Since mechanical engineering isn't taught in high school, young students don't know much about It. Can you describe mechanical engineering? Mechanical engineering Is by far the most broad-based branch of engineering. Most high school students associate the field with auto mechanics, but that's an enormous misconception. Mechanical engineers today are concerned with the design, development and manufacture of a variety of energy conversion and machine systems.
Those systems include aerospace, automotive, marine, manufacturing, bohemianism, power generation, heating ventilation, alarm conditioning and robotics. They also work in merging Industries such as nanotechnology and particle technology. Mechanical engineers work with conventional fuel sources but they are Increasingly developing alternative fuel sources such as geothermal, wind, tide, solar and hydroelectric energy. What kind of high school students should major in mechanical engineering?Any high school student with an aptitude for mathematics and physics has the basic foundations to be a successful mechanical engineering major.
If the student Is creative, with a natural curiosity about how things work, coupled with a desire to build tangible devices, mechanical engineering could be in his or her future. Do mechanical engineering majors at NIST work on hands-on projects? The Mechanical Engineering department here prides itself on the various hands-on projects that our students work on.Such projects force students to use the principles they learn In the classroom, but they must take that theory and develop a tangible product. Using devices or products that they fabricate in their capstone design courses, our students enter a wide range of national design contests sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers. Those contests include a Mini-Baja (an all-terrain vehicle) contest; an Indy Car (a Formula speed car) contest; and an Rare-Design (a remote-controlled aircraft) contest.
How has mechanical engineering changed over the years? Though still a very hands-on field, mechanical engineering has also evolved into a computer-intensive field. Extensive use of sophisticated analysis software is routinely used by mechanical engineers to aid in the development of products, devices and systems. In addition, the Implementation of computer controls and electro- mechanical systems In machines and robotics have made the Job of the mechanical engineer even more versatile and broad based.Does NIST teach students how to use those computer tools? In our classrooms, the use of computing has become an indispensable design and research tool. Mechanical engineering students have the sophisticated analysis software to create computer simulations.
And those simulations prepare our kind of computing is also used in the analysis and testing in the aerospace and automotive fields, as well as in robotics, manufacturing and energy conversion. Our students are well prepared to work in those industries. How do you teach mechanical engineering at NIST?What classes do mechanical engineering majors take? Of all the engineering fields, mechanical engineering students take the widest range of courses. And those courses prepare students for the broadest range of careers.
In the area of solid mechanics, mechanical engineering majors take courses in static, dynamics, kinematics of machines, vibrations, strength of materials, manufacturing processes and control systems. In the area of so-called soft mechanics, students take courses in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and heat transfer.A number of courses are offered that are related to computer-aided design and manufacturing, as well as a number of hands-on purgatories. An extensive array of elective courses are also offered in areas such as bohemianism, computer-aided engineering, aerodynamics, principles of space flight, plastics as well as polymers and particle technology. Design projects are infused throughout the curriculum, and students do a major design project in their senior year. In addition, we help our students get co-pop and summer internships, so that they graduate with real work experience.
That helps Jumpstarted their careers. Do mechanical engineers work in teams? The team approach is implemented throughout the educational experience of our canonical engineering students. Mechanical engineers work extensively in large inter-disciplinary teams, so our students must be trained to work together. Their broad based-education and training make them valuable assets in any engineering project.
In fact, mechanical engineers often take leadership roles in projects due to their broad- based approach to engineering design and development.What are the main industries in which mechanical engineers work? Mechanical engineers work in the widest range of industries, more so than any other kind of engineer. They work in the aircraft and aerospace industries, the automotive industry, as well as in the fields of marine systems, heating ventilation and air conditioning, robotics, bohemianism, power generation and general manufacturing. New emerging industries such as nanotechnology and particle technology are major employers of mechanical engineers.What are some other career paths that mechanical engineers take? Many mechanical engineers opt to continue their educations and earn Masters and Pads in engineering. Those degrees prepare them for research careers in industry or at a university.
However, with the general educational background offered by the canonical engineering curriculum and the rigorous analytical skills acquired during that training, many of our students find careers in a wide range of professional disciplines.Those areas include intellectual property law, medicine, financial markets and consulting. As I said earlier, by virtue of our students' broad-based education, they naturally make effective leaders. They understand the overall view of projects and have sufficient mastery of engineering principles from all disciplines to supervise such projects. Historically, mechanical engineers have been industry leaders in the widest range of businesses. Are mechanical engineers well paid? They are.
Starting salaries average about $55,000.But salaries are considerably higher for graduates who have co-pop or internship experience. Many of our students rise quickly in their companies and their salaries rise accordingly. And as I mentioned earlier, mechanical engineering is the most broad-based and also the most marketable branch of engineering. It gives students the widest range of employment opportunities and is hence less affected by economic downturns. So if you have the aptitude and the motivation, come Join us at NIST and start a fulfilling career in mechanical engineering.
