The Engineer's Contribution to Society
Design principles The engineer’s contribution to society
F O R E W O R D
The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Visiting Professorship Scheme in Principles of Engineering Design appointed skilled and successful practising engineers to contribute to the teaching and development of undergraduate courses. The professors appointed not only expressed their enjoyment of this opportunity, but also expressed an interest in formulating fundamental design principles. We decided to try and define these principles. Engineers contribute considerably to the quality of life in society and it is important that they articulate their role clearly and firmly. We hope that a definition of these principles will enhance this contribution. Dr James Hodgson Armstrong OBE, Hon DEng, FREng, FICE, FIStructE, FRSA
T h e f o u r o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e Co r p o r a t e P l a n o f The Royal Academy of Engineering for the years 2001-2004 can be summarised as:
‘ TO M A I N TA I N A C R U S A D I N G , L E A D E R S H I P R O L E . . . R E CO G N I S I N G T H E E N G I N E E R ’ S R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y F O R L E A D I N G D E B AT E A N D AC T I O N O N A W I D E R A N G E O F I M P O RTA N T I S S U E S O F N AT I O N A L I N T E R E S T A N D I M P O RTA N C E W H I C H H AV E A N E N G I N E E R I N G D I M E N S I O N , S U C H A S S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y, B I O M E D I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G A N D E M E R G I N G D I S C I P L I N E S . . .’
‘ TO S U P P O RT E N G I N E E R I N G E D U C AT I O N A N D T R A I N I N G AT A L L L E V E L S . . .’
‘ TO W O R K TO WA R D S G R E AT E R C R O S S F E RT I L I S AT I O N B E T W E E N I N D U S T R Y A N D AC A D E M E . . .’
‘ TO P R O M OT E T H E I M P O RTA N C E O F E N G I N E E R I N G N AT I O N A L LY A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY; TO I M P R O V E T H E Q U A L I T Y O F A D V I C E TO PA R L I A M E N T A N D M I N I S T R I E S ; TO P R O M OT E G R E AT E R U N D E R S TA N D I N G A N D
F O R E W O R D
The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Visiting Professorship Scheme in Principles of Engineering Design appointed skilled and successful practising engineers to contribute to the teaching and development of undergraduate courses. The professors appointed not only expressed their enjoyment of this opportunity, but also expressed an interest in formulating fundamental design principles. We decided to try and define these principles. Engineers contribute considerably to the quality of life in society and it is important that they articulate their role clearly and firmly. We hope that a definition of these principles will enhance this contribution. Dr James Hodgson Armstrong OBE, Hon DEng, FREng, FICE, FIStructE, FRSA
T h e f o u r o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e Co r p o r a t e P l a n o f The Royal Academy of Engineering for the years 2001-2004 can be summarised as:
‘ TO M A I N TA I N A C R U S A D I N G , L E A D E R S H I P R O L E . . . R E CO G N I S I N G T H E E N G I N E E R ’ S R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y F O R L E A D I N G D E B AT E A N D AC T I O N O N A W I D E R A N G E O F I M P O RTA N T I S S U E S O F N AT I O N A L I N T E R E S T A N D I M P O RTA N C E W H I C H H AV E A N E N G I N E E R I N G D I M E N S I O N , S U C H A S S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y, B I O M E D I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G A N D E M E R G I N G D I S C I P L I N E S . . .’
‘ TO S U P P O RT E N G I N E E R I N G E D U C AT I O N A N D T R A I N I N G AT A L L L E V E L S . . .’
‘ TO W O R K TO WA R D S G R E AT E R C R O S S F E RT I L I S AT I O N B E T W E E N I N D U S T R Y A N D AC A D E M E . . .’
‘ TO P R O M OT E T H E I M P O RTA N C E O F E N G I N E E R I N G N AT I O N A L LY A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY; TO I M P R O V E T H E Q U A L I T Y O F A D V I C E TO PA R L I A M E N T A N D M I N I S T R I E S ; TO P R O M OT E G R E AT E R U N D E R S TA N D I N G A N D