Innovative Answers to Complex Problems

Think about what you did today. Did you switch on a light, open a door, ride in an elevator, travel by car, or use a computer? All of these activities were influenced by mechanical engineers.

Think about what you’d like to do in the future. Are you interested in preserving the environment, collaborating with doctors to design better medical equipment, or working in industry to develop computer systems to improve the production process? Mechanical engineers influence these activities, too.

The Mechanical Engineering Profession
Mechanical engineers are typically involved with generating, distributing, and using energy; processing material; controlling and automating manufacturing systems; designing and developing machines; and solving environmental problems. Research, testing, manufacturing, operations, marketing, and administration are some other key activities associated with practicing mechanical engineers.

As a mechanical engineer, you might also work on teams responsible for developing a wide range of products and systems like space shuttle vehicles, aircraft of all sizes and shapes, automobiles, turbines, pumps, power plants, and factories. Virtually any machine or process you can think of has benefited from the influence of a mechanical engineer. Everyday conveniences such as refrigeration, microwave cooking, high-fidelity sound reproduction, transportation, communication, and copying are affordable largely because mechanical and other engineers worked together to make it happen.


More about Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State.

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