ENGINEERING
Volume I, Issue II
Spotlight On...includes information
and depiction suggestions about engineers
for YOU...the creative community.
Hopefully, this information will not only be
the impetus for fresh story ideas but will also imbue scripts with
realistic and accurate portrayals of engineers. It is designed to
enhance the creative process--not limit it!
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| A Spotlight Message from Brian Dyak
CEO and President of EIC
As commanding officer of the almost tragic Apollo 13 mission, Astronaut Jim Lovell was a hero when he helped navigate his crew back to earth in 1970. But, "Jim Lovell" did not become a household name until the Academy Award winning film Apollo 13 opened in 1995. Speaking of the movie, the former astronaut said,
"I think it regenerated a whole new generation of young Americans about the space program."
Another astronaut named Jim - Jim Kelly - also recognizes the power of the creative community, to make a difference. Jim and I met at the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis last month, an event that was breathtaking and inspiring to witness. Jim was so excited by EIC's Ready on the S.E.T. and...Action! initiative that he donned a pink hardhat and joined a group of entertainment industry volunteers organized by EIC to build houses for Habitat for Humanity and encourage women in engineering (read more about WE Build here). The crisis facing the science, engineering and technology fields in America is a real and serious problem but that doesn't mean we can't have fun while addressing it.
Check out the picture of Jim Kelly and me as astronauts (okay I guess I'm the only one playing make-believe) and read on for stories of REAL engineers who have a blast with what they do.
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 Astronaut Col. James Kelly (left) and Brian Dyak |
Need Writing Tips?
First Draft for the Ready on the S.E.T. and...Action! Initiative is a service that links YOU, the creative community, to science, engineering and technology experts during the development and production of entertainment content.
So far, over a dozen Boeing engineers have been trained to provide advice and suggestions to entertainment industry professionals interested in engineering.
Interested in learning more about how our
First Draft program can contribute to your next story line?
Click on the logo above!
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NEED STORY IDEAS?
Check out
Engineering in the Media
and
REAL STORIES
from real engineers working in the field
In this issue:
Christina J. Reich and David Davila, Jr.
of The Boeing Company
Past issues:
Volume I, Issue I
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| Engineering in the Media
Considerations for depiction
on TV
and in films
Exciting Engineering
A common misconception about engineering today is that it's a dull, boring career choice. In reality, engineering is anything but boring. Engineers are responsible for some of the most exciting developments in the world today. Imagine being the first person to develop or try a new technology, like a flying car or the world's fastest roller coaster. What could be boring about that? Consider focusing on some of the cool and interesting things engineers do in your next storyline.
Engineers as Creative Problem-Solvers
The fact that engineering is often associated with computers, math, and science doesn't mean that engineers aren't creative. In fact, engineering is one of the most creative professions out there! Engineering is all about finding new, innovative ways to solve problems and doing so takes a great deal of creativity and inspiration. Consider focusing on the creative side of engineering in your next storyline.
Rocket Science?
Keep in mind that not all engineers are "rocket scientists" with sky-high IQ's. While engineering is a challenging career path, you don't have to be a genius or a prodigy to be a successful engineer. Consider steering away from the "rocket scientist" stereotype and including a more approachable engineer in your next storyline.
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REAL STORIES:
Christina J. Reich
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Christina grew up in a small,
economically depressed town on the
northern point of Michigan. She dreamed of going to college and Christina J. Reich Environmental Engineer
The Boeing Company  |
getting an education that would lead her to a better life. In high school, a perceptive and
supportive chemistry teacher noticed Christina's aptitude for math and science
and encouraged her to consider a career in engineering. After a summer program showed her the
work of chemical engineers, Christina knew exactly what she wanted to do. Following her graduation as high school
valedictorian, she was offered a full scholarship to Michigan Tech to study
chemical engineering. Christina
was one step closer to her dream, but...
After one chemical engineering
class, Christina knew that
she had made a mistake. Chemical engineering was not the
right choice for her. Noticing her despair and uncertainty,
Christina's
roommates and friends urged her to look into environmental engineering.
It was the perfect mix of chemistry, biology, math and engineering.
The courses were so interesting and challenging that
Christina continued
her education to receive her Master's degree. After graduation, Christina
took a
position at Boeing that eventually led her to Houston, Texas where
she also
pursued the opportunity to receive her law degree, focusing on
environmental
law. Today, Christina works at
Boeing in Huntsville, Alabama
in a position where she supervises Boeing's
compliance with environmental laws. With two environmental engineering degrees and a Juris Doctorate, she is prepared for the job!
Far from
that tiny town in Michigan,
Christina has made her dream come true.
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Creative Applications
How Christina's story could inspire YOUR next great idea
- Many kids
growing up in rural areas, like Christina, are discouraged to follow their
dreams. Christina's chemistry teacher encouraged her to continue to pursue her
studies in engineering, and Christina broke out of her small environment,
becoming a successful engineer. Consider inspiration from Christina's story,
that if you work hard and study hard you can do anything!
- Environmental
engineering is a popular form of engineering to focus on today,
particularly because it applies science and engineering in the
improvement of decreasing air and water pollution, recycling, and waste
management. Environmental engineering is a way to help our world "Go
Green!"
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During
the Gulf oil spill crisis, environmental
engineers are working around the clock to help solve this historic
problem.
As the aquatic ecosystems are being affected in this
crisis, environmental engineers are developing and implementing solutions
to mitigate the long-term environmental impact. Currently, engineers are building a
steel barrier to prevent
oil from flowing through the wetlands and waterways toward the north.
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| REAL STORIES:
David Davila, Jr.
| David Davila, Jr.
Test & Evaluation Manager
The Boeing Company  |
David and his brother Mario were playing in the back yard of
their San Antonio house when their mother appeared and told the boys to hurry
inside. She sat the boys in front
of the television and told them to pay attention to the evening news. Six year-old David whined that he would
rather stay outside, but suddenly the news returned with a "Special Report":
Neil Armstrong stepped off the Lunar Module and onto the Moon, uttering those
now famous words,
"That is one small step for man,
one GIANT leap for mankind."
Suddenly, David knew what he wanted to
be when he grew up: an astronaut. Setting
his sights on the sky, David worked hard through elementary and high
school. He had decided that the
best way to become an astronaut was to begin as a pilot. He enrolled in ROTC and visited
the Air Force recruiter to see what other steps he needed to take to become a
pilot. The recruiter told him that he needed to have 20/20 vision. David had been wearing glasses since
kindergarten. Devastated at the
end to his dream, David went home angry and cried for hours. Then it hit him:
"If I cannot fly an
airplane or rocket, I will learn how to make them."
That day he decided to become an
aerospace engineer and his first job out of college was working on the Space
Shuttle Program. As David says
about the experience, "Sometimes when God closes a door....He opens a window."
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| Creative Applications
How David's story could inspire YOUR next great idea
- Space travel. Missile launches. The work of aerospace engineers like David have made the unimaginable possible. And with new technologies being developed every day, these incredible accomplishments are just the beginning. Consider the future of aerospace engineering. In a world where humans can fly and space missions are the norm, what amazing possibilities could the future hold?
- On July, 20 1969, millions of people just like David turned on their televisions and witnessed mankind's greatest accomplishment to date: putting a man on the moon. To put it simply, the moon landing completely changed the world: it inspired the masses, ushered in an unrivaled era of space exploration, and defined a generation. Consider the ways in which a single event can bring about tremendous change.
- Outer space. Aviation. Golf? Many people automatically associate aerospace engineers with...well, aerospace. Little do they know, not all aerospace engineers work with space shuttles and jet planes. Ever wonder why golf balls have dimples? In the 1800's, golfers started to notice that a scuffed ball went a lot farther than a smooth one and in the late 1800's, they began to intentionally cut patterns into their balls. It wasn't until the 1930's that dimples were recognized as the best surface for a golf ball. Today, aerospace engineers design the dimple pattens on golf balls using computers.
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Fast Facts
Did you know...?
- New hybrid airships! Engineers are now designing hybrid airships to be the U.S. military's constant "eye in the sky" and will help support U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
- Seshadri Ramkumar, associate professor at Texas Tech University, has developed Fibertect, a material (made of organic components) that soaks up oil! Fibertect has been tested and proven to trap oil while absorbing toxic vapors.
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Water bottles can be converted into fuel! Researchers and engineers are developing a technological system to convert plastic from plastic bags and bottles into fuel for homes and vehicles.
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HOLLYWOOD...
EIC wants YOU to inspire the NEXT GENERATION of filmmakers!
We're calling all writers, producers, directors and film enthusiasts to serve as mentors for our GENERATION NEXT film contest, a program that connects engineering and film students to create short films.
Interested in participating?
Contact Larry Deutchman for more information.
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About EIC'S
Ready on the S.E.T. and...ACTION!
Initiative
The Entertainment Industries Council (EIC), through its Entertainment and Media Communication Institute, has joined with The Boeing Company to launch the Ready on the S.E.T. and...ACTION! project, a nationwide initiative to elevate the importance of science, engineering and technology (S.E.T) in the eyes of the public in order to encourage future generations to pursue careers in these fields.
For more information on this project, click here.
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Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.
West Coast
3000 West Alameda Ave, Admin Bldg, Ste 225
Burbank, CA 91523
Phone | (818) 840-2016
Fax | (818) 840-2018
E-mail | eicwest@eiconline.org
East Coast
1856 Old Reston Avenue Suite 215
Reston, VA 20190
Phone | (703) 481-1414
Fax | (703) 481-1418
E-mail | eiceast@eiconline.org
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