Whenever something is built or put together, it must be engineered first. When you’re putting together your LEGO sets by following the instructions provided, you’re following the instructions of somebody who engineered the design.

Engineering is divided into many different branches, where they plan out how to create different aspects of our lives. Civil engineers plan out bridges and public structures, mechanical engineers plan out turbines and even our very own refrigerators and air conditioning systems, electrical engineers plan out electrical systems, and chemical engineers plan out how to create chemicals like paint. We even have software engineers, who plan out how our computers function!

There is a specific process when doing engineering, and it involves addressing problems in the world that can be fixed. First, a problem or a goal is identified. This problem or goal will be solved with an engineered solution. An example of a problem is an increased amount of burglaries in a mall, and an example of a goal is building a spacecraft. Next, limitations of possible solutions must be identified. A limitation for solving the problem of burglaries is that there can’t be any in-person surveillance, because the people in the mall cannot afford a night security guard. The next step is brainstorming solutions to the problem, and choosing the best one. A example of a great solution to the burglary problem is installing a motion-sensor alarm that rings loudly and automatically contacts the authorities if it senses any motion. The next step is creating a design, so the engineer must draw out a diagram of the different parts of the alarm. Often times, more than one type of engineer is needed. In this case, both mechanical and electrical engineers are needed to get the job done. After the design is done, a prototype, or a model of the final product, is constructed. Once more modifications are made to the design, the final product can be produced, and the problem is solved!