Engineering research seeks improvements in theory and practice in fields such as high-speed computation, earthquake prediction, power systems and construction.
The three major contributors to Engineering research around the world are government, private business, and academia. The results of this research are released through journal articles, academic conferences, and new products on the market.
The biggest contributor to engineering research in the United States is the Department of Defense.
Military-related research into science and technology has led to "dual-use" applications, where weaponry, communications and other defense systems are adapted to civilian life. Programmable digital computers and the Internet which connects them, the GPS satellite network, fiber-optic cable, radar and lasers are examples.
Famous quotes containing the words engineering and/or research:
“Mining today is an affair of mathematics, of finance, of the latest in engineering skill. Cautious men behind polished desks in San Francisco figure out in advance the amount of metal to a cubic yard, the number of yards washed a day, the cost of each operation. They have no need of grubstakes.”
—Merle Colby, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Men talk, but rarely about anything personal. Recent research on friendship ... has shown that male relationships are based on shared activities: men tend to do things together rather than simply be together.... Female friendships, particularly close friendships, are usually based on self-disclosure, or on talking about intimate aspects of their lives.”
—Bettina Arndt (20th century)