Science and Engineering

Abstract

THE economic and beneficent importance of the work of the engineer is recognised by all, in the provision of safe, reliable, and efficient means of transport and in the wonderful harbours and docks which make possible the interchange of commodities between the nations; in the utilisation of sources of energy for doing the work of the world; in the equipment of factories and work-shops with machines that produce abundantly so that the standard of life is raised; in supplying to communities pure water and in the disposal of sewage without danger to health or to the con- tamination of rivers and streams; in making it possible to plough the great spaces and gather the abundant harvests with little labour; in the provision of implements to combat the enemies of the fruit harvest and in the construction of dams and reservoirs to store the abundant rains for the time of drought so that even the barren places shall be fruitful and rejoice. For these achievements of engineering it is not difficult to obtain recognition, but it is often overlooked that engineering is affecting the intellectual outlook of peoples and by its very successes may introduce social and political problems of great significance.