Mechanical Engineering, Letter to the Editor
Debate between science and engineering
Douglas Lightfoot
October, 2018
In regards to the ongoing debate between science and engineering, every engineering design is a “million” decisions and each decision is a prediction about the future. That is, any decision will be valid for the life of the product or project.
Scientists build the base of scientific information, but it is engineers who select and apply the right science for each decision. The science behind each decision must be correct otherwise the design will fail.
Engineers might not develop science but they must be knowledgeable about it. Further, engineers are held responsible for selecting the right science: they attract liability if they get the science wrong.
Scientists and engineers must work together. Sometimes engineers need the science to be extended or verified. Sometimes, new science gives engineers opportunities to improve their designs.
It is appropriate, I think, that my engineering degree is in Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering.
H. Douglas Lightfoot, Baie-D’Urfe, Quebec, Canada