Engineering: Personal Statement Concerning Future Profession

“To be an engineer it is not enough to be an engineer” to me this quote by José Ortega y Gasset appears to be commenting on how engineers are lacking in a philosophical and creative approach, only considering aspects such as efficiency as opposed to wider areas like sustainability and contributing to the general wellbeing of others. While these areas may seem intangible they should be of the utmost importance to engineers who have a responsibility as shapers of our world.

I have drawn inspiration from some engineering accomplishments, the Millau Viaduct, for example, is both an engineering and an aesthetic marvel, this cable-stayed bridge has a thin, sleek silhouette, and the cables and obelisk pylons give a futuristic look and manage to integrate into the environment. This design gave me an insight into how architecture and engineering can create both functionality and beauty. More locally the Forth Rail Bridge, with its striking cantilever steel trusses. This bridge was a first at the time and is incredible especially when considering that it was designed in the 1880s. This bridge has and will continue to be a lifeline for people north of Edinburgh and is also a great example of how engineering can combine form and functionality.

In the absence of work experience, I enrolled in a MOOC on sustainable urban development, where I came across the quote: ‘sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. An important factor when it comes to conserving our planet is climate change. The International Panel for Climate Change calculated the sectors with the most potential for carbon reduction, one of the major sectors was buildings. Civil engineers have a very clear link to buildings and so it seems that responsibility falls upon civil engineers to both devise and advocate for sustainable development in buildings and infrastructure.

James Trevelyan presented a TED Talk titled ‘Ending poverty – what engineers can do’, he explains how countries with low-cost labour are very expensive to live in as a result of the poor infrastructure and engineering. Using the example of Charles Yelverton O’Connor and the Goldfields Pipeline from the TED talk, I realised that this great feat of infrastructural engineering was used to improve both GDP and quality of life for all the citizens of the Goldfields. Taking this example it is clear to see that if innovative engineering was transferred to developing countries could enable billions of people to experience a much higher quality of life.

Higher Engineering Science enabled me to discover an interest in engineering, particularly in structural aspects. However, it was through participating in the MOOC on sustainable urban development and watching Trevelyan’s TED talk that allowed me to understand not just the importance and potential of engineering, but also the opportunity that engineers have to inspire prosperity in sustainable and economic sectors.

I have always been proficient in both Maths and Physics, and have taken part in the Senior Maths Challenge and have achieved the Silver Award. This has helped improve both my problem-solving and maths skills. I have furthered these skills by mentoring a younger student in maths. To supplement my engineering skills from Higher Engineering Science I have completed some problems from the iWantToStudyEngineering website. To further my personal skills I have taken part in activities such as Duke of Edinburgh and the Combined Cadet Forces, these have improved my teamwork and problem-solving skills. I have also been working as a Kitchen Assistant in a care home, which has improved my independence and sense of responsibility.

Studying engineering will be an intellectual challenge which I will relish. After university, I aim to become a chartered engineer, who can prioritise sustainable development to create integrated pieces of engineering.