Elective: Engineering

The adventure (for whatever reason) focuses on only 3 types of engineering: Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical, but it’s important to understand that there are many different types of engineering.  Believe it or not, but this is just a partial list!

• Aerospace engineers design and build aircraft, spacecraft, and rockets, focusing on flight, propulsion, and navigation systems.
• Biomedical engineers combine biology and technology to create medical devices, artificial limbs, and health monitoring systems that improve people’s lives.
• Chemical engineers develop ways to turn raw materials into useful products such as fuels, plastics, medicines, and food ingredients through controlled chemical processes.
• Civil engineers plan and build structures like bridges, roads, tunnels, and buildings, ensuring they are safe, efficient, and durable.
• Electrical engineers work with circuits, power systems, and electronics to design everything from power grids to smartphones and robots.
• Mechanical engineers design and test machines, engines, and tools, working on systems that move, rotate, or transfer energy.
• Computer and software engineers design computer hardware, write code for software systems, and build networks that make technology work together.
• Environmental engineers protect nature by designing systems for clean water, waste management, and pollution control.
• Industrial engineers find ways to make factories, offices, and systems more efficient by improving how people, machines, and processes work together.
• Materials engineers study metals, plastics, ceramics, and new materials to create stronger, lighter, or more sustainable products.
• Agricultural engineers improve farming by designing irrigation systems, machinery, and technology for growing and harvesting crops.
• Petroleum engineers figure out how to safely extract oil and gas from underground, designing drilling systems and production methods.
• Marine engineers design and maintain ships, submarines, and ocean equipment that must withstand water pressure and harsh conditions.
• Nuclear engineers work with nuclear energy and radiation, designing systems for power plants, medicine, and research.
• Structural engineers focus on the strength and stability of buildings, bridges, and towers to make sure they can stand up to wind, earthquakes, and weight.
• Systems engineers coordinate large, complex projects—like airplanes or computer networks—making sure all the parts work together smoothly.
• Robotics engineers design and build robots for manufacturing, space exploration, medicine, and everyday life.
• Automotive engineers create and improve cars, trucks, and electric vehicles, focusing on performance, safety, and energy efficiency.

It’s very common for different types of engineers to work on the same project together, each bringing their own specialty to the table to make a project succeed.  That’s what we call teamwork. For example:

• Aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineers often overlap when working on complex machines like airplanes, satellites, or drones.
• Software, systems, and robotics engineers are increasingly shaping the future through artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced design tools.

To satisfy this requirement of the adventure, the AOL should meet with an engineer — any of these engineers will do (we won’t restrict it to just Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical).  Zoom / Google Meet is fine if it’s a single cub working on the elective.  Encourage the AOL (or den if it’s a den meeting) to engage with the engineer.  Here are some sample questions you can ask them: What they do

• What kinds of things do you build or design?

• What is your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?

• What’s the hardest part of your job?

• What’s the most fun or exciting part of your job?

How They Work

• Do you work alone or in a team?

• What tools or machines do you use every day?

• How do you know if your design will work before you build it?

• Do you ever make mistakes, and how do you fix them?

• How long does it take to finish one of your projects?

About Learning to Be an Engineer

• When did you first know you wanted to be an engineer?

• What subjects did you like in school?

• Did you build things or take things apart when you were a kid?

• What kind of training or school do you need to be an engineer?

• What advice would you give someone who wants to be an engineer someday