Author and engineer Celeste Baine is well known for her 20+ books on engineering education and careers. Her latest foray into the field, The Green Engineer: Engineering Careers to Save the Earth, is a great resource for students who are seriously thinking about pursuing an engineering degree.
The 144-page book explains how the opportunities to combine engineering with sustainability and environmental stewardship are exploding across numerous industries, including aerospace, industrial manufacturing, agricultural machinery, marine and offshore, and even computers and software. Far from a grade-school tome, The Green Engineer is a thoughtful discussion about the specific tasks that engineers perform, the challenges to being green, and the way that engineers think and problem solve.
The book highlights:
- The abundant opportunities that abound in solar, wind, hydropower, bio, geothermal and ocean energy
- The opportunities creating greener transportation
- How engineers are creating buildings and houses that can keep people healthy
- How engineers are involved in natural resources management
- How engineers are protecting our air, food and water supplies, and
- How you can change the world as an engineer.
There’s an entire chapter dedicated to getting started, which I found particularly useful. It implores students to become well-rounded, work on their communication skills, attend summer camps and participate in student competitions. It has details on selecting the right engineering college, including cost, location, faculty, school size and academics. But it goes beyond that, instructing the reader on how to succeed once in college, including information on co-op programs.
Lastly, there are some good resources included in the book, such as a green engineering glossary, recommended books for further reading, websites of interest, and a listing of engineering colleges in the U.S., sorted by discipline.
If you have a high school student passionate about math and the sciences, this might be a great stocking stuffer to consider for him or her. The book is $12.95 (paperback), and is available through the website www.engineeringedu.com.
Filed Under: Design World articles, Green engineering
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