Engineers are Real-World Heroes

One day last month my oldest grandson announced that he wanted to be a hero when he grows up. When asked what kind of hero, he said that he wants to "go to poor places and build pipes that bring them clean water. And I want to give them TV." He's 9, and that's his vision of heroism.

Aside from bursting with pride, I was intrigued with the concept that this boy had decided that helping others is heroic. And helping others in a concrete manner; building pipelines in poor areas to bring them clean water. Then it occurred to me that this is what engineers do every day.

It's not much of a leap to see engineers as heroes. They use math to design amazing things that make people's lives better. Whether it be a roadway surface that lasts longer, thereby saving tax dollars, to gamechanging water treatment plants in 'poor' places, engineers dream. And dream big.

The dreams are realized at the university level, where a team of students at UCR recently developed a reusable debris filter to make storm drains more effective.

Firms are designing water desalination plants to make better use of existing resources. Bridge engineers are designing safer structures that can withstand earthquakes. European and Asian engineers have just about perfected high-speed rail, and are bringing their expertise to our shores.

There is a straight line from my grandson with a dream to Elon Musk, who makes his dreams happen.
Engineers are, indeed, heroes.