Engineering in times of the Pandemic

João Falcão e Cunha*

Until the 20 th century technical education essentially involved being accepted and working in a professional guild. Such an education process ensured that apprentices understood the practice very well. In environments with a more formal engineering education, mathematics and scientific subjects were required, but the element of training was still required.

The world is again facing a global challenge, now from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and we are all once more adapting to a new way of life.

Most engineering activities at FEUP have moved to distance modes, and work in laboratories has been replaced with computersimulated problems or videos of experiments. The main exceptions have been for activities that directly deal with supporting the effort to design and build products to help the effort in controlling the spread of COVID-19, such as producing new 3D frames for goggles, or new pandemic ventilators.

Considering that engineers must be equipped to deal with real life problems, this situation of home confinement must be temporary, even if it is possible for various activities to remain in distance mode after the current crisis is largely over. In many situations, distance interaction in FEUP’s engineering activities is less efficient and effective, and we are becoming more aware of all the benefits provided by the on-Campus experience. Understanding practical considerations and resource constraints is as fundamental in any engineering activity as underlying theoretical knowledge of mathematical and scientific subjects. Of course, inferiorly designed products and services, as well as over-engineered ones, are in no way acceptable.

Naturally, every professional wants to answer the demand for the “right stuff”. Engineers, present and future, have their own responsibilities because they have the capacity to use and develop scientific knowledge in various fields, and to apply it to obtain useful solutions, making decisions involving multidisciplinary groups. Ongoing projects highlight the need for engineers to work together in their various specialties, and to combine with other professionals, with common goals. It is necessary to face a challenge with creativity, and, likewise, common sense in order to respect other specialists’ know-how as well as social and legal norms. For example, it is possible to build personal monitoring systems using georeferencing, but solutions must be socially acceptable, in particular by ensuring respect for privacy. Such a balance is expected in the activity of all professionals, including FEUP staff and Alumni. In addition to technical skills and knowledge, innovation capacity, and respect for ethical principles are essential.

Photo: Egídio Santos

I have no doubt that this new experience of large-scale distance working and e-learning will change the way we have become accustomed to living. And I believe that we will end up being better off through what we have learned and experienced, very much out of necessity. We will also be much more appreciative of many aspects of this unique world we have.

Whenever there is a new challenge, we must observe what is happening critically, but also creatively, looking for the most appropriate and sustainable solutions. We can always learn from past mistakes, and technology enables us to engineer alternative solutions, more innovative solutions, better adapted to new needs.

It is, however, fundamental that we understand our own limits and involve other professionals. By all working together, we will find effective and efficient answers to problems and thus will be able to help improve people’s quality of life, so that, hopefully, we can all enjoy a more balanced and happier society.

«Because I was making an incorrect mathematical calculation about love: I thought that, in adding up everything I understand, I loved. I didn’t know that adding up everything you don’t understand is the way to truly love. Because I, just from having felt affection, thought that loving is easy.»

Clarice Lispector (1920-77): «Complete Stories», Penguin Modern Classics, 2015.