Everything you ever needed to know about engineering is contained in the following aphorism. To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, it is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be!
You see, engineers are not here to save the world with existential philosophy; no, they are born to create tangible solutions to life’s problems, however big or small: the kind of solutions you can hold in your palm or drive full speed through a brick wall.
And, while it’s impossible to predict all of the problems that might arise in 2015, we can be sure this is going to be a remarkable year for new technologies and engineering breakthroughs.
Here are just a few of the headliners to look out for in the year ahead.
1. Grow your own!
The engineering of new materials has developed exponentially in the past decade. Most recently it was the creation of electric ink making the news – a substance that will allow engineers to print circuit boards, solar cells and other electronics.
This month, however, it is Graphene that is the hot topic. Made from stripping graphite down to a singular atom and then compressing several into an atom-thick sheet, this is tougher than diamond and stronger than steel. It’s also electrically and thermally conductive and chemically stable.
Now, in a plot twist straight from a comic book, a team from the University of California has succeeded in making it magnetic. This means 2015 could see Graphene widen its range of applications, including acting as an integral part of so-called spintronic computer chips.
2. This time it’s personal
With the continued personalisation of mobile computing systems, such as mobile phones and tablets, engineers will have a huge role to play in developing complex yet compact computing hardware to be used in small yet user friendly-design.
This focus on mobile computing will undoubtedly also give rise to renewed interest in software engineering. This sector is already developing brand new applications, websites and software that will help us maximise our banking, cloud storage and social networking capabilities.
3. The green team grows
Environmental engineering will have a major role to play in 2015. As the human race is dragged kicking and screaming, like a tantrum-gripped teenager, towards greater respect for our planet, environmental engineers are busy developing new systems that can help maximise performance while minimising damage. The most obvious sector to keep our eyes on for such input will be environmentally friendly power sources – everything from wind to wave power – and their associated civil engineering operations.
4. Full dream ahead, captain!
We’ve come a long way from the wacky days of Count Louis Zborowski’s Chitty Bang Bang. Today’s vehicular and aeronautical engineers are on the verge of major breakthroughs as research continues apace in an electric-fossil fuel hybrid engine for aeroplanes that uses up to 30% less juice and can even re-charge itself mid-flight.
Meanwhile, automotive engineers are poised to lead the development of new propulsion technologies for cars. In what promises to be a turning point in automotive history, Toyota has already stolen a lead at the start of 2015 with the dramatic unveiling of its hydrogen-powered Mirai.
Picture: Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Mirai.
Would you like to be involved in 2016 biggest trends? Search the latest Engineering jobs on s1jobs.com.