STEM covers the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As the world progresses in the 21st century, we find that there is an ever-rising need for more ingenuity and experimentation. STEM education has been highlighted in recent years as encouraging many skills, such as teamwork, resilience, problem solving, that are required for one’s career and in life in general. STEM skills are in demand in almost any career field. The importance of careers in STEM has also skyrocketed. STEM careers are among the most coveted and highest paying of all fields, especially for new college graduates eager for new opportunities.
Ever look at a building or a car, and are just left looking at it in awe. It’s the engineers who worked day and night to ensure the functionality and ability of that machine we all so admire. It is their out-of-the-box thinking and innovativeness that brought about so much revolution in our civilisation, eocnomy and homes.
If you’re someone who’s interested in being involved in the bringing about of innovation in every field possible; in designing machinery that would define progress towards a more efficient future, then engineering is for you. Engineering requires one to bring about different aspects of sciences, technology and math; it’s the middle ground of STEM where everything combines.
However, there’s often confusion regarding the various types of engineers and the career opportunities that are available within this field. There are many different types of engineering, which we’ve compiled in a list below for you:
- Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical engineers are tasked with planning and developing machines and products. It is one of the most diverse branches of engineering, and as a career, offers a range of projects one could do: from a microscale, such as working on nanotechnology or microsensors, to a macroscale, such as spacecrafts and satellites.
- Mechanical engineering highlights the use of the best skills offered from STEM education: problem solving, resilience, team work, creativity and analytical skills, in order to develop necessary machinery and parts. Many other types of engineering also come under mechanical engineering.
- Electrical Engineering: Electrical engineering is concerned with electrical systems and devices. An electric engineer works to develop electric-powered technology, with their projects ranging from designing and developing microchips to power stations.
- On a day to day basis, engineers are tasked with planning out and manufacturing electrical equipment and then experimenting and managing the production of these items.
- Industrial Engineering: Industrial engineers use a combination of science, mathematics, and engineering methods to propose new designs of equipment, infrastructure, information systems and more. They help companies in analyzing statistical data required for different projects. Industrial engineers are qualified to work in nearly any industry, due to a high demand for their skills.
- Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineering requires a great hold of sciences and engineering to help analyze and manufacture food, industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Chemical engineers are in high demand due to the wide range of industries that rely on the products these engineers make.
- Civil Engineering: Civil engineers are concerned with city and country infrastructure. They would work on designing and planning the construction and maintenance of infrastructure and facilities, such as roads, airports, bridges, dams and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.
- Aerospace Engineering: Aerospace engineers design and create aircraft, aerospace products, satellites and missiles and function prototypes to ensure they function according to design. They also make propulsion systems and
- assess the aerodynamic performance of aircrafts and assure all blueprints and prototypes meet the required standards, environmental issues, and customer requirements.
- Nuclear Engineering: Nuclear engineers study and analyze energy processes and storage systems to utilize the potential and advantages that could be had from nuclear energy and radiation.
- These engineers use their knowledge and skills to find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment, which include X-Rays, chemotherapy, etc.
- Software Engineering: Software engineers are specialists that are responsible for the testing, planning, manufacture and maintenance of computer software that is used for multiple things. They are tasked with programming computers to make them operate according to the consumer’s needs.
- Biomedical Engineering: Biomedical engineers utilize their skills in biology, medicine and engineering to assess and come up with solutions to improve patient care. They work on designing and developing sophisticated high-tech medical equipment and medical innovations.
- Automotive Engineering: Automotive engineers research, design, develop and operate all land vehicles, such as cars, racing cars, buses, trucks, etc.
The beauty of engineering is that you use a set of rules to make something that is completely yopur own and bring about ideas that have the ability to change the world as we think of it. It is one of the most progressive fields and definitely one of the most competitive too.
For more on Careers in STEM:
If you want to read about Careers in Sciences, click here.
If you want to read about Careers in Technology, click here.
If you want to read about Careers in Mathematics, click here.
