Beyond Technology: The Holistic Advantage

Abstract

As engineered technologies become woven into the fabric of our society, engineers ignore the need for integrating valuable, nontechnical skills into their educational paradigm at the profession’s peril. The exciting future of engineering is beyond technological labels (e.g., mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, and chemical engineer) where isolated training falls to a more powerful profession of broadly educated “holistic engineers” – engineers who manage, lead, and understand complex, interdisciplinary systems that bring the power of engineering thought to issues spanning and connecting technology, law, public policy, sustainability, the arts, government, and industry. The end of technology as engineering’s sole focus allows a future where the engineering profession actively grows and evolves, bringing the very best of science, technology, and innovation to serve the complex challenges of our 21st century lives.