On Thursday, I had my first taste of being an engineer. I used facts to discuss the topic of swine flu with other aspiring bioengineers. The discussion helped me make informed decisions about whether or not to get a swine flu shot and how I think swine flu vaccines should be used if supplies are scarce. After the discussion, I used my blog about swine flu to document the process of discussing the problem and making my decision. I looked up most of the facts that other students had cited to check the accuracy of their data. I did my best to cite all sources for the information in my blog in IEEE format, but I had to make approximations for internet sources like the CDC website.
Somewhere along the way, while learning to communicate my ideas to others, cite my sources, and make informed decisions, I become an engineer. I now know what it feels like to carry the responsibility of this great profession. Engineering is about applied scientific ideas and building technology for society, but at a deeper level, it is about making informed decisions with reliable facts. So far, I have learned a little about what information to trust and how to make it clear that I am reliable and informed. I certainly experienced a tremendous transformation this week.
The act of becoming an engineer, however, is also in some ways a more gradual process. I am sure there was information I could have found about swine flu that I did not find, and I am sure that my first attempt at proper citation style was not perfect. I am eager to improve my skills and become a better engineer over the course of this year and during my entire stay at Penn. I have one foot in the world of the engineer, and I'm ready to step inside.
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