By Robert B. Johnson, P.E.,S.E., Eng-i - Professional Engineer and Writer

SEAOI - Public Relations www.seaoi.org
f.ASCE Past member of Committee on Public Involvement
American Engineering Association www.aea.org
American Engineering Alliance www.aeaworld.org
Tau Beta Pi Association www.tbp.org
International Technology Institute www.itiworld.org
Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings www.cchrb.org
(fellow) American Concrete Institute www.aci-int.org

Subject: " Engineers - Invisible but Essential "

A past report by the National Academy of Engineering referred to engineering as "The Invisible Profession". Recently a new term, the "Stealth Profession", has been coined to describe the engineering profession, as its practitioners tend to keep a low profile or are in fact invisible to the public.
A discussion in ENGINEERING TIMES, published by the National Society of Professional Engineers, suggested that Americans are technological illiterates. A recent survey commissioned by the National Science Foundation found Americans are stumped by quiz on basic science. (see Chicago SUN-TIMES, Friday, May 24, 1996) American children are learning little if anything from their teachers about applied science (read engineering) in our schools. A past poll conducted by the Gallup organization and solicited by the American Consulting Engineers Council, found that one-third of the American public associates engineering with drivers of trains. In 1998 the American Association of Engineering Societies in conjunction with the Institute of Electrical and Engineers and other engineering societies commissioned the Harris Company to survey the American public about knowledge of engineering . The Harris Poll revealed that 45 percent of Americans feel that they are "not very well informed about engineering and engineering" while another 16 percent stated that they are "not at all well informed about engineering and engineers. Our modern society could not function without engineers yet it seems the public is ill-informed as to what engineers do.

Case in point
The following engineers should be known to you are they just some of the many engineers who have contributed greatly to the advancement of technology and the betterment of mankind:

John and Washington Roebling, Joseph Strauss, Gustave Eiffel, William le Barron Jenney, Fazlur Rahman Khan, Sir Frank Whittle, Hans von Ohain, Jack Kilby, Robert Noyce, Philo T. Farnsworth, Marvin Camras, Robert Adler, Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough, Octave Chanute, Edwin Howard Armstrong, Jack Northrup, John Eckert, John Mauchly, Grace Murray Hopper, Wilson Greatbatch, Harold Rosen, John R. Pierce and John Backus, Nils Bohlin.

continued

Every child knows the names of famous inventors such as Thomas Alva Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright Brothers, but can anyone name the inventor(s) of the integrated circuit, the building block of today's electronic revolution or the engineers(s) who invented the jet engine? Computers, VCR's, remote controls, xerographic machines, skyscrapers and suspension bridges, communication satellites, cellular telephones are just some of the engineering wonders taken for granted. How many lives have been saved through technologies pioneered by engineers; clean and chlorinated water, pacemakers, automobile seat belts.

Lack of Recognition

Scientists toil daily in their laboratories seeking to discover new explanations for the phenomenon in natural science. Most of their work Recognition results in failure. It is only when a new discovery is realized that there is recognition by the media. The Nobel Prizes of Physics, Chemistry and Medicine are examples. On the other hand, engineers work diligently turning ideas into reality. Engineering is applied science. The products of engineers are expected to function the very first time. Rockets are expected to "blast-off". Bridges and buildings are expected to stand. It is only when we have a failure in engineering science that the media chooses to examine engineering concepts. Chernobyl, Bophal India, Challenger, Kansas City Hyatt Walkway are names inextricably associated with failure in technology (engineering). Engineering success is the norm and is taken for granted, while engineering failure is the exception and to be scrutinized. The horrific events of 9-11 and the collapse of the World Trade Center focused on the engineering of the buildings. Prior to that event I doubt many people understood the structural framework of skyscrapers. Now we have "Columbia" to add to list of engineering failures. Why is it that new discoveries or inventions are identified as being achieved by scientists, inventors, or researchers. Rarely are engineers singled out for their achievements, but only for their failures.

HONORING ENGINEERS
In 1951 the National Society of Professional Engineers instituted the "National Engineers Week" program to recognize the essential role of engineers:

Our structures, both buildings and bridges, were designed by structural engineers. The massive highway system was designed by civil engineers. Our water and sewer distribution system were designed by environmental engineers. The heating and cooling systems for our buildings are designed by mechanical engineers. Our electrical power system was designed by electrical engineers. Mechanical and aerospace engineers design our airplanes and space shuttle. Chemical, fire protection, ceramic, plastic, process, metallurgical, industrial, computer, bio-medical engineers all affect our quality of life. As "National Engineers Week" is February 22-28, 2004 stop and think for one minute about engineers. Turn on a faucet and clean water flows from the spout. Pick up a telephone and hear voices from around the world. Turn on your television and receive entertainment or pictures of news stories from any place in the world. Hop on a plane and travel to the other side of the world. If you choose, you can drive across the country on superhighways. You have access to boundless information via the INTERNET and this is only the beginning. All of this has been made possible by the work of engineers.

Though the public may perceive engineers as invisible, how different our life would be without them! Writing in the November 1990 issue of Civil Engineering, Professor Henry Petroski, Duke University, states, "A hundred years ago, the general public couldn't hear enough about the wonders achieved by engineering, yet today's professionals are mostly anonymous. Advancing technology and the growth of specialized societies have robbed the profession of a single voice, a public image as clear-cut as a physician's or lawyer's."

Just in case you don't recognize the names the "invisible" engineers mentioned in this back grounder.

John Augustus Roebling: Pioneering bridge engineer in suspension bridges and with his son, Washington, engineer/builder of the "Brooklyn Bridge"

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel: This name, "Eiffel", should be recognizable as in the Eiffel Tower. This French structural engineer also designed the structural framework for the Statue of Liberty and bridges throughout the world. Did you know that when Eiffel first proposed his famous tower as a monument to the Paris Exhibition of 1890, he was ridiculed. "What hath those engineers begat on Paris' skyline", was the comment! Today the tower is revered as an artistic landmark so much so that Eiffel is sometimes referred to as the "Architect" of the tower.

Charles S. Draper: The Father of Inertial Guidance - http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=6

Dr. Charles "Doc" Stark Draper developed the theory, invented and developed the technology, and led the effort that resulted in inertial guidance. Inertial guidance allows craft to detect directional changes by coordinating gyroscopes (devices that rotate in reaction to change in direction) and accelerometers (which measure changes in acceleration). Inertial guidance is used in aircraft, space vehicles, and submarines. To this day, aircraft across the world keep to their global flight paths thanks to inertial guidance systems derived from Draper's original inventions.

William leBarron Jenney: Structural engineer and the father of the modern skyscraper. In 1885, his structural design, using a skeleton frame system for the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, became the forerunner of the modern steel or concrete frame skyscraper. It is interesting to note that Jenney and Eiffel were college classmates!

Fazlur Rahman Khan: structural engineer and developer of the "tube-framing" concept for skyscrapers which heralded the rebirth of the tall buildings of the 60's and 70's. Structural engineer for the SEARS TOWER, and the John Hancock Center in Chicago.

Professor Robert Kearns: Considering that automakers today are racing to develop complex electric drive and alternative fuel technologies, it's amazing to realize that the biggest technological hurdle to overcome back in 1967 was getting wiper blades to operate intermittently. As it turns out, the history of how the intermittent wiper came to be is actually a dark tale in automotive history. Invented by college professor Robert Kearns in the late '60s, the technology was shopped around to every major automaker and Ford was the first to adopt it. Except the house that Henry built screwed Kearns out of not only the money he was due, but also the credit for developing what automakers themselves couldn't. That story has now been turned into a major motion picture called Flash of Genius that stars Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham (the mom from Gilmore Girls), Dermot Mulroney and Alan Alda. We wouldn't have thought a movie about windshield wipers would be very interesting, but the preview after the jump has us hooked. It's slated to open in theaters on October 17th courtesy of Universal.

Marvin Camras: Electrical Engineer and generally considered to be the "Father of the magnetic recording" and whose electronic wizardry in magnetic tape and tape recording evolved into VCR's and magnetic tape systems for computers.

Jack Northrup: Aerospace Engineer whose pioneering efforts in wing design in the 1920's and '30's begat the "Flying Wing" which was abandoned but finally resurrected in the form of the "Stealth fighter and bomber". "Northrup" as in Northrup Aircraft.

Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce: Electrical Engineers who worked independently and simultaneously gave us the Integrated Circuit, the building block of today's electronic revolution and heart of the computers. In 1989 they won the "Draper Prize", a $400,000 prize for an engineering achievement which has contributed to the advancement and well-being of mankind, similar to the Alfred Nobel Prize.

Hans von Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle: Physicists and Mechanical Engineers who working independently designed and constructed the first jet engines which have made modern air transportation possible (We know the names of the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, John Glenn, and Neil Armstrong, aviation and space pioneers, but we don't recognize the men who made jet travel possible). Winners of the 1991 "Draper Prize".

Scott Crossfield: Rocket pilot and aerospace engineer; In the 1960's Crossfield was one key pilots in the X-15 rocket program. Though astronauts in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo moon landing program garnered much publicity, the knowledge gained from the X-15 rocket program was just as important to the conquering of space and the advancement of aerospace technology.

Ellis Sylvester Chesbrough: Chicago civil engineer, who when Chicagoans became ill in the 1850's from drinking polluted water from Lake Michigan, proposed tunneling two miles out into Lake Michigan to retrieve clean water. In 1867 the first of Ellis' cribs were completed. Today, Chicago gets its water from a series of "Cribs" initially designed by Chesbrough.

Octave Chanute: Civil engineer and one of the giants of the engineering profession. Designer for the Union Stock Yards of Chicago, the first bridge to span the Missouri River, and the elevated railroad system for New York. However his foremost achievement was his extensive research into understanding the engineering principles behind manned flight. The fruits of his research he shared freely and Wilbur Wright testified that Chanute's glider flight experiments contributed to the Wright Brothers success.

Ellis Howard Armstrong: Electrical Engineer and early radio pioneer. Inventor of FM broadcasting.

Robert Adler: Electrical engineer who while working at Zenith Radio Corporation, designed the first successful remote control for television sets. Today, 100% of all VCR's and 96% of televisions are equipped with remote controls. The "couch potato" of today with his 'clicker, 'zapper', or whatever you chose to call the remote control, owes his existence to Adler's invention.

Grace Murray Hopper: Computer Engineer, credited with design of the first computer compiler. Hopper also contributed to the development of COBOL, a computer language widely used in business. While testing an early computer program (circa 1940's) her team discovered it would not work. An insect fouled the old style electro-mechanical relay. We now have the "computer bug" expression thanks to Hopper.

John Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly: Electrical Engineers who developed the ENIAC computer, believed by many as the first electronic computer. Founded Electronic Control Co. which produced the UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Calculator), which eventually was sold to Remington Rand Corp. and is now a part of UNISYS.

John Backus: Computer Engineer, developer of FORTRAN, the first general purpose engineering and scientific programming language. Recipient of the 1993 "Draper Prize".

Wilson Greatbatch: Electrical Engineer and inventor of the implantable cardiac pacemaker and holder of 150 other patents. How many people owe their lives to Wilson's 'engineering' achievement.

John Ericsson: Swedish born Civil Engineer and pioneer in steam engine and screw propeller design. His foremost engineering achievement was in designing 'The Monitor', the iron-clad ship of Civil War fame. As the Confederacy had added protective metal covering to the C.S.S. Virginia and renamed it "The Merrimack', the Union's Monitor
met the challenge. Imagine how the outcome of the Civil War may have changed if the South's iron-clad 'Merrimack' could have ravaged the Union's shipping?

Dr. Joel Engel: Electrical Engineer and one of the principal engineers, who while working for Bell Laboratories (now Lucent Technologies), in 1967 pioneered the cellular mobile telephone system. He is co-recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell medal of the IEEE.

John Pierce/Harold Rosen: 'The fathers of the communications satellite'. Pierce 'engineered' the Echo and Telstar 1 satellites. In 1963 Rosen designed and developed the Syncom II satellite. Co-recipients of the 1995 'Draper Prize' for engineering achievement.

Alfred Bernhard Nobel: Swedish chemical and mechanical engineer, inventor, and industrialist whose most important invention dynamite earned a fortune. Nobel was trained by tutors (one of whom was John Ericsson, see above) and self educated. It is interesting to note that Nobel's hand written will which established the celebrated 'Nobel Prize' makes no mention of specific awards but only that the award be given to an individual whose achievements have benefit mankind. Isn't it interesting that there is no Nobel Prize for engineering?

Chester Carlson: Physicist and Research Engineer. In October 1937 he was issued his first patent covering the basic ideas behind electro photography. In 1946 a little known company, Haloid, was given a license to develop a copy machine based on Carlson's invention. Today this company is known as XEROX, which was derived from the new word 'xerography' from xeros for "dry" and graphos for "writing" or "drawing" in Greek.

Alexander M. Poniatoff/Charles Ginsberg: Electronics Engineers. Russian emigre Poniatoff founded the company, AMPEX (taken from his initials A.M.P. whereupon he added EX for excellence) which developed magnetic tape recorders in the United States. Charles Ginsberg working at AMPEX led the engineering design team which introduced the first successful video tape recorder in 1955.

Ray Dolby: Electrical Engineer who pioneered methods in improving sound quality on audio cassettes, motion picture soundtracks and other sound transmission mediums. Have you noticed the 'Dolby Sound logo' on your cassettes, cassette players or at the end of motion picture credits? At AMPEX, as a 19 year old engineering prodigy, he participated in the building of the first video recorder (See above - Charles Ginsberg)
still more

Rudolph Diesel: French-born German engineer who invented the internal combustion engine that bears his name, the Diesel engine.

Charles Franklin Kettering: Engineer and inventor, with numerous important and diverse inventions to his credit. While working at the National Cash Register Co., he designed (1905) the first electric cash register. In 1908 he developed an improved ignition system for cars and the first practical electric self-starter. Kettering became the director of research at General Motors and guided many important research projects, including high-octane, knock-free gasoline (which reduces knocking in high-compression gasoline engines) and the lightweight two-cycle diesel engine (which made the Diesel locomotive practical -see above)

Igor Sikorsky: Innovator in airplane and helicopter design was educated as an engineer in Russia. After the Russian Revolution he emigrated to the United States and established his own company, building America's first successful helicopter.

William Stanley: electrical engineer and inventor successfully developed a system for long-distance light and power transmission by alternating current (transformer) Stanley also invented condensers, two-phase electric motors, generators, and an alternating-current watt-hour meter.

George Washington Gale Ferris: Bridge (structural) engineer who designed and built the famous wheel which now carries his name. Eiffel (see above) designed his tower for the Parisian Exposition of 1890. In 1893 engineers were challenged to provide a landmark for the World Columbium Exposition of 1893, Chicago. Ferris designed his wheel which could carry an astounding 2100 people to view the exposition as America's answer to the Eiffel Tower.

Frank Julian Sprague: Sprague probably contributed more to the growth of electric rapid transit systems than any other man. In 1887, Sprague equipped the first modern trolley in the United States, at Richmond, Va., and thereafter helped construct more than 100 such railways in the United States and Europe. Other inventions included high-speed, automatic electric elevators; a system for operating two elevators on the same rails in a common shaft; and the AC induction smelting furnace.

Zora Arkus-Duntov: Belgium-American automotive engineer who turned the Chevorolet Corvette into America's sports car. When first introduce in 1953, the Corvette had a little 150 horsepower engine. It was Arkus-Dunton who engineered increased horsepower turning the Corvette into America's muscle car.

William Barcley Parsons: Civil Engineer who designed New York City's first subway.

John B. Jervis: Self taught civil engineer who designed the water supply for New York City. He designed the water aqueducts that carry water to New York City.

Donald Wills Douglas: In 1935 Douglas and his team of engineers designed and built the DC-3 airplane, the first plane to earn a profit carrying passengers. The DC-3, which carried 21 passengers at a speed 192 mph, soon accounted for most of the U.S. passenger traffic. It set new standards for air safety and dependability which made commercial air travel practical.

Waldo L. Semon: Chemical engineer and inventor who patented more than 116 inventions, including polyvinyl chloride (pvc). PVC is the key ingredient in items such as phonograph records and plastic piping, which replaced previously used lead piping. He pioneered bubble gum, a product which made Bazooka famous.

Victor Mills: Chemical engineer and inventor of the disposal diaper. While working at Procter & Gamble, he led the team which introduced the PampersTM throwaway diaper in 1961. Mills was also involved in product improvements to Ivory soapTM and stacked potato wafers called PringlesTM. One of Mill's teachers was chemical engineer, Waldo Semon. (see above).

Richard James: Mechanical Engineer in 1944 designed the popular SlinkyTM children's toy. With over 250 million sold he has brought enjoyment to millions of children throughout the world.

Dean Kamen: Mechanical engineer and inventor of several medical equipment technologies. As a 20 year old engineering prodigy he pioneered the development of a portable drug infusion pump, allowing terminally ill patients to administer pain-killing drugs at home. He founded FIRST, (For Inspiration in Science and Technology) to promote programs to interest young people in science and technology careers. He invented a motorized wheelchair able to traffic stairs. More recent he invented "IT" the Segway Mobile Transport

Vladimir Haensel: Chemical engineer and recipient of the 1997 Draper prize of Engineering for his discovering of the "Platforming" (Platinum Reforming) process which led to the production of low cost high octane gasoline. Spin-offs from the process included by-products essential for the production of plastics.

Douglas Engelbart: Electrical engineer who develop the oN-Line System (NLS) for computers. Demonstrated in 1968 the NLS system became what we commonly refer to as the computer mouse.

Donna Shirley: Aerospace engineer who was former Manager of the Mars Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She lead the design team that place the robot controlled explorer (The Pathfinder) on Mars.

Jerome H. Lemelson : Inventor of the Bar Code System (1923-1997) - 500 patents. SEE

Philo T. Farnsworth: Self taught electrical engineer, Controversy surrounds the inventor of television. Corporate giant RCA and one of it engineers Vladmir Zwoyrkin is generally credited as the inventor of television. However Philo T. Farnsworth holds most of the patents associated with the development of television. He did not have the luxury of public relations firms to tout his achievements, as Farnsworth was an independent engineer performing his work out the walls of corporate American and high powered research institutions. His name is largely forgotten in the annals of television history.

Lee DeForest: Electrical Engineer, physicist and inventor, pioneer in wireless telegraphy and radio. He is most widely known for creating the triode or Audion Tube which could amplify radio signals. With over 300 patents in the field of electronics, DeForest is often referred to as the "Father of Radio".

Percy Spencer: (self taught engineer) While working a Raytheon developed the first microwave oven

NIls Bohlin: Mechanical Engineer, while working at VOLVO invented the three point automobile safety belt. An estimated 1 million lives have been saved by seat belts

Wernher von Braun, Rocket (mechanical) ENGINEER, designer of the first ballistic missile (V2) and the Saturn I, IB, and V Moon rocket Why is he always referred to as a rocket scientist?

Need to add:

James H. (Jimmy) Doolittle (Aeronautical), 1st to graduate from MIT with an aeronautical engineering degree,
Robert Fulton, steamboat pioneer, (self-taught engineer),
Hyman Rickover (Nuclear Submarine and US Nuclear Navy),
William Babb (Kidney Machine),
Willis Carrier (Air-Conditioning),
George Westinghouse (air-brake for railroad cars and AC current transmission systems),
Charles P. Steinmetz (electrical engineer who developed law and theories of AC current systems),
Nick Holonyak, Jr. (Electrical- invented the light emitting diode, which led to digital readouts on consumer products),
Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph Woodland the inventors of bar code scanning,
Marcian "Ted" Hoff (electrical) Inventor of the microprocessor, one of the most important developments of the last half of the 20th century and found in virtually every automobile, medical device, and computer in the world
Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson the aerospace engineer who designed numerous aircraft including the SR-71, 'Blackbird', the world's fastest and highest flying jet airplane,
James Russell (Digital Compact Disc i.e CD)
Tom Kelly, Grumman Aerospace Engineer, often refereed to as the father of the Lunar Module
David Lederman Implantable artificial heart
Theodore Judah Civil Engineer who proposed the trans-continental railroad
Robert Langer , Chemical Engineer who pioneered time-release drugs
Clifford Holland, Civil Enginner whose tunnel bears his name!!
Finally, Nikola TESLA the real brains behind EDISON!!!!

This is just a small sampling of some of the engineers who have changed the world.

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