Engineering generally involves the application of scientific principles for practical uses. The quintessential examples of engineering are the pulley, lever and the wheel. These simple principles have had far reaching impact on our lives and this is the role that engineering plays in our lives - it makes things easier.



Engineering incorporates an extremely broad variety of disciplines. If you are looking for a career in engineering then it is important to recognise that there are a number of different branches to engineering and picking the right area at an early stage of education will help you focus your study. Engineering was originally divided into two sections, military engineering and civil engineering. Military engineering dealt with the improvement of military items such as weapons and fortifications. Civil engineering focussed on things such as bridges and buildings. The different varieties of engineering include,

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering is concerned with the design of aircraft and spacecraft and the related areas in this field of study. This branch of engineering was initially known as aeronautical engineering and focussed solely on craft that stayed within the Earth's atmosphere. The main problems that craft face these days are the high levels of atmospheric pressure that an aircraft faces. One of the main jobs a aerospace engineer faces is managing the pressure levels and temperature whilst ensuring optimal aerodynamics and improved propulsion.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering looks at how we can convert raw materials into useable commodities. It makes the most of chemistry and physics as well as maths to convert raw materials into more valuable forms or pioneering new techniques for improving existing materials for practical use. Chemical engineering covers an enormous range of products. For example chemical engineers work to improve, ceramics, plastics, chemicals for agriculture, fuels, explosives, soap products, pharmeceuticals and food additives. So a chemical engineer could work on a wide variety of things from developing bombs to creating perfumes.

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering focuses on design and construction. This is usually concerned with structures such as bridges and buildings and infrastructures such as roads and other transport facilities. Concentrating on the development of the physical and natural environment, Civil engineering deals with structures such as dams and canals, alongside the more common structures such as buildings. The discipline incorporates a number of sub categories such as municipal engineering, environmental engineering, structural engineering, water resources engineering and surveying.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering looks at electrical systems such as electronics goods and all branches of electronics and aims to make them more useful to the individual. Electricity has been a focus of interest since the 17th century and the usefulness of electricity has improved insurmountably ever since. Electrical engineering is used in electronics, power, micro-electronics, signal processing, telecommunications and computers.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is concerned with the design and implementation of physical and mechanical systems. These can include items such as engines, kinematic chains and other similar equipment. Mechnical engineering focuses primarily on incorporating the principles of physics and applying them to practical uses. Mechanical engineering can be applied to a number of different fields. Mechanical engineers can be used in automobiles, aircraft, watercraft, medical devices and machinery.