Introduction
One of the most important professions in the world is engineering. Engineers design, build, and maintain everything from buildings to different kinds of machines and computer systems. It is often assumed that engineering is strictly about math and science and that the engineering profession is only concerned with the technical part of designing and building. However, while these ideas are certainly at the core of this profession, engineering is more than just about that. Engineering is also about designing a sustainable environment that unites people and improves people’s well-being in general, that is, the environment that personifies us as a society.
Designing a Sustainable Environment
Due to its deterioration, making the environment sustainable has become essential in recent decades. Modern engineers are responsible for considering sustainability when designing infrastructure. They are expected to develop innovative solutions that can help reduce the impact of human activities on the environment. Marwa Al-Sabouni mentions that many Syrian cities were designed so that nature and human life existed in harmony, and the natural environment was an integral part of the city planning (Blackwood, 2021). However, colonization brought the trend of disregarding nature, which led to devastating consequences.
Contributing to Unity
Engineers are also responsible for creating an environment that makes people feel connected and united rather than separate. Engineering connects people in different ways, from building transportation to creating communication technology that helps people keep in touch. When it comes to the surrounding environment and the infrastructure, it is essential to design it so that it does not separate people based on their income, religion, nationality, and other factors.
According to Marwa Al-Sabouni, the role of architecture is “to create a sense of neighborliness” (Blackwood, 2021). She talks about how, in the pre-colonization times, the rich and the poor, Muslims, and Christians lived in harmony due to how the cities were designed (Blackwood, 2021). The role of an engineer is to ensure this connection.
Prioritizing People’s Well-being
An engineer’s task is to help design an environment that prioritizes people’s well-being and general sense of security. Engineers contribute to healthcare efficiency and high quality by creating innovative technologies to diagnose and treat illnesses. They participate in the development of new drugs.
They also ensure the safety of the infrastructure and transport system. Caring about people is at the core of the engineering profession. Marwa Al-Sabouni says, “The undoing of the urban fabric has advanced hand in hand with the undoing of the moral fabric” (Blackwood, 2021). The concern for human well-being is what makes the engineering profession humane.
Conclusion
To conclude, the engineering profession is not only about the technical part of designing and building infrastructure and systems. At the core of this profession lies the care for humans. Engineering is concerned with questions of humanity and people’s prosperity, such as sustainability, human connection, and society’s well-being. The role of an engineer in solving these kinds of issues is indispensable.
Reference
Blackwood, S. (Executive producer). (2021). Marwa Al-Sabouni: Architectrue as a matter of life and death. [Audio podcast episode]. In The Ralston College Podcast. Ralston College. Web.