By The Engineering Commons Podcast
Practical insights for the engineering crowd
We enjoy a wide-ranging conversation about nuclear power with guest Akira Tokuhiro in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Out at the road construction job site, Adam notes that most of the energy is provided by diesel fuel. Our...
We talk with engineer Bill Porter about his work with underwater robots, electronics, and science education. Our guest, Bill Porter, works for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, where he develops autonomous underwater vehicles. Bill was a guest on The Engineering...
Guest David E. Goldberg talks with us about shifting expectations for engineers, and reveals the crucial skills needed by tomorrow’s engineering professionals. Listening and questioning are important skills for today’s engineer, but these subjects are rarely addressed in the engineering...
We talk about amateur radio with Alan Wolke, W2AEW, in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Jeff got interested in amateur radio around the age of twelve or thirteen, while leafing through his father’s Heathkit catalogs. Amateur radio allows...
We consider engineering as a knowledge network in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Adam relies on his colleagues to help him coordinate his work, as well as to provide him with technical guidance–such as in conducting a Proctor...
This episode discusses similarities between engineers and accountants, and provides a brief overview of accounting terminology. Like most engineers, Brian has gone through the process of assigning his engineering costs to a seemingly endless list of expense accounts. Accounting is...
We consider engineering education from a European perspective in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Our guest for this episode is Sebastian Ahlström, a civil engineer who is pursuing a masters degree at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden....
In this episode, we discuss working with those from other technical disciplines, and also touch upon the software skills that engineers should possess. Our guest for this episode is Paul Davis, a software engineer who currently writes jet engine control...
We discuss how crowdfunding might influence the future of scientific research in this episode of The Engineering Commons. Adam is willing to fork over a few dollars to further scientific studies of the universe; how about you? Crowdfunding is a...
In this episode we discuss some lessons that our guest, aeronautical engineer Clay Coons, has learned while traveling abroad. Our guest is Clay Coons, an aeronautical engineer who currently works as an applications engineer for Cummins, Inc. Clay attributes a...
We discuss how engineers use and develop their intuitive senses. “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” —...
We discuss how to stay sane while dealing with the day-to-day stresses of being an engineer. Besides whatever form of music happens to pass through his headset, Carmen enjoys listening to numerous podcasts, including: Nerdist, with Chris Hardwick, and Roderick...
In this episode, Adam, Carmen and Jeff talk about engineering skills, and where they are obtained. Adam has used “soft” skills more than “hard” skills thus far in his engineering career. On the other hand, Carmen makes heavy use, at...
Brian and Jeff talk with Ann McMahon about sharing one’s passion for engineering with pre-college students. Brian has experienced the glassy-eyed look of others listening to his engineering stories. Our guest for this episode is Ann McMahon, an aerospace engineer...
Jeff talks with his three new co-hosts about what sparked their interests in engineering. Co-host #1 is Adam, a civil engineer who works for a Department of Transportation in the Upper Midwest. Co-host #2 is Brian, an electrical engineer who...
Chris and Jeff discuss leadership issues with Jim Stroup, author and management consultant, in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Jeff and Chris didn’t receive much leadership training in their engineering classes. Jeff picked up his knowledge on the...
Chris and Jeff discuss priorities and burnout, and we learn a thing or two about Chris’ future plans. Chris isn’t sure what he’ll be doing in a month, but says it probably won’t include hosting The Engineering Commons podcast. (A...
Chris and Jeff discuss why engineers are sometimes seen as cold, heartless bastards who refuse to be team players. Oh yeah, and how that might be linked to a lack of empathy. A recent journal article claims that engineering students...
This episode covers a few of the various ways in which time influences the work of engineers. Chris has been busy refactoring electronic schematics; Jeff is preparing for a mechatronics course he will be teaching. Despite our perceptions of time...
Chris and Jeff review the episodes of 2012, and share some of the background stories that didn’t make it to the original podcasts. Chris enjoys the lack of interruptions that the holiday season brings to his workplace. From Episode 1,...
Engineers bring economic benefit to their employers. In this episode, we talk with Professor James Trevelyan about the value of engineers in the workplace. While the word “value” has many meanings, Chris has an immediate desire to interpret it in...
In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss the role of failure in advancing engineering knowledge. All things fail at some point. Engineers advance their own knowledge, and that of the profession, by analyzing these failures. As a guideline for our...
How are the DIY and engineering communities meshing as prototyping and anlysis tools become more widely available? Chris and Jeff discuss the issue with a well-known inventor in this episode of The Engineering Commons podcast. Since many engineering fields don’t...
Is it possible to accurately perceive the world around us? Are engineers any more or less rational than the general public? Chris and Jeff discuss these issues with Jeff Ellis on this episode of The Engineering Commons. It’s challenging to...
Are engineers born or made? In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss how engineers acquire their talents. A top-notch engineer is skilled in both the theoretical and practical realms. So how are these talents acquired? Exposure to engineering operations seems...
Chris and Jeff talk about how one might go about becoming an engineering “superstar.” Neither Jeff or Chris have been particularly successful at figuring out how to advance their careers in large organizations, so they may not be the best...
In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss engineers who find employment on a project-to-project basis, rather than signing on for a full time job. Our guest is Stephen Kesich, a recently graduated mechatronics engineer who is now residing in Southern...
What obligations do engineers have to others? Where do the lines of legality, morality, and ethics intersect? Chris and Jeff discuss engineering ethics in this episode. Our guest is Karl Stephan, professor of electrical engineering at Texas State University. Both...
It sometimes makes sense to protect one’s creative ideas. Chris and Jeff discuss the pros and cons of getting a patent with engineer Dave Gevers. We are not attorneys, so consult with a qualified legal professional before making any decisions...
Software is an important component in the toolkit of nearly every engineer. Chris and Jeff talk with Greg Wilson about how engineers and scientists can improve their programming skills. Jeff’s first programming language was Pascal. Intended to encourage good programming...
In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss STEM education with two educators/engineers in the field who are working to help kids learn more about engineering and stay excited about the field. Chris started wanting to work on cell phones. Jeff’s...
In this episode, Chris and Jeff discuss the manner in which social influence affects engineers, how engineers can detect those who seek to exert influence, and how engineers can exert some influence of their own. Jeff stumbled upon a variation...
What is it like for an engineer to be “in the zone?” Are there any good techniques for finding such a “flow” in your engineering work? We discuss these issues in this week’s episode. Chris likes the performance of leaded...
This week we talk to Ian Dees, software engineer at Tektronix focused on mid level software and ways to improve the longevity of electronics that use software over time. Jeff recently visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ian focuses mainly on...
In a discussion with Jim Heilman of Discovery Personnel, a mechanical engineer who left industry after two decades to recruit technical talent in the plastics industry, we examine how engineers can best work with recruiters to further their own careers,...
In this episode, we discuss "design thinking," a problem-solving approach that is now applied in business and education, as well as in the creation of new products and services. We talk with Jim Tappel, a professor at the University of...