Professional Engineering Organizations
Objectives
- Engineering professional organizations.
Most branches of engineering are represented by professional societies that bind together members with similar backgrounds, training, and professional expertise. These societies operate on a worldwide scale and publish one or more journals for which engineers write papers and articles of interest to members of the field. Each organization offers its members technical and informational services, including training, industry standards, workshops, and conferences. In some cases, other professional services are offered as well, including job networks, advertising, e-mail accounts, product information, Web page hosting, and even life and health insurance. All provide student membership at a discount, and student chapters at colleges and universities are common.
This section provides information about some of the principal professional organizations and the technical publications they produce. Each society has an official Web site from which you can obtain additional information. The text provided here has been taken from each organization's Web site.
1 Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
From the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (www.aiaa.org):
Key Publications:“For more than 65 years, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and its predecessors, has been the principal society of the aerospace engineer and scientist. Officially formed in 1963 through a merger of the American Rocket Society (ARS) and the Institute of Aerospace Sciences (IAS), the purpose was, and still is, ‘to advance the arts, sciences, and technology of aeronautics and astronautics, and to promote the professionalism of those engaged in these pursuits.’ Both ARS and IAS brought to the relationship a long and eventful history—stretching back to 1930 and 1932, respectively—and each left its mark on the Institute. The merger combined the imaginative, opportunistic, and risk-taking desire of those rocket, missile, and space professionals with the more established, well-recognized achievers from the aviation community.”
“Today, with more than 31,000 members, AIAA is the world's largest professional society devoted to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. The Institute continues to be the principal voice, information resource, and publisher for aerospace engineers, scientists, managers, policymakers, students, and educators. Also, many prominent corporations and governments worldwide rely on AIAA as a stimulator of professional accomplishment in all areas related to aerospace. Consider this: Since 1963, AIAA members have achieved virtually every milestone in modern American flight.”
Aerospace America, AIAA Bulletin, Aerospace Database, Student Journal
2 Biomedical Engineering
From the Biomedical Engineering Society (http://mecca.org/BME/BMES/society/index.htm):
Key Publications:“The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) is an interdisciplinary society established on February 1, 1968 in response to a manifest need to provide a society that gave equal status to representatives of both biomedical and engineering interests. As stated in the Articles of Incorporation, the purpose of the Society is: ‘To promote the increase of biomedical engineering knowledge and its utilization.’ Today, the society represents over 1,000 professionals and over 1,000 student members (undergraduate and graduate). There are 34 BMES student chapters and about two-thirds of the ABET-accredited bioengineering/ biomedical engineering undergraduate programs have BMES student chapters.”
Annals of Biomedical Engineering, BMES Bulletin
3 Chemical Engineering
From the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (www.aiche.org)
Key Publications:“Founded in 1908, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is a nonprofit organization providing leadership to the chemical engineering profession. Representing 57,000 members in industry, academia, and government, AIChE provides forums to advance the theory and practice of the profession, upholds high professional standards and ethics, and supports excellence in education. Institute members range from undergraduate students, to entry-level engineers to chief executive officers of major corporations. As AIChE approaches the 21st Century, technological, political, social, and economic changes in our society require that we evaluate and refine our strategic plan. This will assure relevance to our members, the profession, and society at large.”
“Rapid changes in skill needs and career paths of chemical engineers create new opportunities for AIChE to assist its members. Institutional stakeholders are increasingly faced with the need for effective collaborations. At the same time, the explosive change in information and communication technology introduces challenges to deliver products and services more efficiently.”
“In response, our leadership has revised our vision and mission and has developed objectives and strategies that address these changes and that consider the organizational and financial resources and the business processes needed to assure AIChE's relevance in the 21st Century.”
AIChE Journal, Chemical Engineering Progress, Environmental Progress and Process Safety Progress, Biotechnology Progress
4 Civil Engineering
From the American Society of Civil Engineers (www.asce.org):
Key Publications:“Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 123,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE's vision is to position engineers as global leaders building a better quality of life.”
“ASCE's mission is to provide essential value to our members, their careers, our partners and the public by developing leadership, advancing technology, advocating lifelong learning and promoting the profession. From the building of the Parthenon in 432 B.C. to the building of the Petronas Towers today, the civil engineering profession has proven its sustainability. Withstanding the passage of time, civil engineers have built cultural landmarks that stand in tribute to the profession's creative spirit and ingenuity.”
“Civil engineers are trained to plan, build and improve the water, sewer and transportation systems that you depend on every day. They build dams able to withstand the crushing pressure of a lake full of water. They build bridges able to resist the forces of wind and traffic. They develop environmentally friendly materials and methods, and they build things to last. So skilled is their work that we rarely stop to wonder how they design the mammoth skyscrapers we work in, the tunnels we drive in, and the stadium domes we sit beneath.”
ASCE News, Civil Engineering Magazine, plus numerous journals on specialized topics in civil engineering
5 Computer Engineering
From the Association for Computing Machinery (www.acm.org):
Key Publications:“Founded in 1947 Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is the world's first educational and scientific computing society. Today, our members — over 80,000 computing professionals and students worldwide — and the public turn to ACM for authoritative publications, pioneering conferences, and visionary leadership for the new millennium.”
“ACM publishes, distributes, and archives original research and first-hand perspectives from the world's leading thinkers in computing and information technologies. ACM offers over two dozen publications that help computing professionals negotiate the strategic challenges and operating problems of the day. The ACM Press Books program covers a broad spectrum of interests in computer science and engineering.”
“Communications of the ACM keeps information technology professionals up to date with articles spanning the full spectrum of information technologies in all fields of interest including object-oriented technology, multimedia, the Internet, and networking. Communications also carries case studies, practitioner-oriented articles, and regular columns, the ACM Forum, and technical correspondence.”
The ACM Digital Library (a collection online publications); Communications of the ACM; Crossroads (a student magazine); and various ACM Transactions journals, including: Computer-Human Interaction, Computer Systems, Database Systems, Design Automation for Electronic System, Graphics, Information System, Mathematical Software, Modeling and Computer Simulation, Networking, Programming Languages and Systems, and Software Engineering and Methodology
6 Electrical Engineering
From The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (www.ieee.org):
Key Publications:“The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) helps advance global prosperity by promoting the engineering process of creating, developing, integrating, sharing, and applying knowledge about electrical and information technologies and sciences for the benefit of humanity and the profession. IEEE provides the latest information and the best technical resources to members worldwide. Today, IEEE connects more than 350,000 professionals and students to the solutions to tomorrow's technology needs.”
“The IEEE is one of the world's largest technical professional societies. Founded in 1884 by a handful of practitioners of the new electrical engineering discipline, today's Institute is comprised of more than 350,000 members who conduct and participate in its activities in approximately 150 countries. The men and women of the IEEE are the technical and scientific professionals making the revolutionary engineering advances which are reshaping our world today.”
“The technical objectives of the IEEE focus on advancing the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, and computer engineering and computer science. To realize these objectives, the IEEE sponsors technical conferences, symposia, and local meetings worldwide. It publishes nearly 25% of the world's technical papers in electrical, electronics, and computer engineering, and provides educational programs to keep its members' knowledge and expertise state-of-the-art.”
IEEE Spectrum; Proceedings of the IEEE; plus over 40 specialized IEEE Transactions from its various societies, including (in alphabetical order): Aerospace and Electronic Systems; Advanced Packaging; Antennas and Propagation; Applied Superconductivity; Automatic Control; Biomedical Engineering; Circuits and Devices; Communications; Computing in Science and Engineering Magazine (CiSE) Control Systems; Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation; Electromagnetic Compatibility; Electron Devices; Energy Conversion; Engineering Management; Geoscience and Remote Sensing; Image Processing; Industry Applications; Instrumentation and Measurement; Intelligent Systems; Lasers and Electro-Optics; Magnetics; Mechatronics; Medical Imaging; Microelectromechanical Systems; Microwave Theory and Techniques; Neural Networks; Parallel and Distributed Systems; Personal Communications; Photonics; Plasma Science; Power Electronics; Power Systems; Quantum Electronics; Reliability; Robotics and Automation; Semiconductor Manufacturing; Signal Processing; Software Engineering; Solid-State Circuits; Systems, Man, and Cybernetics; Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control; Vehicular Technology; Very Large Scale Integration Systems; and Visualization and Computer Graphics
7 Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
From the Institute of Industrial Engineers (www.iienet.org):
Key Publications:“Founded in 1948, the Institute of Industrial Engineers is the society dedicated to serving the professional needs of industrial engineers and all individuals involved with improving quality and productivity. Its 24,000 members throughout North America and more than 80 countries stay on the cutting edge of their profession through IIE's life-long-learning approach, as reflected in the organization's educational opportunities, publications, and networking opportunities. Members also gain valuable leadership experience and enjoy peer recognition through numerous volunteer opportunities.”
IIE Solutions, Industrial Management, IIE Transactions, The Engineering Economist, Student IE, Journal of the Society for Health Systems
8 Mechanical Engineering
From the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (www.asme.org):
Key Publications:“The 125,000-member ASME International is a worldwide engineering society. It conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds some 30 technical conferences and 200 professional development courses each year, and sets many industrial and manufacturing standards. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, today ASME International is a nonprofit educational and technical organization serving a worldwide membership.”
“The work of the Society is performed by its member-elected Board of Governors and through its five Councils, 44 Boards, and hundreds of Committees in 13 regions throughout the world. There are a combined 400 sections and student sections serving ASME's worldwide membership.”
“Its vision is to be the premier organization for promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical engineering throughout the world. Its mission is to promote and enhance the technical competency and professional well-being of our members, and through quality programs and activities in mechanical engineering, better enable its practitioners to contribute to the well-being of humankind.”
Mechanical Engineering; ASME News; Applied Mechanics Reviews; plus journals in numerous specialty areas; including Applied Mechanics; Heat Transfer; Biomechanical Engineering; Computing and Information Science; Dynamic Systems; Measurement and Control; Electronic Packaging Energy Turbines and Power Engineering Materials Technology Fluids; Manufacturing Science; Mechanical Design; Offshore Mechanics; Arctic Engineering; Pressure Vessel Technology; Solar Energy; Tribology; Turbomachinery; Vibration and Acoustics; and Mechatronics
Professional Success: Choosing a Field of Engineering
If you are a first-year student of engineering, you may already have decided upon a major field. After taking several required courses, however, you may not be sure if you've chosen the right type of engineering. Conversely, you may have entered school without committing yourself to any one field of engineering. If you find yourself in either of these situations, you're probably wondering how one goes about choosing a career direction in engineering.
One way to find out more about the different branches of engineering is to attend technical talks and seminars hosted by the engineering departments in your college or university. Such talks are usually aimed at graduate students and faculty, so much of the material will be over your head. Simply exposing yourself to these technical talks, however, will give you a feeling for the various branches of engineering and help you find one that most closely matches your skills and interests.
Most schools host workshops in career advising. Be sure to attend one. Talk with the experts in career planning and job placement. Many college campuses host student chapters of professional organizations. These groups often organize tours of engineering companies. Attending such a tour can provide valuable perspective about the activities of a particular branch of engineering and provide you with an idea about what life as an engineer will be like.
One of the most valuable resources for career advice is your own college faculty. Get advice from your advisor about which major is right for you. Also, professors love to talk about their work. Invite a professor to your dormitory or living unit to speak to students about choosing an engineering career. Speak to your department about hosting a career night in which a panel of professors answers questions about jobs in engineering. Learn to make use of all available resources for help in choosing your college major.
