Engineering is a fabulous profession that combines the application of technical problem-solving skills with specialized knowledge to design solutions that better the lives of Canadians. It’s a calling particularly suited to women and men who possess great analytical skills and a love for challenges. With these challenges come the engineer’s duty to the public, their client, and their employer to act ethically and maintain the level of competency they acquired through school. This means adopting lifelong learning practices that help the engineer stay abreast of new technological developments as well as socio-political requirements.

The need for engineers to adhere to lifelong learning principles is as true today as it was when the EIC was created 130 years ago.

Engineers helping engineers

The Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) is the country’s oldest technical organization, founded in 1887 by Canadian engineers who predicted that daily engineering practice was insufficient to stay abreast of new scientific findings and advances in technology. They created the EIC to provide engineers with seminars, conferences, technical journals, and networking events to help maintain necessary competencies through lifelong learning. The EIC represents the diversity of the engineering field as it advances with society. 

For its first 100 years, the EIC’s membership was made up largely of practicing engineers in the traditional disciplines of mechanical, civil, geotechnical, chemical, and electrical engineering. Starting in 1970, subgroups of the organization decided to incorporate themselves as independent groups that would remain EIC Constituent societies. This began the transition toward the modern EIC — a federation of technical associations. There are now 12 constituent societies that are part of the EIC federation, comprising over 25,000 Canadian engineers.

The EIC mission has evolved alongside the needs of the profession, but one thing remains clear: the need for engineers to adhere to lifelong learning principles is as true today as it was when the EIC was created 130 years ago. Today, the EIC recognizes outstanding engineers with lifetime achievement awards and fellowships; accredits Quality Learning Providers to issue continuing education units (CEUs) to engineering professionals; preserves engineering history and archives; runs a career site focused on jobs in the engineering community; and organizes a series of national conferences on topics of importance to Canadians and a broad spectrum of the engineering community — for example, climate change technologies, sustainable development of the North.

Support for the 21st-century professional

The EIC Continuing Education Recognition Program helps engineering professionals identify and source quality education providers to support their training and development needs. The responsibility to maintain technical competencies is of utmost importance in engineering — most licensing bodies have adopted explicit professional development requirements as a condition of licensing renewal.

One CEU is defined as “ten hours of participation in a continuing education program organised in compliance with prescribed standards under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.” Because of this stringent requirement, CEU-certified courses and seminars provide significantly more value to professionals than other professional development activities. They’re also widely accepted by employers and licensing bodies as a valid demonstration of continuing education activities. Engineering professionals are recommended to permit accredited Learning Providers to register their continuing education achievements in the EIC CEU registry for ease of reference and record keeping.

The EIC and its constituent technical societies are also partners in a career site catering specifically to the engineering market in Canada called EngineeringCareers.ca. Job seekers can upload their resumés and apply for any of the posted jobs free of charge. It’s also a great niche site for companies and governmental organizations looking to hire qualified engineering professionals.  

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We are not asking about the standard textbook definition here, but a deeper question about a stream of science that gave us men and women who went on to shape the world!

Engineering — the definition

To put it simply, Engineering is the application of science to solve real-world problems and engineers are the ones who are trained to do so. As we turn the pages of history, it’s easy to see how the engineers left their mark on this world, and the modern world that we live in is quite impossible without them.

How many types of engineers are there?

The word engineer is very comprehensive, however, it is vital to know that there are six different types of engineers in the field. These types can have subtypes within them, but there exist only 6 major segments.

Mechanical Engineering

This field is obviously related to machine and mechanical engineers play a vital role from the design to manufacture of machines. And these machines can range their complexity and sizes, each one designed and built for specific purposes.

The biggest machine built till date is the Large Hadron Collider, which has a circumference of 27 Kilometers, becoming the world’s largest particle accelerator.

Other inventions like the Big Bertha and The Prelude show how far human engineering can be pushed when you think of the biggest and greatest.

Civil Engineering

The need for construction of buildings and other physical structures were a part of the human civilization, and we can even say that civil engineering predates any other form of engineering. when you look at the scale of the highest building the world, or the concrete domes that cover Chernobyl from leaking nuclear energy which shows how important civil engineering is for both development as well as sustainability.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering might sound like a branch of engineering solely handling chemicals, but it compasses various branches science within itself like biology, physics, math etc. The purification of water using chlorination and processing of metals using chemicals are all byproducts of the chemical engineering feats that have graced the world.

Chemical engineers are in high demand today due to the advancements in rechargeable batteries that are stated to be the future of transport. There are also active researches going on to create healing gels that would boost human wound recovery by a great margin.

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering can be said the driver behind the modern industries. Petroleum engineering related to the processing of oils that we get from the earth. By engineering crude oil, we get all sorts of products from jet fuel to petroleum jelly.

The vehicle that roams the earth would not have been possible without petroleum engineers. Petroleum engineering is almost always ranked as the topmost paying engineering roles.

Electrical/Electronics Engineering

The world has taken a stance for an electric future and electrical engineers are hard at work bringing it into fruition. Electrical engineering pertains to the generation and application of electricity.

They are also the people behind the invention of electric devices that use electricity.

There is no doubt in their market reach because you are now reading this text off from an electronic device. Modern automation calls for more electrical engineering and the onset of renewable energy have projected electrical engineers as the saviors of the modern world.

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers defied what we can do as a human, to enable flight! Nowadays, air travel has become common than ever before.

But the sky isn’t the limit for Aerospace engineers. We have explored space, literally left our footprint on the moon, and now, plans for colonizing Mars are underway.

Can Engineers and Scientists see eye to eye?

There is always this rivalry that we have heard between Scientists and Engineers. When Elon Musk was asked “Who is better, Scientists or Engineers?” he answered the same without thinking twice — Engineers. But one who puts it better than Elon is Einstein:

“Scientists investigate that which already is; engineers create that which has never been.”

This is true in every sense when you think about it. There has always been a hierarchical dispute that goes unspoken between scientists and engineers. Even though both won’t show, the subtle tension on who is better is omnipresent when they are in the same room!

Basically, scientists discover a phenomenon that is present in the world, however, we cannot leverage these phenomena to our advantage unless we understand them. Scientists help us decode things better and engineers are ones who actually use these findings to create something that isn’t there.

So they both complement each other and it results in inventions that come of use to us, the common people. Don’t think them as enemies, but two master races that help each other, and mankind along the way in their fight to be on top.

Today, engineers are getting their long overdue fame from a variety of fields, cinema and comics being the prime venues. Tony Stark is an engineer and multiple theories confirm Bruce Wayne is also an engineer, a time to rejoice indeed!

They are also becoming an inspiration for many young engineers. But Engineering isn’t for everyone.

Remember, you don’t choose engineering, engineering chooses you!

Kashyap Vyas is an entrepreneur, marketer and writer. He holds a Master’s degree in Thermal Engineering with several research papers to his credit. Vyas originally wrote this article for Interesting Engineering.

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Mediaplanet: How are you creating a climate that is ripe for innovation, investment, and growth in Canada?

Navdeep Bains: In 2015, we inherited an economy that was emerging from its second recession in the previous decade and unemployment was high. As Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, my mandate was clear: build an economy that works for everyone. In a rapidly-transforming global economy, we realized that we needed to invest to create the right economic conditions for businesses to grow and create jobs and ensure all Canadians were equipped to fully participate, contribute to, and benefit from that economic growth. We needed to invest in people.

The Innovation and Skills Plan — which forms the basis of our recently released Building A Nation of Innovators report — is a new approach to innovation that puts people at the heart of innovation. But innovation isn’t just about having the latest iPhone — it’s so much more than that. It’s when people find new solutions to the challenges we face. If we want to see economic growth and if we want to see more jobs created, we need to invest in people and their skills.

How do we future-proof the Canadian economy and capitalize on today’s growth opportunities?

Canadians have created nearly one million jobs since our government was elected in 2015. However, that does not on its own guarantee future success.

Our number one competitive advantage is the ingenuity, education, and drive of our people. We have one of the most diverse workforces in the world, with the highest proportion of post-secondary degrees in OECD countries (2017) and the highest share of women with post-secondary degrees. With Budget 2019, we’re doubling down because we recognize our workforce will drive our future success. For example, we’re providing every Canadian worker with the financial support, time, and job security to train and retrain over the course of their career. We’ve made the Global Talent Stream permanent, which secures access to top global talent for Canadian companies and creates 10 times as many jobs for Canadians.

“We are at the table and ready to export and trade. We are the only G7 country to have free trade agreements with all other G7 nations which puts us at a significant advantage.”

We also recognize that investments in research and development help to future-proof businesses. Unfortunately, in the 10 years before we formed government, Canada’s average OECD ranking on research and development had slid six spots but with the $2 billion Strategic Innovation Fund, we’ve started to turn the tide. With a little more than half the fund invested in 39 projects, we’ve secured $8.4 billion in R&D commitments.

What is the federal government doing to make it easier for companies to engage in trade and export around the world?

We are at the table and ready to export and trade. We are the only G7 country to have free trade agreements with all other G7 nations which puts us at a significant advantage.

And we are investing at all stages, from start-up to scale-up to export. The Innovation and Skills Plan is helping businesses through a variety of streamlined government programs. We are also increasing access to late-stage capital for innovative firms in every sector, and expanding advice to help more Canadian businesses find and enter new markets abroad. The Trade Commissioner Service then helps firms of all sizes navigate international markets by providing insights and access to international contacts that facilitate entering new markets and exporting.

What does Canada’s innovation landscape currently look like?

We can assess our innovation landscape by asking ourselves if we are growing our solutions into global successes and if Canadians are the ones ultimately benefitting.

Last year, the number of Canadian companies on track to become unicorns (tech start-up companies on track to be valued over one billion dollars) doubled from 14 to 28, and none of them sold out to foreign entities or exited Canada. That means Canadian start-ups are scaling and staying in Canadian hands.

“After more than three years […] our economy has turned a corner.”

Unbeknownst to many, it’s quicker to start a business in Canada than in any other G7 country. This could be why Forbes ranks Canada as the top country to do business with or in. We are also home to some of the world’s top incubators and support a robust entrepreneurial landscape, ranking third in the world for Venture Capital investment as a percentage of GDP (2016). And on the last year on record, Toronto attracted more tech talent than the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington D.C, and Seattle — combined!

After more than three years of strategic investments, close collaboration with our innovators, and smart industrial policy, our economy has turned a corner. By continuing to invest in Canadians, their businesses, their ideas and their communities, we’re expecting it to continue to pay dividends for Canadians for the long term.

The post Hon. Navdeep Bains on Canada’s Innovation Landscape appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Mediaplanet: How did you discover your passion for engineering?

Rosa Galvez: I became interested in the field because my grandfather was an architect. I was inspired by his ability to design — he didn’t receive university training, he just knew his stuff. I remember helping him in those plans, doing some calculations, and going to the field to do some of it. Soon, I started liking the idea of being an engineer because of how many concepts you apply to the real world.

Why did you choose to become an environmental engineer?

Pollution problems have always worried me — air pollution due to gas emissions, poor drinking water, or inadequate waste management. Engineering can offer many solutions to pollution problems because the engineering field evolves in parallel with science and knowledge acquisition.

What are some of the most fulfilling projects you’ve worked on?

I have worked in the restoration of contaminated lakes in Canada and around the world, studying excess nutrients causing proliferation of toxic algae. For example, in Canada, we use de-icing salts that change the chemistry and biology of freshwater lakes which then affects multiple facets of the lake’s environment. I developed eco-processes that use natural materials to capture contaminants and plants that can degrade or filter contaminants. I am very proud that the engineered units I developed and proposed have been used in various sites around the world.

Diverse leadership is so important because leaders can bring everybody, the best capacities and the best abilities, together.

Why is it important to foster diversity and inclusion in engineering?

We humans have one type of brain. When we see the brain, mine is the exact same as a person of colour or a man — we all have the same capacities. We will always go farther in our objectives when we go as a group. We are all crafted and all have talents. Diverse leadership is so important because leaders can bring everybody, the best capacities and the best abilities, together. That’s why, for me, it is very important.

How has the field changed in recent years?

Years ago, our role as engineers stopped at the operational level. We were planning, constructing, and operating only, but now engineers have to be conscious that our main responsibility is to protect the public and the quality of life of citizens. That has to drive our work. Engineers have to think that our infrastructure has a lifetime of its own, so we have to take care of what’s going to happen in decades to come. We have to think holistically.

Traditionally, we’ve seen that engineers occupy positions where there are multiple stakeholders. There are times where we manage resources, materials, equipment, and budgets. When we are in these situations, sometimes there are opportunities to take advantage of the situation, but we have to be very, very mindful of ethics.

What advice do you have for aspiring engineers?

I have so many things to tell them. Be an independent thinker. You have to keep learning because technology changes, so you have to stay up-to-date. Also, work your network because the outlook of a network is always better than the outlook of just one person. Be ethical. Have your moral principles. Speak out and be a leader, whoever you are.

Why is it important to continue to foster Canada’s innovative ecosystem?

This generation is living through important societal changes. We are experiencing a fourth industrial revolution where the decarbonization of our economy is becoming crucial to the protection of our environment. This revolution needs to be propelled by innovation and science. Fortunately, the engineering field is well-positioned to advance this shift towards a cleaner society. 

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In Canada, the demand for jobs that require a background in STEM has already exceeded the talent supply. But it’s not just jobs in technology or health care that require STEM skills. “Meaningful STEM engagement helps young people become analytical, creative, curious and critical thinkers who are able to make connections,” explains Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, President and Founder of Let’s Talk Science. “That’s an asset to every job.”

Long-time Let’s Talk Science engineering partner, 3M Canada believes STEM education equips students for the  challenges that face them in this rapidly changing world. “Whether chemists, coders, engineers or data scientists, 3M employees regularly have to solve problems, think critically, analyze data, and work together,” says Richard Chartrand, Country Laboratory Leader at 3M Canada. “These skill sets are hallmarks of a STEM education and the ones needed to put a brighter future within reach for all Canadians.”

Let’s Talk Science is determined to help youth understand the importance and relevance of STEM in their lives, especially when it comes to engineering their future.

Building a foundation of innovation

Children are natural, curious learners and there is something inspiring about the way they explore and discover the world. They have an innate desire to gather information, explore everything, and test theory after theory. Through unique programs that promote inquiry-based learning, Let’s Talk Science uses STEM to support critical skill development and inspires children and youth to think about their futures.

For example, the Let’s Talk Science Challenge exposes students in grades six to eight to engineers and gives them the opportunity to test their skills as a team in an engineering design challenge. Let’s Talk Science is determined to help youth understand the importance and relevance of STEM in their lives, especially when it comes to engineering their future. Having this unique approach to learning is building a foundation for future engineers.

“How do we build new companies, solve new problems, or change social systems? It begins with creating a culture of curiosity so that people are intrinsically driven to make life better,” Dr. Schmidt explains. “And making life better — and safer — is really what engineering is all about.”

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“We value and encourage curiosity because there are some complex problems that engineers need to help solve,” says Brian Frank, Associate Dean Teaching and Learning Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Queen’s University. “When there isn’t a natural solution, it requires people to ask good questions —that comes from being curious and creative. It is something we look at it, but it’s more difficult to assess than a student’s grades.”

A well-rounded education

When considering applicants, the school reviews a student’s interests and passions or volunteer and work experience. According to Frank, there used to be a focus on students simply having the math and science skills, but there was feedback from industry that students weren’t prepared for real work solutions because they didn’t have some of the creative thinking that is necessary to finding solutions.

If Queen’s is looking for well-rounded students, it’s because it also wants its Engineering program to reflect a diverse mix of students. “This is important because the more diverse teams we have, the better chance we have solving some of society’s complex challenges,” says Frank. “Our outreach team has done a great job at engaging with different groups who traditionally haven’t gravitated to engineering, including Indigenous students.”

Enhanced learning

The university’s award-winning Aboriginal Access to Engineering initiative provides culturally-relevant support services to Indigenous students enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Aboriginal Access to Engineering also runs extensive STEM outreach programming.

Thousands of Indigenous students from kindergarten to grade 12 have been introduced to engineering through the initiative. When it was launched in 2011, there were only four identified Indigenous engineering students at Queen’s. Since then, 23 have graduated and 48 are currently studying engineering at the university.

“Success for Indigenous students in Queen’s engineering has been very similar to that of the general population at Queen’s, which is to say, it is very high,” says Melanie Howard, Director, Aboriginal Access to Engineering. “Our Indigenous graduates have gone on to work in engineering and business, in addition to graduate studies.”

Howard adds that any institution, company, or group is strengthened by allowing for a diversity of backgrounds and voices to be heard. “Innovation thrives when ideas come from people with different lived experiences,” she says. “A diverse student population, supported by staff and faculty who value inclusivity, creates a learning environment where students are challenged to think beyond their own experiences and to consider diverse solutions to solving problems.”

We value and encourage curiosity because there are some complex problems that engineers need to help solve.

Brian Frank, Associate Dean of Teaching

While many Indigenous students have an aptitude to succeed in engineering, they may not be academically prepared to do so, which is why the Faculty’s long-term goal is to develop a pathway from high school to college and then to Queen’s. Students still need to have some math and science skills, but by first going to a community college, they can further the skills necessary to succeed in Engineering. “We need to make sure there is a reasonable pathway into engineering for Indigenous students, so they can help solve challenges that exist in some of their communities, including water treatment and energy,” says Frank.

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The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) is a learned society whose purpose is to uphold the standards of work within our practice and to help those who wish to pursue this profession to succeed in delivering on their goals. The strength of CSCE is due, in large part, to the expertise and desire from our members to make changes in an industry that is strongly linked to society’s infrastructure.  The organization continues to grow in size, strength, and purpose, thanks to the fact that helping others is part of human nature.

In an effort to foster Canada’s innovative development, CSCE will be unveiling a new means of communication to its members. This spring we are launching the CSCE HUB, an online tool whereby our entire community  — which includes members from over 30 countries — can discuss, share, and learn from each other’s expertise and experience. We are making strides towards leveraging technology to simplify information sharing for the benefit of our industry and the improvement of our practice.

At CSCE, we look forward to sharing our new lineup of courses and events for the year ahead. We are expanding our offering of technical courses and starting to include soft skill training as well. Visit our website regularly for updates.

On a last note, we will always encourage continued learning, leveraging your network, and staying current in everything you do. With CSCE, we can help you do all of these things and more.

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Mediaplanet sat down with Afshin Doust, CEO of Advanced Intelligence Systems, to discuss how AIS uses advancements of engineering to innovate new technologies that contribute to Canada’s innovative ecosystem.  

Mediaplanet: Tell me about AI Systems, how did it start and what impact is the organization trying to make?

Afshin Doust: Advanced Intelligent Systems (AIS) was incorporated 5 years ago. In 2016, Afshin Doust, who was an advisor to the company took the role of CEO and the company focused on creating Practical Autonomous robots to automate tasks that are labour intensive, hazardous and undesirable. AIS automates tasks in industries that have a hard time finding labour due to the strenuous nature of the work.

These industries are in the danger of shrinkage due to the fact that the nature of work is changing and people are not willing to perform hard labour and dangerous tasks for minimal wages.

One such industry in horticulture and agriculture. AIS’ first product, BigTop is geared towards automating plant pot spacing in this industry while using AI and IoT to gather data about the plants’ growth cycle, marketability readiness and possibly decease detection. 

What are the top industry challenges you are helping address?

Automation is expensive and this is the biggest hinderance for many industries to seek automation. AIS’ RaaS model does not require any upfront capital from clients who seek to automate their work processes. AIS, through its RaaS model makes automation available to everyone.

Another perceived issue with automation is the cost of service and down time due to break downs. AIS has created a modular robot with interchangeable parts that allows maximum uptime and all of the parts and service are included in AIS’ RaaS offering, eliminating all service concerns and down times. 

Engineering of new technologies and AIS’ practical approach to automation has brought robotics within everyone’s reach.

Seeing as you were one of the Agri-tech companies selected for the upcoming National Research Council of Canada, can you offer insights on how the engineering of new technologies is disrupting the agriculture industry?

Engineering of new technologies and AIS’ practical approach to automation has brought robotics within everyone’s reach. The availability and affordability of automation provided by AIS has created and will continue to create a significant disruption in all targeted industries. 

How does AI Systems help make an impact through strong engineering and pave the way for cutting edge technologies for the future of Canada?

AIS has amassed a plethora of patents, each unique in its own way. These patents can be used to develop technology in Canada and export it all over the world. The long term impact of AIS’ technological discoveries will flourish for generations to come.

Anything else you want to add to discuss how AI Systems is helping engineer the future?

AIS is a practical autonomous robotics company. We focus on creating practical robotics solutions in industries that are facing grave labour shortages due to the nature of their jobs. AIS automates jobs that are undesirable and helps to create many supplementary jobs in various industries. 

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