Engineering research seeks improvements in theory and practice in fields such as high-speed computation, earthquake prediction, power systems and construction.
The three major contributors to Engineering research around the world are government, private business, and academia. The results of this research are released through journal articles, academic conferences, and new products on the market.
The biggest contributor to engineering research in the United States is the Department of Defense.
Military-related research into science and technology has led to "dual-use" applications, where weaponry, communications and other defense systems are adapted to civilian life. Programmable digital computers and the Internet which connects them, the GPS satellite network, fiber-optic cable, radar and lasers are examples.
Famous quotes containing the words engineering and/or research:
“Mining today is an affair of mathematics, of finance, of the latest in engineering skill. Cautious men behind polished desks in San Francisco figure out in advance the amount of metal to a cubic yard, the number of yards washed a day, the cost of each operation. They have no need of grubstakes.”
—Merle Colby, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“One of the most important findings to come out of our research is that being where you want to be is good for you. We found a very strong correlation between preferring the role you are in and well-being. The homemaker who is at home because she likes that “job,” because it meets her own desires and needs, tends to feel good about her life. The woman at work who wants to be there also rates high in well-being.”
—Grace Baruch (20th century)