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Oblivion77
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Hey guys, i need to do a short biography of an engineer that made a great contribution to the world. Who do you think is most suitable?
Oblivion77 said:Hey guys, i need to do a short biography of an engineer that made a great contribution to the world. Who do you think is most suitable?
George Jones said:Simon van der Meer,
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1984/meer-autobio.html,
won a Nobel prize in physics for helping to design the particle accelerator that discovered the W and Z particles predicted by electroweak theory.
I'm not sure that this qualifies as "a great contribution to the world," but it does seem that van der Meer's work currently is relevant because of the search for the Higgs particle (also predicted by electroweak theory) now underway at the Large Hadron Collider.
minger said:It's hard to blur the distinction between engineers, mathematicians and physicists back in the day, but the first name that comes to my mind is Archimedes.
mgb_phys said:Imhotep
But I'm not sure there is much to designing a pyramids - put less blocks on each layer pretty much does it!
That's just an implementation detail - I'm more a big picture person ;-)ank_gl said:challenge was not in putting lesser blocks on each layer, challenge was to lift the blocks to that height.
Topher925 said:+1 for Tesla, although he was a lot more things than an engineer. I'm probably using 100+ of his inventions right now.
mheslep said:Jack Kilby. Integrated Circuit. With all respect to Van der meer, AFICT Kilby is the only engineer to receive a nobel.
My support for da Vinci on this is that he was working with wooden dowels for gears, untreated fabric for wings, etc.; Tesla had access to electricity and metal work. This is not in any way meant to demean his contributions, but he did have a head start, as have all great people who came after him.chayced said:Da Vinci or Tesla. Both saw the world not as it is but instead how it could be. Also both made lots of diverse inventions that have had dramatic effects on the world.
Danger said:My support for da Vinci on this is that he was working with wooden dowels for gears, untreated fabric for wings, etc.; Tesla had access to electricity and metal work. This is not in any way meant to demean his contributions, but he did have a head start, as have all great people who came after him.
ank_gl said:That is equivalent to saying that their head start is costing them the title of greatness.
Oblivion77 said:Hey guys, i need to do a short biography of an engineer that made a great contribution to the world. Who do you think is most suitable?
Smoot and Mather (2006) are astrophysicists and cosmologists and almost purely academics. They're talented physicists, no way do they qualify as engineers.wildman said:... the discovers of the back ground radiation.
gmax137 said:Wildman was probably referring to Penzias & Wilson - pretty sure those guys were radio engineers @ bell labs
edit - anyone cleaning pigeon **** out of the antenna is an engineer, not an academic (unless maybe they're grad students...)
mgb_phys said:Imhotep
But I'm not sure there is much to designing a pyramids - put less blocks on each layer pretty much does it!
The answer to this question is subjective and can vary depending on personal opinions. However, some of the most commonly mentioned names include Leonardo da Vinci, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
An engineer's impact is considered significant when their work has a lasting effect on society and has brought about significant advancements in technology, infrastructure, or other fields. This can also include their contributions to solving complex problems or improving the quality of life for people.
Engineers make a big impact by using their knowledge and skills to design, create, and innovate solutions to various problems. They also collaborate with other professionals and work on projects that have the potential to bring about significant changes and advancements in society.
Yes, an engineer's impact can be measured in various ways, such as the number of patents they hold, the success of their projects, the recognition they receive, and the impact their work has on society. However, it is not always easy to quantify the impact of an engineer's work as it can be subjective and may take time to fully realize.
Yes, there are many modern engineers who have made a big impact in their respective fields. Some notable examples include Elon Musk, who has revolutionized the space industry and electric cars, and Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web. There are also many other engineers who are making significant contributions in various industries and fields.