I'm a materials science engineer and my better half is a civil engineer.
It's no surprise that the disaster in Florida has been a topic of conversation. It's horrific - and it reminded both of us of things we've learned during our #engineering programs.
For him, he clearly remembers a professor saying "the difference between an engineer and a doctor is that when a doctor makes a mistake, one person can die - while when an engineer makes a mistake, hundreds or more can die."
For me, I remember horrifying pictures and videos of Galloping Gertie and the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse.
Engineering NEEDS #ethics. STEM disciplines NEED #heart and #soul.
This is not an article saying anything was done specifically right or wrong in this case, but a loud and clear call to action for colleges and universities, families, communities and workplaces. It's NOT enough to just teach the technical aspects of the work. The forces, the material properties, the specifications.
For every decision that can impact more than just the person making the decision - let's remember what (and who) is at stake. There IS time for that second review. There IS time for the challenging opinion. There IS time to change course. It's never too late to do the right thing.
And if you've got an engineer or STEM professional in your life, go give them a fist bump, a hug or a thank you. We're out there trying to do what's right, because we know even the smallest decisions we make can have life-altering consequences.
#florida #science #engineering #engineer #disaster #stem #evelop
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