ITT Industries/Discover Engineering Survey Identifies Future Challenges
Source:  ITT Industries

Earlier this year, we tipped our hat in honor of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century. The list of accomplishments from the last 100 years is most impressive and its celebration well deserved.  So, what can engineers do this century to top their exceptional predecessors, to whom we owe such a debt of gratitude?  A recent survey conducted by ITT Industries and Discover asked the engineers, themselves, what challenges they believe they will face over the next 100 years.

Four hundred engineers from various disciplines -- including electrical, civil, chemical and mechanical engineering -- participated in the telephone survey conducted by Ketchum, the ITT Industries public-relations agency.

According to the respondents, the greatest challenges that engineers will face in the 21st century are:

• Finding new energy sources
• Supplying the world with clean water
• Designing products so that they do not harm the environment
• Exploring deeper into space
• Curing diseases and prolonging life with biomedical engineering
• Planning cities and allocating resources to accommodate the growing population

The results of the ITT Industries/Discover Magazine Engineering Survey were originally released in conjunction with the Discover Awards for Technological Innovation. The survey's predictions were highlighted at a gala awards ceremony and weekend tech "summit" at Disney's Epcot in Orlando, Florida on 23-24 June. The survey and the events surrounding the tech summit at Epcot underscore the cooperative efforts of industry, academia, government agencies, and the public sector to recognize the ways in which engineers and innovators contribute to a better world.

Click here to see the rest of the ITT Industries/Discover Engineering Survey results, or contact Dianna Chapman, Ketchum at Dianna.Chapman@ketchum.com.

The majority of the ITT Industries/Discover Engineering Survey sample was provided by the following societies -- IEEE-USA, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers -- and was coordinated by the American Association of Engineering Societies. Other respondents were culled from past winners of the Discover Awards for Technological Innovation.

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The following survey is reprinted here with permission from Ketchum.

Engineering Challenge Telephone Survey

Conducted May 2 – June 1, 2000

Quotas:

INTRODUCTION

Hello. My name is _____________and I am calling from _____________research. Today we are conducting interviews regarding the challenges facing the engineering field. Those who complete this survey will be eligible to enter into a drawing for $100. A total of 15 winners will be chosen at random at the end of this research project.

To begin, I wonder if you might remember the results of the "Greatest Engineering Achievements" Poll from this past February. Engineers who participated in that poll identified, among other things, electrification, water supply and distribution, and spacecraft as some of the major milestones of the 20^th century. Now, we’d like to look into the future, and find out what you consider to be the greatest hurdles ahead.

1. What do you believe will be the greatest challenge for engineers of all types in the 21^st century?

 

16.0%	Development of computer technology and skills
13.0	Developing new energy resources
11.3	Environmental concerns
7.5	Biomedical research/engineering
5.0	Space travel and exploration
4.8	Education – finding qualified people
4.5	Meet dmands of growing population
3.8	Communication
3.5	Water supply
2.8	Information Overload
2.8	Governmental involvement
2.5	Innovation/Creativity - new materials
2.3	Transportation
2.3	Fair compensation for work
2.3	Dealing with multidisciplinary approach to engineering
2.0	Ethical and social concerns
2.0	Nanotechnology and miniaturization
7.8	Other
4.3	Don't know

2. Even if it is hard to imagine right now, what do you think might be the most exciting engineering innovation that will play an important part in people’s lives sometime in the next hundred years?

 

22.8%	Space and travel exploration
13.0	Developing new energy sources
8.5	Biomedical Research/Engineering
8.5	Development of computer technology and skills
8.3	Communication
7.3	Transportation
5.8	Genetic Engineering
4.0	Artificial body parts
3.0	Nanotechnology and miniaturization
2.8	Integrating technology and human tissue
2.8	Environmental Concerns
2.3	Robotics/Artificial intelligence
1.3	New materials
5.8	Other
4.3	Don’t know

(CIVIL ENGINEERS ONLY)

3. In your opinion, what will be the greatest challenge solved by civil engineers in the 21^st century?

(ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS ONLY)

4. In your opinion, what will be the greatest challenge solved by electrical engineers in the 21^st century?

(MECHANICAL ENGINEERS ONLY)

5. In your opinion, what will be the greatest challenge solved by mechanical engineers in the 21^st century?

(CHEMICAL ENGINEERS ONLY)

6. In your opinion, what will be the greatest challenge solved by chemical engineers in the 21^st century?

Demographics:

Now, just a few questions for classification purposes:

7. Please tell me what field of engineering do you specialize in.

8. What industry do you work in?

9. Please tell me your current occupational title.

10. How many years have you worked in engineering?

11. Please tell me the state in which you work.

12. Who is your current employer?

(Not reported)

13. Please indicate gender of respondent.

End of Survey

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Last Updated:  10 August, 2000