An A to Z of Engineering

A to Z of engineering and what engineers do.

Engineering has many specialisms such as; 

A        

Aerospace:Aerospace engineers design and make aeroplanes, rockets and spacecraft. Aerospace engineering encompasses astronautical and aeronautical engineering.

Agricultural: Agricultural engineers use science to engineer different ways of farming land and taking food from the field to the table. 

Automotive: Automotive engineers design and make engines and bodywork for cars, trucks and other road vehicles.  

B        

Biomedical: Biomedical engineers work to improve human health by integrating engineering knowledge with medical science and practice. 

Building Services: Building service engineers design and make the inner workings of buildings, such as the lights, heating and lifts. 

C        

Clinical (Medical): Clinical engineers design equipment to monitor, diagnose and treat patients.

Construction & the Built Environment: This is another term for civil engineering. 

D        

Design: Design engineer is a general term that covers multiple engineering disciplines including electrical, mechanical, civil and building engineering. A design engineer usually leads a project.

E         

Electrical: An electrical engineer designs electrical circuits and systems used in computers, mobile phones, ipods, digital cameras etc.

Electronic: Electronic engineers deal with the behaviour and effects of electrons (found in electron tubes and transistors) and with electronic devices, systems or equipment.  

Environment: Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the environment ensuring pure water, cleaner air and land fit for human habitation. 

F         

Food Technology: Food technology is the application of science and engineering principles to the selection, preservation, processing, packaging and distribution of food. 

G        

Geotechnical: Geotechnical engineering uses the principles of mechanics to analyse and predict the behaviour of earth materials and how these can be managed in an engineering project.        

H        

Hydro electricity: Hydro electric power is the energy produced by the force of moving water. It is a widely used form of renewable energy. 

I          

Industrial: Industrial engineers work to make processes more efficient and to make products more consistent in quality.

J         

Jobs for the girls: More girls are becoming engineers, helping people and our planet. 

K        

Kinetic energy: Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its current velocity.

L         

Lighting: Lighting engineers design and engineer lighting systems to provide illumination in places like offices, theatres, sports arenas and shops.  

M        

Medical (clinical): Medical engineers design equipment to monitor, diagnose and treat patients.

N        

Nuclear: Nuclear engineering is the application of the breakdown of atomic nuclei and/or other sub-atomic particles to produce nuclear energy or other products concerned with the use of nuclear power. 

Naval: A naval engineer, a naval officer, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the ship and the ship's engine. 

O        

Ocean: Ocean engineers design, analyse and plan the systems that operate in an oceanic environment. Examples of systems range from oil platforms to submarines, from breakwaters to sailboats. Common to all are the conditions of the ocean including waves, seawater and hydrostatic pressure. 

P         

Petroleum: Petroleum engineers devise systems to produce petrol from crude oil.  

Production: Production engineering deals with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of the integrated systems of industrial processes or how to make things efficiently and make the best use of resources. 

Q        

Qualifications you need to be an engineer: You can become an engineer by staying at school or college and taking A Levels in Mathematics, Physics and one other or through a more practical route such as BTEC or level 3 Diploma. Alternatively you can do an apprenticeship. Next steps would be further study to become more qualified.

R        

Robotic: Robotic engineering or robotics is the science and technology of the design and creation of robots. Robotics requires a working knowledge of electronics and mechanics .  

S         

Structural: Structural engineering deals with the design of structures. It is usually considered a speciality within civil engineerin but can also be studied in its own right.  

Systems: Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field focusing on the design and management of complex engineering projects. The logistics and coordination of different teams and automatic control of machinery becomes harder with large and complex projects and systems engineers handle this. 

Sport Science: Engineers apply science to design and manufacture new sports equipment and to develop new approaches to training.

T         

Telecommunication: Telecommunication is the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. A telecommunications engineer ensures that phone networks are designed and properly managed so that our phones and networks work. 

U        

Underground: The underground systems in London and all other major cities across the World, were designed by engineers.

V         

Virtual: Virtual engineering operates within a computer-generated environment.

W        

Why be an engineer?:  Because you can help save lives, save the planet, help shape our environment and make a real difference. You can do this close to home or by travelling the world. 

XYZ    

Excuses for not becoming an engineer:  There are none.  Engineering is well paid, you are unlikely ever to be out of work, more women and ethnic minorities are choosing a career in engineering, you can work in a team or on your own and the variety of work you can do in the profession is phenomenal.