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Engineering
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 A Spotlight Message from
Brian Dyak
EIC President and CEO
Au natural is the perfect theme for this issue of Spotlight On: Engineering. No, not au natural as in sans-clothing, but as in the natural state or related to nature. We're featuring two Nerd Girls for whom engineering is a natural way of life. Read Regina's story to discover just how naturally she took to engineering (and don't even think about asking if it is unnatural or unusual for a female to be an aviation engineer; the answer is a resounding NO!). Cristina's work as a biomedical engineer means that she must work within nature everyday as she creates technology to improve upon and assist the natural state of our human bodies.
We also want to to point your attention to some amazing technology and innovation that is preserving nature and being inspired by it. In our last issue, you learned that jellyfish were providing inspiration for engineers...well, there is more where that came from (Hint: if you are afraid of snakes today, you may want to be wary of certain robots in the future). Engineers and designers concerned about the future of our natural habitat are also featured in our "Design meets function" article. Read about solar panels that look much more natural on the roof of a house and a creative solution to recycling and low-income housing.
Finally, as we head towards the winter months, we hope that nature is kind to you. And, if not, we're sure an engineer can give you a problem-solving hand.
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 Michael Stravato for The New York Times
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Design meets function thanks to engineers
The Edison Best New Product Awards recognize innovation in American production. Named after one of the greatest American inventors, Thomas Alva Edison, the awards inspire American designers and engineers to continue pursuing excellence in invention. One of this year's winners, the Sole Power Roof Tile from SRS Energy, combines the green energy of solar panels with the sleek design of curved roof tiles so that energy-concious home owners don't have to sacrifice style when making their home more efficient.
Another award went to Phoenix Commotion, a construction company in Texas, that builds homes from reclaimed material for and with low-income families. Company founder Dan Phillips told The New York TImes "Attractive, affordable housing is possible and I'm out to prove it." Creative (and beautiful) solutions to important problems - that's what engineering is all about!
Depiction Suggestion
As the Edison Award winners demonstrate, engineering can be as much about aesthetics and elegance as production capability and efficiency. Consider depicting a structural engineer who transforms a local community through construction that is beautiful and inspiring as well as strong and useful. She might have to battle with the budget manager who thinks that beauty is a waste of time and money but the grateful community could help her get creative!
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The Jungle Laboratory
We told you about the amazing propulsion research being done through research on jellyfish. It turns out that the stinging jellies aren't the only animals inspiring engineers. The paradise flying snake found in the forests of Thailand, Indonesia and many Southeast Asian islands, is providing clues into the creation of stealthier robots. Birds, nature's aviation specialists, may provide inspiration for the construction of new airplanes.
Depiction Suggestion
The scientists and engineers studying these natural machines aren't stuck in some lab or testing room - they have to spend time in the wild observing the creatures in their natural habitat. Consider depicting a researcher braving a remote forest of Indonesia, trying to understand the secrets of the flying snake. The possibilities for danger and adventure are endless!
| | Photo via http://awesomesnake.blogspot.com |
Check out The Los Angeles Times' article for a report from the fluid-dynamics conference that revealed just how much the fields of biology and engineering are working together.
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 Regina Arras
JetBlue Airways - Aircraft Structures Engineer
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
We, as a society, don't ask men why they became dancers, fashion designers, nurses, or teachers with any more interest than we ask women. I'm an engineer, not a "female engineer". I did not become an engineer in any different way than any other engineer in the world. I'll tell you why I became an engineer, and if being a woman makes that a special story, then so be it.
I grew up in the "Cradle of Aviation;" where Charles Lindberg took off on the first transatlantic flight, where almost half of all the fighter planes the United States used in World War II were built, where Grumman Aerospace was founded. No, not Dayton, OH, home of the Wright brother's bicycle shop; not Kitty Hawk, NC, where Orville took flight for the first time; not, Seattle, WA, Cape Canaveral, FL, or Houston, TX. I grew up on Long Island, NY, the underappreciated, often forgotten, keystone in aviation history.
Growing up with a father who loved everything about aviation, and worked for a major airline in one of the busiest airspaces in the world, I was surrounded by aircraft and their history. What does this have to do with me being an engineer? Everything.
I can't remember the first time I saw Top Gun, but I can say I cried when Goose died. I can also say that I wanted to be Maverick, soaring through the sky in the Grumman F-14 Tomcat at Mach 2.2, writing checks my body couldn't cash. Cheesy? Yeah, but true. It wasn't the speed, the "glamour", the aviator sunglasses, or the bike. It was because fighter jets are fascinating, inspiring, and just downright awesome. The thought of flying in one gave me goose bumps - I was seven. What seven year old gets chills watching a corny 80s action-adventure love story? Me - Regina Arras, Aerospace Engineer.
Just like every other engineer, I was good at math and science, but it was more than my academic skills. It was a need to know and understand how and why everything worked, from the toaster to my father's Duster. I was not one of those kids who disassembled everything I could get my hands on. Instead I watched my father, a hobby craftsman, in the garage creating, assembling, and installing his various projects. I saw how four-by-fours, one-by-sixes, and a box of nails became a deck. I loved being able to help create something from nothing.
Connecting my seemingly unhealthy fascination with airplanes and my desire to understand "how" was completely automatic. I never decided to be an engineer. Engineering picked me.
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Creative Applications
| | Photo via http://www.cradleofaviation.org |
+ Regina grew up surrounded by aircraft and engineers on Long Island, a place often overlooked in the history of aviation. Test runs done on Long Island early in the 20th century helped transform flying from a dangerous sport into a form of transportation. The "natural runway" was a starting point for the first successful transatlantic and transcontinental flights. Consider depicting how the excitement of the "Golden Age" of aviation on Long Island impacted a young boy or girl growing up under a sky buzzing with new aerospace developments.
+ Regina is fortunate to consider engineering a field equally available to women and men but that was not always the case. In the 1940s, at least one female engineering student at the University of Virginia was held back by male professors who thought that women had no place in their field. They routinely refused to sign off on her transcript, rather than admit that a "girl" had passed their class. She persevered and became an aerospace engineer ahead of her time. Consider depicting the gut and gumption needed for the early female engineers.
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 Cristina Sanchez
Genentech - Biomedical Engineer
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
M.S. Biomedical Engineering
My name is Cristina Sanchez and I am 24 years old, half Mexican-American, and I grew up in Las Vegas. I recently graduated with a master's degree in biomedical engineering from Tufts University, where I also received my bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. My dad had the biggest role in my decision to go into engineering. He noticed my interest and skills in math and science early on and encouraged me to try engineering in college. I did not have a good idea what engineering really was because I did not have any relatives or friends in the industry. But, I decided to try it out at Tufts.
I don't think there was a distinct moment that led me to engineering. I liked all toys as a little girl - both Barbies and toy cars. In school, I did not like to write very much, but I loved science and math. I thought about being a doctor or a dentist, but ultimately the length of school and the strain on plans for a family kept me away. At my dad's urging, I thought to myself, "Hey, why not? I'll try engineering!" I'm a nerd at heart (I love the Discovery Channel!) and it seemed like I would like the classes.
Engineering was extremely challenging in college. I was used to understanding everything in my classes in high school, but engineering classes were very difficult. At first I didn't think I could do it, and I wanted to change majors. My dad encouraged me to step up to the challenge. He knew that I was smart enough to handle it and urged me to keep going. Then, one semester, the physics, upper level calculus, dynamics, and engineering classes started to come together to explain how SO many things work. I thought it was fascinating and I wanted to learn more about engineering.
I knew it would be worth it in the end, and once I started joining networks for women in engineering, it became easier to handle the challenges. I saw my bright future ahead and I worked my butt off to get there! Now, I have two degrees in engineering and I can't wait to start my new job in operations engineering at the amazing biotechnology company Genentech! |
Creative Applications
+ Cristina grew up knowing nothing about engineering, yet her dad saw potential and pushed his daughter to try her hand at the unfamiliar field. Whereas Regina grew up surrounded by her future profession, Cristina grew up in Las Vegas, a place known more for its mammoth hotels and shiny lights than anything in the biomedical engineering field. Consider depicting how one family or one parent's quest to help their child succeed defied local traditions or ways of life and resulted in a successful career.
+ Genentech, where Cristina works, and other biotechnology firms are the future of medicine. By carefully using information about human genetics, biomedical engineers and other scientists are able to carefully tailor treatments to more accurately target certain cancers or to protect newly transported organs. Think about featuring the science and excitement behind these breakthroughs.
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 | | Photo via http://www.genome.gov/ |
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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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