Jacob.Schanker@f206.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Jacob Schanker) (11/12/89)
The Image of the Engineer The image which we, as engineers, project to the public, and the image which the public has of us, should be a matter of concern to all engineers. Image affects the prestige of the profession, and in the longer term, the vitality of engineering. It af- fects the quantity and quality of young persons that we attract as new engineers. It also relates to how we are perceived and treated by employers, and hence ultimately affects our compensa- tion and working conditions. The Executive Committee of the Rochester Section has recently begun devoting time to discussions of the engineer's image. The consensus seems to be that there is plenty of reason for concern. The question is - what can we do about it? My own feeling is that the single most effective step that could be taken would be a long term commitment by the IEEE and other engineering societies to a professionally produced public relations campaign. We can see clearly the power of the image makers in the political arena. The same combined public relations and advertising approach could work for the engineer's image. We need to recognize, however, that we need the help of professionals in the fields of advertis- ing and public relations for a campaign to succeed. This means, over the years, a multi-million dollar commitment. Can we afford this? I think we can. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, observations or criti- cism, please let us know. You can write me, or the Chairman of the Rochester Section, Edward Balsley. You are also welcome to attend any of the monthly Executive Committee meetings, held on the first Tuesday of each month, and participate in the discus- sions. The December meeting will be held at the Rochester Engi- neering Society on December 5th at 12:00 Noon. Jacob Z. Schanker, 65 Crandon Way, Rochester, NY 14618 (716) 442-3909 -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jacob Schanker - via UFGATE Internet: Jacob.Schanker@f206.n260.z1.fidonet.org FidoNet: 1:107/310 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Bill.Wilkes@ieeefs.UUCP (Bill Wilkes) (11/25/89)
Well, Jake, I don't know about this image thing. I am more concerned
about how we see ourselves, rather than how others see us.
Do you really believe that engineering is a viable profession?
Why not have the section newsletter carry the following questions:
Would you advise your child to pursue a career in Engineering?
Why?
I would be very interested in the results.
I have always worked with various highly skilled, hard working engineers,
well respected by their peers. I haven't found one of them suggesting
that their children become engineers. As a matter of fact, most suggest
their children enter the professions (Medicine, Law, Dentistry). Why is
that?
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Bill Wilkes - via UFGATE Node 1:107/310
Internet: Bill.Wilkes@ieeefs.UUCP
UUCP: ...!rutgers!njin!ieeefs!Bill.Wilkes
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=hui@joplin.mpr.ca (Michael Hui) (11/26/89)
In article <138.256E4637@ieeefs.UUCP> Bill.Wilkes@ieeefs.UUCP (Bill Wilkes) writes: > Would you advise your child to pursue a career in Engineering? > Why? My answer: not in North America or most of Europe. Why? The management, social and economic structures and values of this society treat engineering staff like robots on a production line. It gets more and more difficult to start your own small firm, since the initial capital outlay is large. The continueing R&D budget is still large even if you manage to get started. And, (un)fortunately, depending on how you look at it, an unspoken assumption is that engineers want to work on the latest ideas and developments, keeping themselves as close to state of the art as their intellect would allow. That translates to a big R&D budget, which implies joining a large corporation. A lawyer, or a physician, does not have an R&D budget, runs his/her own business most of the time, get a challenging enough assignment without any big initial capital outlay, and does not need continueing R&D dollars to keep afloat. The key here is this: pursue a profession that allows you to own your own professional practice as easily as possible, without foregoing any opportunity for technical challenge. MH 1987 UBC B.A.Sc. IC design engineer