How bad is it in the US?
How bad is it in the US?
(OP)
In today's Guardian http://ww w.guardian .co.uk/usa /story/0,1 2271,15429 85,00.html it is reported that engineers and scientists are being sent to movie school in order that their ilk can be portrayed in a more flattering manner to offset the dramatic decline in the number of students entering the profession in the US.
Will we see remakes of famous movies such as 'Bridge designed over the river Kwai' and 'Titanic' - a story of romance, love, and brittle fracture under impact loading?
Will we see remakes of famous movies such as 'Bridge designed over the river Kwai' and 'Titanic' - a story of romance, love, and brittle fracture under impact loading?
corus





RE: How bad is it in the US?
I love the idea of those films, or rather a cinema fill of the people,who might like to go and see them!! Imagine the general hubub as they whisper to each other subtle changes that they might implemented or worse still, the quality and grammar used in the title credits!
RE: How bad is it in the US?
The supposed "...dramatic decline in the number of students entering [engineering] in the US" is due soley to the fact that real estate, finance and "management" pay a heck of a lot better from the start than does engineering. Also, it's less work in school for a bigger payoff.
People become successful engineers because it's what they want to do and what thye've wanted to do all their lives.
The best portrayal of a Civil Engineer on film I've seen was in September Affair - everyone should see it.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
'Bascule Bridge Designed over the River Kwai', now there's a real reason to see the remake!
"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Maybe Hollywood has us all pigeon-holed already: "Give me 5 engineers, including one super-fat one - make them all extra nerdy!".
RE: How bad is it in the US?
You need to watch Mythbusters especially the ones on the Hollywood myths. The tank blowing up in Jaws in the sharks mouth. People being shot and being thrown back by the impact of the bullet. These are Hollywood's depiction of what "they" think the public will believe. There aretons of examples of the deceptions.
However they portray and engineer in a movie is what the filmmaker wants to give to the public.
People remember the bad events; airplane crashes, bridges falling, ships sinking and the like. People don't care the elevator doesn't fail, the car starts and runs every time, the sewage magically goes into the sewer never to be seen again, video games are great, the air conditioner keeps us cool, and of course what would life be like without electricity. Engineers did all the good things and the bad things yet the public only remembers the spectacular failures.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
where ENGINEERS are prominent in the text.
When this started it struck me as odd because it seemed out
of place given that prior to the time you never heard a
mention of an enginner, even in the 90's tech boom.
Now glowing tv,magazine,newspaper articles can be found
glorifying the profession. Even recently with the Shuttle
trouble, the ones working on the problem were Engineers.
It use to allways be Scientist that did this work.
Where does it come from and why??
RE: How bad is it in the US?
What is the most efficient way to alter the public's perception of the profession?
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: How bad is it in the US?
I can't think of a single human character on any current or recent fictional TV shows set in modern America who is an engineer. As far as TV writers are concerned, engineers don't exist. It's a bit ironic that the workers who invented TV are never shown on it.
I do not count science fiction shows such as "Stargate" or "Star Trek" because they occur mainly on alien planets or in the future. I also don't count documentary-style shows such as "Mythbusters" (Discovery channel) or "Modern Marvels" (History channel).
The only two characters I can think of who might qualify are cartoons: Dilbert (an actual engineer who is a stereotypical nerd) and Homer Simpson (a nuclear "engineer" who isn't qualified or competent).
Small wonder that our kids have negative impressions about engineering and science. Whenever they watch cartoons they learn that only dorks want to study science and engineering.
Can anyone else name a few more characters? Perhaps I'm just not watching enough TV :)
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Anyone like this guy would not be a math wizard - they'd be a folk singer or artist....right brain vs. left brain if you get my drift.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: How bad is it in the US?
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One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: How bad is it in the US?
I don't think the Japanese or Italian motorcycle industries will be losing sleep at nights!!
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One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Fred McMurry in "My 3 Sons" he was an aeronautical engineer.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
but other screen shots of "dad at the office, answering the phone call from home" he could've been an accountant, or a lawyer ...
btw, i like dilbert ... i've lived most of the earlier cartoons ... mostly as dilbert, sometimes as the boss !?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
actaully there's a renaissance guy for you, no i mean neville shute ... design engineer on aero engines, owned his own airplane company (Airspeed), designed his own planes, then wrote stories about engineering and other things ...
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: How bad is it in the US?
No, JR was an astronaut in that TV show.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
I'm still not sure if it's a good idea, but I think I understand the objective and motivation.
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Powers Boothe plays a dam engineer in the "Emerald Forest." Damn him!
Perhaps the most intriguing engineer portrayal I can recall is in the movie "Scorcerer." I cannot recall the actor's name, but his "role" is that of a Project Engineer - he's got a couple of scenes, one where he explains what the outlaws, led by Roy Scheider, must do (deliver nitro glycerine to an oilfield fire) and later when he cuts a check...
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Jim Treglio
Molecular Metallurgy, Inc.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
...bullets flying and JW yelling, "Get that backhoe over here now!"
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Holy Cow Batman. Dr Freeze is on the loose again. Another mad scientist.
Dr. Frankenstein, if you don't call that engineering what is it.
George Jetson worked at Spacely's Sprockets. Not sure if he was an engineer but its close enough.
Grandpa Munster was another mad scientist.
I know Hollywood would never pull the wool over the public's eyes but there has been a female impersonator on television and in the movies for 50 YEARS. Not a supporting actor/actress but the STAR. But of course you know whom I'm talking about. This STAR gave birth on television even though the STAR was a male.
Of course everybody knows its eissaL.
Hollywood at its finest.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
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RE: How bad is it in the US?
Ocean's 11 had some computer hacking, as well as Mission Impossible.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
That was Sylvester Stalone in the tunnel movie.
Also, on USA network “The 4400” has a geeky type of guy (portrays and an engineer) that is slowly morphing as un-geeky to a romantic relationship with the good looking female cop on the show.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
perhaps it's better that way. people who want to join our profession will ... look at ourselves. people who want to do engineering will find a way, maybe that's an initiative test !? and if people can make more money doing something else (like issuing IPOs or tele-marketing), let them; i expect that most of us are happy in our jobs (if we weren't we'd be selling IPOs) despite the non-engineering things we have to put up with.
and if john q. public thinks more highly of lawyers and accountants, let him ... we know the truth ! (well, our truth).
and if we are stylised as nerds ... remember nerds are becoming fashionable ! ... are we going to side-step our claim to popularity ?
i am an engineer, even if i don't have a pocket protector or an iron ring; and i'm proud to be an engineer, even if other people think i'm "nerdy".
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Jim Treglio
Molecular Metallurgy, Inc.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
My state is relatively lenient as far as that go. It comes in cycles and we hit bottom a couple of years ago and are now better. Other states sometimes won't let their employees travel out of their own districts, so even if a meeting were held in their state but another city, they wouldn't be allowed to attend.
Small-minded people.
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: How bad is it in the US?
My company routinely posts/emails information on useful conferences and seminars, but then suggestes that we pay for it ourselves. I have a philosophical objection to that, so I don't go.
I think all this whining about how engineers are portrayed is pitiful. As an architect, look who I've got as TV role models.
Wilber Post was an architect consigned to design homes from a working barn, and he talked to his horse.
Then there's Mike Brady......did he ever actually DO anything?
"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
On the conferences I've been prevented from going to technical conferences related to our process machinery, so salesman who have nothing to do with the processing of our products, but the applications of the finished products, can go play golf with each other. Their not at all interested in the seminars or vendor booths and have no clients there to meet.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
I can see why have a philosophical objection. The company wants something extra at your expense. Realistically, companies can not afford to send all of their technical staff to all of the seminars related to their industry. But, I expect a company to pay for at least the following: License renewal fees, at least one paid membership for a professional society/organization, designated number of paid seminars per year (at their discretion, they can choose the number and maximum fees).
Didn't Matt Dillon play this character from There's Something About Mary who pretended to be an architect? He was pretty good actually when he came out of his car with all those "blueprints".
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Mike Brady may be smarter then you think. If you had 6 kids living with you, wouldn't you want to make their stay as uncomfortable and short as possible?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
People complain about the price of petrol, but when you buy 10 gallons of milk a week a $3.00 a gallon that racks up too...
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Have you considered buying a cow?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng
Construction Project Management
From conception to completion
www.kitsonengineering.com
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Buy some goats to milk. They do a great job of keeping the yard mowed as well. You just change where you have them staked out. Your kids will have a daily chore of milking a goat with less chance of getting hurt by being kicked or stepped on by the cow.
I grew up with neighbors that had goats for milking. There is nothing better than fresh (cold) sweet goats milk for your cereal. It will save you on the sugar bills too. Fresh cows milk is also a lot sweeter than the processed stuff they sell in the stores. Your kids can learn to churn butter, and seperate cream.
I am ready to move out of the city limits myself.
I can easily make 5 times what I do as an engineer by just training retrievers for duck hunting, rescue work, and as drug dogs. Its crazy...... I wish I knew about all of this before going to college.
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RE: How bad is it in the US?
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Wes C.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Sheeps milk is pretty good to. I have three. And they make a great Cheese.... (plus my dog likes to heard them)
Wes C.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
RE: How bad is it in the US?
Wes C.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
This should've raised your eye brows
"According to the New York Times, the US military is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to send scientists on a screenwriting course in Los Angeles, with the aim of producing movies and television shows that portray scientists in a flattering light."
According to the New York Times which really means it was a slow news day and we most likely made it up or talked to some mess hall private at West Point.
RE: How bad is it in the US?
A tad of topic but.....I couldn't help myself.