic combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and software engineering [4] [Note: some of these definitions use derivatives of Synergy, which is observed when "two or more discrete influences or agents acting together create an effect greater than that predicted by knowing only the separate effects of the individual agents. Often the prediction is the sum of the effects each influence is able to create independently."] A2. Mechatronics and Robotics A robot is a good example of a mechatronic system. Most robots integrate software, electronics, and mechanical designs in a synergistic manner (meaning that the separate parts act together in such a way that the combined effect is stronger than the sum of the separate effects of each one of the components). Other examples of mechatronics are the digital thermostat and the anti-lock brake system. Both were originally designed as mechanical systems and have been improved later by their integration with electronic controls and digital computing elements. Robotics is considered a subset of mechatronics, since almost all robots are mechatronic but not all mechatronic systems are robots. Many classes on mechatronics in university curricula include the design and construction of robots or robotic elements as examples (see for example here and here). Some mechatronics programs and mechatronics courses are essentially all about robotics. A3. Mechatronics in academia In spite of earlier projections that estimated large growth in the number of engineering departments labeled formally Mechatronics Engineering, the actual number of such programs continues to be small. Most of the academic activity in mechatronics occurs in departments of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. B. Mechanical and Automation Engineering Programs labeled Mechanical and Automation Engineering are more popular in Chinese speaking regions than elsewhere (see for example the departments at the Shanghai Jiaotong University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and I-Shou University). Like Mechatronics Engineering, the combination Mechanical and Automation Engineering is an example of an inter-disciplinary field that integrates mechanical systems with electronics, control, and computer technologies. In Mechanical and Automation Engineering, there is, in addition to mechanical system design and analysis, a focus on process control, networking, and computer interface and software. Some examples of courses in Mechanical and Automation Engineering are mechanics and materials, thermalfluids, dynamics and control, electronics, robotics, design and manufacturing. Sources: [1] Robert Bishop: The Mechatronics Handbook. [2] Newton C. Braga: Robotics, Mechatronics, and Artificial Intelligence: Experimental Circuit Blocks for Designers. [3] Microchip.com website: Designing for Mechatronics, 2006, accessed January 25, 2007. [4] Wikipedia.org: Mechatronics, accessed January 25, 2007. Caution: Wikipedia entries can be changed arbitrarily by any user at any time. Ask an Expert Q: I'm OK at math (I struggle a little bit.) But I looked into a field of engineering(Computer and Electronics Engeering)and I like the field alot but with math being my least favorite subject, I was wondering if this field is for me. Seeing as it has to do alot with math and all. But I looked at what this site recommended for pre-collage courses, there's a lot of math but I'm great at Language Arts, Science, Communication, and I speak a second lauguage(Spanish. I don't know how good I am in Chemistry or Physics. I haven't really been tested in those fields. But my Grandpa (a Scientist) says that I would do fine in these fields if I ever tried them. So you do think that I should work to find something else or just to work really hard at the mathematical portion and find where I'm at in Chemistry and Physics? I’m afraid you’re going to discover that most Engineering disciplines, and especially Electrical and Computer Engineering, include a strong foundation in mathematics. Engineers use math every day to bring advanced concepts into practice. Mathematics trains your mind in problem solving, which is our primary mission as Engineers. I’m also afraid that your will find that Chemistry and Physics are going to include a strong foundation in mathematics, for the same reasons. Your interests in Language Arts and Communications might indicate a different career area. Maybe you become a Lawyer focusing in patent law or a business person working to get a new product into the market. These types of careers would give you the opportunity to work in a technology field, but not strictly working with the Engineering details. I’d like you to also consider giving mathematics another try. There are several dozen Engineering projects here at TryEngineering.org. Maybe you can pick out a couple (Rotational Equilibrium is a fun mathematics lesson) and get your Grandpa to work them with you. See if the practical side of mathematics might spark a new interest for you. Ask an Expert Q: I am a B.Tech second year student in Electronics and communication Engg.I'm interested in doiung some sort of project or paper presentation or a course releated to my subject in my vacations.please advise me a topic which will be useful for career.also Guide me of which topics to concentrate. Ask an Expert Q: What book(s) would you recommend for my 8 year old grandson who has declared that he wants to be an engineer. I found a few books that are appropriate for elementary school age children expressing interest in engineering. I hope that these get your started. The Museum of Science, Boston, has as series entitled “Engineering is Elementary” (EIE), that include storybooks featuring child characters from around the world working to “solve problems using the engineering design process.” Several titles include “Javier Builds a Bridge”, “Suman Crosses the Karnali River”, and “Leif Catches the Wind”. Each storybook focuses on different engineering fields including electrical, mechanical, and environmental and contain original illustrations, a vocabulary list, and hands on activities. More information on the materials and how to order can be found at the EIE Store. Another good book is “I Want to Be an Engineer” by Stephanie Maze. The book explains various fields in engineering, including electrical, civil, and mechanical, using applications that are interesting to children and is best for ages 7-10 years. A fun book with safe experiments is “Electricity Experiments for Children” by Gabriel Reuben. This book includes fifty-five projects in electricity, magnetism, electronics, including making a compass, wiring a simple electromagnet, obtaining electricity from a lemon, reactivating a dry cell, making a flashlight, constructing a Geiger counter. This book is best for children ages 5-8 years. It is also helpful to expose young girls to the opportunities available in engineering. Judith Love Cohen, a former NASA engineer, writes a series for young girls and one of the books include “You Can Be a Woman Engineer” which describes the type of work engineers do what qualities to look for in yourself to see if engineering might be a good fit. Here are links for information on ordering this book, and on the author. The book is appropriate for girls within the ages of 9-12 years. Ask an Expert Q: could you please give us information regarding prepaid energy meter on which we are working for our final year project. Ask an Expert Q: What do u say for the announcement of NASA on the missing of the mark of landing on the moon? does this is possible? Ask an Expert Q: Hi, I am a final year student of B.S. in Electrical Engineering. I would like to know how to prepare for a job interview when I apply for engineering jobs. I would like to know what type of questions an engineer will be asked at a job interview, and what type of answers should be given to the employers.Basically,how do I prepare for a job interview as a fresh graduate of Electrical Engineering at a Bachelor's level. Thank you very much for your time and support. Ask an Expert Q: i am a final year student of electronics and communication. i want to do my project in bangalore can u suggest any institute for that Ask an Expert Q: I'd like to get a career producing special effects for movies and the like. Would an engineering degree cover this? If so, what degree specifically? And how's the pay? Not that the pay's everything, but it's good to know. The best way find out information regarding a specialized field from those currently working in the business. Tim Reedman, the chief engineer who was in charge of designing and manufacturing the Triceratops for the Jurassic Park movie, had very helpful tips in his interview found here. Reedman’s background is in mechanical engineering and he spent most of his career working for a company that designed and built spacecrafts. Advice on entering the entertainment industry is also given in this article by another designer on the set, Hall Train. He says “Any engineer with a traditional robotics background who wants to get involved in the entertainment industry also needs to be aware of current trends and interests…early-career engineers should realize that [building life size dinosaurs] is only a niche market.” It is helpful to note that, as mentioned in the article, being successful in this industry relies heavily on networking and knowing the right people in the business. Many of the main entertainment companies have their own in-house robotics engineering teams (Disney) but other studios, such as Universal, contract out their robotics needs. The article goes on to mention new and exciting work ahead and what to prepare for in the future of the industry. Engineers in the special effects industry primarily have a robotics and animatronics background. One way to approach the field is by majoring in mechanical or electrical engineering with a focus in robotics, electronics, animatronics, or mechatronics. Find a university with a mechanical or electrical department that does a lot of research and projects in animatronics and robotics. For example, Carnegie Mellon University has an excellent robotics program, as does Cornell University. Participating in an internship or cooperative education program (co-op) with a company that specializes in robotics design and manufacturing, or special effects, if possible, would be a great way to "get a foot in the door" for a possible job opportunity and to start networking with people in the industry. Salaries for engineers with a career in special effects vary due to the many options available to enter the field. An approximate baseline for expected salary can be found by looking at the average salaries for the engineering field you would be majoring in. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for mechanical and electrical engineers in the United States are $54,128 and $55,292, respectively. Ask an Expert Q: I am an fresh electronics engineer from nagpur university. I want to pursue further education i.e ms in vlsi . can you please suggest some good universities for the same. Ask an Expert Q: am currently enrolled in the engineering program at my high school and not sure what field of study for college I should take. I heard that fire prevention is a very good field and pays pretty good too. Ask an Expert Q: sir, i am currendly doing mechatronics engineering (B.E.) in india. i have a confusion for selecting post gratuate course (M.E). i want a detail about mechatronics related post gratuate course (M.E.) in india. Ask an Expert Q: how to search for a project? and details about me are iam a final year student of computer science engineering Ask an Expert Q: i am a student of MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY , MANIPAL , INDIA i am in my first year of electronics and communication engineering . i have a GPA of 9.15 , i want the list of colleges the offer masters degree in embedded systems , nanaotechnology , or VLSI in united states of america.can u also guide me as in which course i can persue for my masters degree in USA. Ask an Expert Q: HOW TO LEARN SUBJECT.I AM FROM UPBOARD.I PASSED INTER THIS YEAR.SO I AM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND .HOW TO PREPARE SUBJECTS FOR KNOWDGE,EXCELLANT MARKS.GIVE A SUSSESION Ask an Expert Q: this year i got 58%marks in inter and my brother failed in inter.so my father is very effective of this.my brother is learn then in exam he forgot. give a sussection Ask an Expert Q: SIR, I HAVE TAKEN THE BRANCH OF CIVIL FOR ENGG,BUT I WANT TO TAKE COMPUTER SC. WHENEVER I TALK OF CHANGING MY BRANCH EVERYONE SAYS DONT CHANGE ITS GOOD BRANCH .CAN U PLEASE TELL ME SCOPE OF CIVIL ENGG,I AM QUIET CONFUSED. Ask an Expert Q: I am final year student of Elctrical and computer Engineering. I want to have inforamation to how to succes in final year projects Ask an Expert Q: my add math not very well and i m a very slow student, can i take engineering, and i will success for it onot? Ask an Expert Q: I am a 15 year old high school sophmore and I am interested in the field of engineering, specifically architectural enginnering. I am looking for programs and/or some type of exposure in this field prior to college in the Hartford County of Maryland. You may want to broaden your search from solely architectural engineering to maybe a few other types of engineering that hold the same values in regard. You are still in high school, which means you have a lot of time to see what's out there and you're already ahead of the game. But don't allow yourself to cut off from the rest of the engineering fields. Structural engineering is another related field if the design aspect interest you. As far as gaining any knowledge or experience, at your age the best thing to do is see what connection you already have. Being that you don't know anything about the field you cannot be of much use to a company in terms of actual engineering. So if you parents, neighbors, friends' parents, or relatives know anyone in the engineering field, maybe they can help you out and for the summer you can work one day a week with an engineering firm. You can also send out your resume, or make one first maybe, to companies, but this will be difficult because you will most likely have to get your working papers through your school. Ask around see what you get back but I encourage you to go out and see if you can get a job once a week for the summer because it would be great exposure. As a last note, many schools now have AutoCAD programs or some type of basic engineering/design classes. When you are eligible for the classes I suggest taking them. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. Ask an Expert Q: Hi This is mitesh and i am Diploma in mechanical Engg and i am in design department so so many times i got so many questation about design point of view. What are the parameters are imporant to design a diapharm ? Is there any site which gives answer by mail for these type of questation? Thanks & Regards, Mitesh Thakkar Ask an Expert Q: I am an undergraduate in computer engineering, i want to develop a USART and implement it using FPGA's, i have a problem in getting resources about USART - synchronus mode, i was looking for block diagrams to start with but my search end in vain, so could you please help me locate good resources for reading? Ask an Expert Q: what does RD stand for and what do they do? Ask an Expert Q: I have studied the first year of B.E at Massey University in NZ. For the next year I have to decide which specialised fields for further studies and I cannot decide whether I should go with Computer and electronic engineering or Mechatronics. Would you be able to tell me what sort of jobs I could get with those majors? Also which engineers (computer system engineers or mechatronics engineers)are most needed these days? Ask an Expert Q: Can a person become a car engineer? Yes, a car engineer is known as an engineer that is employed in the Automotive Industry. Automotive engineers are involved in almost every aspect of designing cars and trucks, from the initial concepts right through to manufacturing them. Broadly speaking automotive engineers are separated into three main streams - product engineering, development engineering and manufacturing engineering. Product engineer (also called design engineer), that would design components/systems (i.e brake engineer and battery engineer). This engineer designs and test a part, seeing that it meets all its requirements (i.e. the shock), does it perform as required, material durability and so on. Development engineer, that engineers the attributes of the automobile. This engineer provides to the design engineer what spring rate he requires to provide the "ride" characteristics required for the automobile to perform at the automotive level. Manufacturing engineer, determines how to make it. Source Wikipedia Most Automotive Engineers have a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ask an Expert Q: sir,i am first year engineering student of mumbai university.i have just given my first semester exam. i am quite good in my studies,but i had some serios health problem before my mechanics paper,due to that i made many silly mistakes in the paper&there is probability i might get kt.i will get good marks in all the remaining papers.i am totaly fustrated & finding dificult to concentrate on study.i will do extremely well in the remaning exam. will the result of first sem affect my big aims even if i produde extra ordinary results in my further academic yers.what should i do now? Ask an Expert Q: I am currently working in a semiconductor company as a vlsi front end design engineer. I got a call from HCL India for the similar post. I wanted to know about the vlsi work in HCL? how are vlsi work and projects in HCL, from experience point of view? Because I have not heard of vlsi at HCL. Ask an Expert Q: i am student of final year computer and information system engineering I am in search of new projects in networking and Artificial Intelligency or the combination of both.plese sugges me few project with details Ask an Expert Q: I am a senior Electronic Engineering student at a US University. I am in my final semester and need a final thesis project for my BS. I am interested in working with private government contractors when I graduate. I am also interested in the automotive industry. I want to develop a thesis project that will jump start my career and make me attractive to government contractors. Do you have any ideas? My professors seem only interested in ideas that will bring attention/grants to our department, such as Tekbots, and I am sick of working with Tekbots! Help! What do you do with your free time? What do you really like to do? Every company is seeking people who have genuine interest in what they do, [just like your professors]. Private government contractors and the Auto Industry might be considered almost opposite ends of the scale. Personality & style may help you decide??? Small contractors may give both more responsibility & autonomy earlier. How about stability & security? Check out the long term growth [or shrinkage] of any auto company you consider. Look again to your “real” interests as you seek help with your thesis. Ideally this is a chance for you to link the real you and your drive and initiative to a meaningful need. Ask an Expert Q: What are some high school courses and requirements for an engineer? Ask an Expert Q: Are there any Indian university recognized by UGC offering a three year degree programme in one or two sitting? So I can eligible for military services in India? Ask an Expert Q: I am interested in doing project in electrically controlled applications. Where can I get information on the same? What are the latest electrically control applications Ask an Expert Q: I AM IS IN FIRST YEAR OF BE. MY SOME OF THE CONCEPTS ARE NOT CLEAR.HOW TO CLEAR THAT CONCEPTS.HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAM AS EXAM ARE NEARER.I HAVE NOT JOINED ANY TYPES OF TUTIONS. Ask an Expert Q: I am a junior in high school and I am thinking of majoring in computer engineering in college. What classes would you recommend I take next year? High school courses that will prepare you for a degree in computer engineering in college include algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus and calculus as well as college preparatory physics and chemistry. Also, it would be helpful to take any computer programming related courses offered at school. If not offered at your high school, an introduction to programming can be obtained with access to a computer a good starter book like “The C Programming Language” by Kernighan and Ritchie found here (http://plan9.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/cbook/). An excellent resource for determining appropriate preparation for a degree in engineering can be found here. (http://tryengineering.org/become.php) Ask an Expert Q: r/sir i am a studient b.tech electrical i needed a single phase motor re-winding formula and fan winding formulas and transformer winding formula plz send me above said formulas formulas solve with examples how can i make coil noumber of turn and and how can i find wire guage (swg) plz help me thanks Ask an Expert Q: r/sir i am a studient of b.tech electrical so i needed a ups circuit diagram 500w 12v dc to ac 220v with transformer calculation thanks Ask an Expert Q: I am currently enrolled in a Computer Engineering Program. However, I am toying with the idea of changing my major to electrical engineering. I know I want to design and develop... I’m just not sure what... yet. I have thought about guidance systems, launch systems... etc. I guess my question is: Would computer engineering or electrical engineering better prepare me for my field of interest? Guidance systems and launch systems are good examples of control systems control systems. If you are interested in designing and implementing these kinds of systems, then you will be better prepared in an Electrical Engineering program. You should specifically look for electives courses such as dynamic systems, systems and control, and the theory of control. Ask an Expert Q: i want to pursue an internship prog. in US in telecommunication line. i am studyin in delhi (india) pursuin my b.tech from a reputed college in electronics and communication. Can u tell me the procedure for appplication and where should i apply for the same. Ask an Expert Q: What is the difference between B.E computer science and B.Tech computer science information technology? Ask an Expert Q: My name is k.venkatesh.My native place is in tamilnadu.I have finished my diploma in automobile engineering .Now i am working as line engineer in bajaj two wheeler company.I want to do courses in automotive engine & designing engine in part time in pune or in chennai.Can you give me information about thouse college address & courses/ Ask an Expert Q: What are the various job opportunities for an elctrical engineer? Also,when one takes up a particular subject , say "Analysis of Electric Circuits" for instance; what is the best recommended approach for a student to be well versed in that subject or any other electrical related subject? Ask an Expert Q: Hi, Can anyone tell me how I can get an entry-level job in IC design? I have been away from EE field for 2 years now; I stayed home right after I finished my masters in Micro-electronics to take care of my then newborn... Now, I want to go back but for some reasons I think I am not marketable anymore... I need some help as to how/where to start. I have worked as an EE for many years, but not in IC design field. Thanks for your help. Ask an Expert Q: Sir, I am an Electronics and communication engineering (IInd Year, 4th Sem) student from an Affliated college of Anna University, Chennai, India. I would like to know what are the courses available for Masters degree in abroad for ECE student and also the job scope both in India and abroad for the same. In our college (almost in all the chennai Engg colleges), usually we are mostly offered with software jobs through campus interview which will not be related directly to my subject, also very few electornics job in south through campus & also the salary is comparitively lesser than software profession. So pls suggest me a course which could be relevant to ECE as well as the salary could be same as software professional and also the job scope anywhere in the world. Also I would like to know the growth of electronics and communication field in future India Ask an Expert Q: I am a student of chemical engineering in one of India's leading technology university.However I want to pursue a master's(MS) in electronics/electrical engineering. Is it possible for me to do that? Ask an Expert Q: respected sir, i'm from INDIA.i'm searching a new topic for paper presentation on the side of ELECTRONICS.would you help me please. Ask an Expert Q: I am an electrical engineering graduate seeking for an core company job. Can anybody give me details about the core companies and entrance test conducted by them? Ask an Expert Q: i have done diploma in automobile engineering in 2005. now iam working in bajaj two wheeler ,chakan pune,maharastra, as a cell member.my aim in future is to become an design engineer in automobile engine.what courses (or) study i want to do for becoming an engineer.can you list out the best courses in part time in pune. Ask an Expert Q: I have been involved in this program at my school called Project Lead the Way. I have never really thought of engineering as a career possibility but now I am considering it. I am not sure which type of field though. I like to solve problems a lot. I also like to work with computers. I am open-minded and just love challenges. What type of engineering field would be best for me? What engineering field do you personally like? I am also a female, if this aids in any way. It is encouraging to hear that programs like Project Lead the Way are successful in introducing engineering to students who otherwise would not have thought of it as a possibility. For those who are not familiar with this program, Project Lead the Way is a middle and high school program that stresses the numerous real-world applications to math and science courses by promoting long term project related assignments for individuals and groups. As a woman, I am also excited that you are being exposed to engineering in this way. Although there are an increasing amount of women getting involved with engineering each year, there is still a noticeable lack of women in the field. Sometimes engineers are portrayed in a way that seems uninteresting and one-dimensional when, as you have already noticed in your education, there are many complex and interesting problems that can be solved using both creative and technical elements. There is also a strong social aspect to engineering that ranges from designing cutting edge bio-medical devices that help to improve the health and lives of people to the ability to set up an emergency communication infrastructure in a time of emergency to providing clean water and energy efficient sources of power to underdeveloped regions. It is really an exciting time to be an engineer and there are many opportunities for you, as a woman, to succeed in the field. The engineering field I chose is electrical engineering. For me, the choice was not difficult due to the fact that, in my first year, I was immediately drawn to electro-magnetic wave theory, circuit design, and signal processing. My research now includes the areas of wireless communications, sensor networks, and environmental monitoring. I am working on a project that is seeking to model and simulate the diesel emissions emanating from a local shipping port and to verify this model with the data obtained from deploying a wireless sensor network at the facility. The work is very exciting and rewarding and I am looking forward to extending this work as a basis for my research in graduate school. There are many fields available for you to choose from including mechanical, chemical, materials, electrical, civil, environmental, and bio-medical engineering. For a summary of the kind of work involved in these fields, look here. Since you still have plenty of time to decide, there are several options you have to obtain more information regarding various engineering fields. First, it may be helpful to check out the departments of several universities you are applying to. In many schools, some engineering programs are larger and have more opportunities than others within a university. Often, department web sites will have profiles of engineering students discussing the work they do and their career plans. It is also helpful to talk to engineers in the field. If you have parents or friends that know anyone who is an engineer, meet with them and find out what field they are in and the nature of the work they do. I’m sure there is also access to engineers through your program at school. Talk to your teachers and program affiliates to see what options are available. Finally, I think the best advice is to choose a field that is as broad as possible and includes several of your main interests. Every field in engineering contains the interests you expressed above. The more you learn about each field, the better you will be able to determine a course that is best for you. Ask an Expert Q: I am in search of books appropriate for elementary school children who are expressing interest in engineering in general...nothing I've found thus far fits the bill...any ideas? I found a few books that are appropriate for elementary school age children expressing interest in engineering. I hope that these get your started. The Museum of Science, Boston, has as series entitled “Engineering is Elementary” (EIE), that include storybooks featuring child characters from around the world working to “solve problems using the engineering design process.” Several titles include “Javier Builds a Bridge”, “Suman Crosses the Karnali River”, and “Leif Catches the Wind”. Each storybook focuses on different engineering fields including electrical, mechanical, and environmental and contain original illustrations, a vocabulary list, and hands on activities. More information on the materials and how to order can be found at the EIE Store. Another good book is “I Want to Be an Engineer” by Stephanie Maze. The book explains various fields in engineering, including electrical, civil, and mechanical, using applications that are interesting to children and is best for ages 7-10 years. A fun book with safe experiments is “Electricity Experiments for Children” by Gabriel Reuben. This book includes fifty-five projects in electricity, magnetism, electronics, including making a compass, wiring a simple electromagnet, obtaining electricity from a lemon, reactivating a dry cell, making a flashlight, constructing a Geiger counter. This book is best for children ages 5-8 years. It is also helpful to expose young girls to the opportunities available in engineering. Judith Love Cohen, a former NASA engineer, writes a series for young girls and one of the books include “You Can Be a Woman Engineer” which describes the type of work engineers do what qualities to look for in yourself to see if engineering might be a good fit. Here are links for information on ordering this book, and on the author. The book is appropriate for girls within the ages of 9-12 years. Ask an Expert Q: Dear Sir/Madam I have studied(graduated)Mechanical Engineering and I have a MSc in Aeronautics. I have applied for the Rolls-Royce professional excellence graduate training scheme in England, one of the best graduate programs in the world. What I wanted to ask you is: can you please give me a clue of what kind of questions I should expect in the technical interview? Please provide me with some questions that are often asked if you can. I have worked for RR for 6 months as an undergraduate trainee and i would really love to get back there. Please provide me with any information you can. Thank you. Ask an Expert Q: iam doing electronics and communication engineering at a college in India. i dont know what are jobs available for me and what are the companies that offers a job for me for my qualification. what are the paths available for me after engineering to study further Ask an Expert Q: I am extremely interested in working for an avionics/aircraft systems company. I am currently in the middle of my UG course in Electronics and Instrumentation degree. Is it absolutly necesary that I do a PG course in a related field? Should I obtain a management degree? Or both? Ask an Expert Q: Sir, i am a student of 12 class by the month of april i will be finishing my 12 grade.my subjects are maths,physics and maths and i am interested in doing IIT.plz give me some information about IIT.i also wanted to ask for getting admission in IIT what are the requirements and what are its benefits? Ask an Expert Q: What does it take to become an Aeronautical Engineer? What do you like best about your job? Is there a lot of team/project work? How much travel, if any, is involved in this position? What skills are especially important for someone in this position? Does your company encourage further education? What universities would you recommend to a student who wants to become an aeronautical engineer? How long did it take to find a job? Is there a high demand for engineers in this field? What do you enjoy most about aeronautical engineering and engineering in general? Ask an Expert Q: hi, i my name is kelsey, and i and a high school student doing a research report on civil engineering. i have a few unanswered questions. What kind of exrtacricular activities lead to enigneering, shouild i join in high school to prepare to go to college to become an engineer? Also, how many offical years (after apprenticing) do you actually become a civil engineer? Thankyou for your time, and i appreciate you answers, Kelsey. Ask an Expert Q: Hello As a part of my Engineering class at the University of Arkansas. We are doing a interview with an Engineer, I hope you can be of help I have thirty question's following, please include your name and a picture if possible. all answers and picture will be used only in one power point presentation and one essay. Thank you. Marty Wilson Interview With an Engineer 1. Did you always want to be an Engineer? 2. What kind of work experience have you had as an Engineer? 3. What in life best prepared you for a career as an Engineer? 4. What skills do you use most as an Engineer? 5. Describe a typical day of work for you. 6. What is your favorite aspect of Engineering? 7. What is your least favorite aspect of Engineering? 8. What is involved in your particular field of engineering? 9. Did college fully prepare you for the challenges of an engineering career? 10. How is most of your time spent as an engineer? 11. How would you compare engineering to other technical field? 12. What advise would you give a current engineering student? 13. As an engineer, how would you say other professionals viewed you? 14. How has engineering as a whole effected your life? 15. What would you say the best engineering field is and why? 16. What helped you most in getting through your engineering degree program? 17. What characteristics make for good engineers? 18. How do you see engineers effect on the future? 19. What characteristics make for a bad engineer? 20. Tell me how any associations or unions you belong to have helped you in your career? 21. What do most engineers have in common? 22. Would you say a four-year degree was enough preparation for an engineer? 23. What drew you to become an engineer? 24. Is engineering a good financially rewarding career field? 25. What group of people cause you the most stress to work with? 26. What is the project you are most proud to have been involved with? 27. What kind of surprises can I expect after getting a job as a new engineer? 28. In you opinion what place do engineers fill in the world. 29. Are all engineers created equal? 30. What one word would you say describe engineers as a whole? Ask an Expert Q: i am looking out for a graduate program that comprizes of cad/cam,FEA an robotics as one.here in india it's called computer integrated design and manufacturing.sir could you please lat me know more details about the course and the list of colleges that would be ideal to this course.sir i also wana know if doing it in japan or usa would be better.also in it true that japanese degree not recognised worldwide like the american degree.please do let me know as soon as possible as i'm running out of time.thankyou Ask an Expert Q: I am pursuing baccalaureate degree in Information Technology Engineering from an Indian university.I am little more than Average Student.I want to pursue Masters degree in NanoTech. What is My Future in NanoTech if i go for it? Are there any IT applications of Nano ? Will My IT Knowledge be useful while going for Masters in NanoTech ? What are Best Options in US or Australia or India ? Which IT companies are Serious about NanoTech ? Ask an Expert Q: With few colleges offering BE in Aeronautics in India, my son is about to for a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, with the aim of pursuing a post graduation program in a specialized aeronautics field in India or abroad (preferably Canada). (1) Is it possible to pursue a PG program after doing a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering? (2) What kind of post graduation programs are available for such students? My son has shown interest in engines and/or airframe. Just to keep our options open, afe there other areas he can specialize in? Please help. Ask an Expert Q: I am a 27 year old electrician looking for a career change. Out of high school I went to a 2 year vocational tech school and I have my state masters’ license. I have worked in the electrical field for 7 years with 2 years commercial construction, and 5 years industrial maintenance. I am currently looking to go back to school for my BSEE either full or part time because so many jobs that I applied for you require a BSEE. I have found a program that will let me get my degree in the evenings that will allow me to continue to work during the day. I am also trying to figure out what part of Electrical Engineering I want to be involved with. I like technology, things that make you think. I have been around instrumentation, and done some PLC programming. Designing something that make a piece of equipment more efficient is always interesting to me. I have heard Power Transmissions is making a strong come back. The university I am considering has a program with a local community college where I can get my AS degree and then transfer to the university for the BS. The Electrical Engineering director at the university told me once I complete the 2 year program at the community college that I would have a good idea which area of electrical engineering I should pursue. Your thoughts would be helpful. Thanks Ask an Expert Q: problem statement: I have a renco RHS 21D-2000-8mm optical encoder which will connect to a rotating shaft of a motor. work to be done; write an assembler code on a pc platform to measure:- a) position of motor shaft b)speed of motor shaft. please help me. Ask an Expert Q: I have a renco rhs21d-2000-8mm optical encoder which will connect to a rotating shaft of a motor. work to be done. write an assembler code in a pc platform to measure position of motor shaft and speed of motor shaft. please help. Ask an Expert Q: i am an civil engineer living in india .i want to work at home as civil engineer for earning .is it possible ? how ? I want websites to do so Ask an Expert Q: i am a mechanical engineer from an indian university. During studies i developed interest in robotics. i am preparing for MBA further but want to side by side work on my interest. please suggest me something or some projects which i can do now which can put my learning into practice. i am just a fresher with not much hand in this earlier. Ask an Expert Q: i'm 16 year's old, and if you don't mind can you plaese send me some information on how can i become an engineer, and what would i need, what qualifications, and other information. I would be very pleased if u can answer my questions, thank you. Ask an Expert Q: I am currently still doing my foundation in chemical engineering but now my university have offered us to change to petroleum engineering if we wanted to. so I would like to ask which engineering is better is it chemical engineering or petroleum engineering?why? and what are about the job market for chemical enigeering?is it demanding? Ask an Expert Q: How long have you been an engineer? How hard do you usually work? How long are your work days? What college did you attend? How high are you on the food chain(manager, asst. manager)? How long has this branch of engineering been around? How much do you make a year? How much time do you get for sick days and vacations? Ask an Expert Q: I want to work for NASA as an Aerospace engineer what can I do to make sure I can get a job there? Describe the duties and responsibilities of someone working in Aerospace engineering. What are some specific jobs in this field? What is your specialty in Aerospace engineering? What are some of the projects you’ve worked on? Do you have assignments that seem to drag on forever, or are they usually pretty quick? How much of your time is spent on the computer? Does your job deal mainly with people, data or things? What are the advantages of this occupation? My specialty is in Aerospace Materials, so I can only answer from that perspective and then provide some insight into the Aerospace field that I see from working with Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers. In answer to the first part of your question, there is nothing anyone can do to ensure they get a job at NASA, however I highly recommend visiting the NASA website and viewing the educational programs sites and trying to get involved early on as an intern or coop at a NASA Center: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/index.html http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/programs/index.html To answer to the next part of your questions, at Kennedy Space Center we are primarily an operations center for launching rockets and the shuttle, so most of our work is in the field of vehicle assembly (payload integration), ground support and facility operations, and then the engineering of launching vehicles. We also process payloads (make the payloads ready to fly in the cargo area of a rocket or shuttle) and process each shuttle for flight. The shuttle processing involves examining each system on the vehicle and verifying the fit, form, and functionality from engines and thrusters, to life support systems, to electrical and avionics, and the thermal protection systems. These projects are interesting because we are always launching a different payload for a different space mission so once you launch, you can follow that project and see the success (Mars Rovers, Weather, GPS, or Military satellites, or deep space probes) and so each project is a new challenge. Other Centers also have specific tasks, especially now that we are partnering with Lockheed Martin to design, build and fly a new vehicle program to reach back to the Moon, and possibly on to Mars. The "Constellation" program is working the design of the Ares 1-x vehicle which will launch a crew into orbit to rendezvous with a moon or mars vehicle, or to the space station to deliver a new crew. The vehicle has two stages, a solid rocket booster first stage (variant of the current shuttle boosters), and then a second stage oxygen/hydrogen fueled vehicle that activates after the boosted separation. The vehicle is being designed at various NASA Centers, but the actual launch pad, mobile launch platform and tower are being designed at Kennedy Space Center where we (my group) has direct design input on what materials will be used to manufacture these launch structures. Vehicle design is being completed at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Johnson Space Center in Houston, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Langley Research Center in Virginia, and some systems testing will be performed at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. As far as what I do on a regular basis, I have lots of integration or design meetings that I attend to discuss variations when design changes occur so I work on many different teams with lots of other Mechanical, Electrical, and Aerospace Engineers. The advantages of my job are hopefully pretty obvious. We get to work on some of the most unique aerospace vehicles ever created and there are only a few around so that makes us pretty special. We also get to work with astronauts, and that again makes us pretty special to know that their safety and success depends on whether we as engineers are successful in doing our jobs. I spend most of my computer time communicating via e-mail, or researching on the internet in support of a project. A lot of the resources we used to use are now on CD's or on websites so we can have radid access to the data we need to perform our jobs. I hope this information was helpful to you regarding having a career with NASA. Best of luck to you, Mr. Parker Chief, Materials and Processes Branch Kennedy Space Center, Florida Ask an Expert Q: I am 30 years old and currently reside in Australia. At present I work in the IT industry and have been for over 10 years. Prior to this I undertook Electrical Engineering studies at a technical college but since then I have only been employed in IT. Would I be wasting my time enrolling in a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) at this stage of my career? Any studies I do take will be on a part time basis as I work full time. I do have strong interests in this area of engineering. Any advice you can give would be really appreciated. Ask an Expert Q: WHAT DOES I.T STAND FOR Ask an Expert Q: I NEED A WRITEN PROPOSAL FOR DISIGNING A DC TO AC CONVERTER USING 555 TIMER IC WETH TWO TRANSISTOR ( PNP AND NPN)FROM 15V TO 230V 50Hz Ask an Expert Q: I am a 11th grade student in India. I want to know if there are any good colleges in India for nanotechnology? 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