You may think engineering is the stuff of hard fact and exact calculations but here’s a small peek into an alternate reality of engineering. From sci-fi fantasy to action heroes, engineers have been well represented in books and on screen. Ok, so they’re not always flattering depictions – think uber-nerds in some cases… So, counting down from 5, here are the top fictional characters that have inspired us, amazed us, and at times, left us in bewildered awe.

The definition of sustainability is the ability to sustain change in a balanced way. It’s most commonly applied to keeping a harmony between the earth’s resources and our material needs. It’s a way of ensuring that the human race doesn’t exploit the environment and ecology of our planet into a state of irreversible decline. It also covers economic and social issues, and the development of systems and processes that enable future generations to continue meeting their material needs, without destroying the ecosystem. This is also sometimes referred to as sustainable development.

For many civil engineers, conferences provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and connect with new people working in the field, as well as stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. Like other engineering disciplines, numerous conferences dedicated to civil engineering are held around the world each year, with many on the continent of Europe alone.

3D printing is past the stage of being a niche technology, and has planted its feet firmly in the manufacturing industry. Its growth shows no signs of slowing down and it is therefore important to stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations. The most efficient way to this is through networking with 3D printing practitioners, researchers and OEMs. Conferences are a great place to meet such people. This article aims to provide a list of conferences covering various 3D printing topics that can be attended within the next 6 months.

3D printing is a technology that has become almost mainstream and is well known to even the casual technology junkie. For the uninitiated, a 3D printer basically works by depositing layers of material to create a component from nothing. This is counter to existing CNC machining, where the process is subtractive in nature and a part is carved out of an existing block of material.

Who’s the greatest engineer of all time? That’s an open question with no right or wrong answer; only opinions, theories and opportunities for debate.

Electrical engineering stands as one of the most applicable professions across a wide spectrum of industries. An electrical engineer is capable of studying and applying principles of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism to make technology act the way we want and expect it to. Check out our engineering program listings

“If you were given all the resources and materials that you would need, which invention would you create that would revolutionize the world?” An interesting question no? Certainly, it is one that gets the mind of an engineer really whirring. For this reason, we made the query the basis of the first edition of NewEngineer’s grant contest, a competition that sought to find the most creative, ambitious, but importantly also plausible, response. The prize for our victor? A cool €500 grant to cover the costs of attending an engineering event or course, anywhere - generous we know!

’Necessity is the mother of invention’ is a phrase we’ve all heard at one time or another no doubt. As humans, we’re hard-wired to think about the problems we face in life and try and come up with solutions to them, solutions which facilitate us and others around us. The invention of the wheel is a classic example.

Engineering is a profession that applies the principles of math and science to practical problems. In the U.S., an undergraduate engineering degree usually takes four years and can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. Graduate programs can take anywhere between two to six years and add more to the cost of an undergraduate degree. Luckily, many scholarship programs are available to help students offset those costs.

As an engineer, you’ll realise it’s important to stay current with any new technological breakthroughs as they may benefit you in your career. Even if they don’t directly impact your career, new technologies are always interesting and will boost your passion for engineering. In this article we will explore some YouTube videos that every engineer should watch. If you are planning on studying engineering then these videos will definitely convince you that it’s a field of expertise that can lead to a most interesting career.

Organizers of the second Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Blockchain Super Conference (which is being held in September at Dallas) are running a special promotion. Attendees who reserve their spot before midnight on Sunday May 6th will be able to add “companion” tickets for just $97 per head.

Richard, organizer of the original Bitcoin, Ethereum and Blockchain Super Conference, held in February, is hosting a follow-up conference in September. Like the first conference, the second offers attendees a rare opportunity to network with many of the most respected players in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space – including developers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and “smart money” hedge fund managers who are now piling their capital into blockchain assets.

Richard Jacobs (organizer of the Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Blockchain Super Conference, which took place in Dallas in February) is hosting a new conference in September. He’s bringing together more than a hundred respected players from blockchain, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, virtual reality, and other future tech spaces – so they can show you how “smart money” is already buying its way into the future tech gold rush, and how smaller private investors can get in early too.

Computer engineering is a hybrid between electronic engineering and software engineering and its focus is to develop hardware and software systems. Due to the complexity and rate of change in technology in this field, it is imperative for a computer engineer’s knowledge and skills to remain up to date. The most efficient way to achieve this is by attending conferences as these concentrate new developments in one place. Software engineering refers to the creation of programs that can perform a defined set of functions through coding.

As additive manufacturing begins to take off at an exponential rate it is often difficult to stay current with the constantly evolving technologies and applications. The best method to learn is to have some face to face time with the experts. The highest density of experts will always be at tradeshows.

As an engineer it is often necessary to turn the theoretical musings of scientists into practical real-world applications. Listed below are some of the more exciting developments that are set to drastically change the engineering landscape.

As the end of 2017 approaches we tend to reflect on our achievements of the past year and have our own internal performance review. A lucky few people are completely content with how the year played out. The rest of us are left with a feeling that we could have done more, learnt more and  pushed just a bit harder. So, with this general feeling comes the annual tradition of making a new year’s resolution. As engineers we are not immune to this.

Any technology that is always on, user-controlled, accessible and portable that is attached to the user’s physical space can be broadly considered as wearable technology. Its concept has been around since the advent of the “Calculator Watch” in the 1970s. Today, this definition would apply to a device which is akin to a computer in terms of interaction and capabilities.

Current or future engineers; are you in your final years of college and wondering what’s next? Have you wondered how or if your career will change over the course of the next 30 years? These seem to be very good questions considering what engineering jobs were 30 years ago compared to what they are now.

Engineering conferences are opportunities for engineers to get together with other engineers or related professionals. New devices, technology or techniques will be presented and demonstrated. There’s likely to be discussions on challenges and how they have been overcome. Keynote speakers may present the results of brand new research or the content of academic papers. Whether you’re a student, trainee or seasoned engineer there are plenty of good reasons to get yourself along to a conference. Let’s take a look at the top 5.

Although artificial intelligence (AI) was born in the 1950’s, only recently has it gained serious traction. There have been many movies over the years depicting robots that can make decisions for themselves from Star Wars through to The Terminator. At the time, they seemed so futuristic. Now, AI is becoming a reality and the movies of yesteryear suddenly don’t seem so far-fetched.

Pressure is mounting globally as climate change takes hold of our planet. The environment around us is evolving, which is driving the need for countries, governments, corporations and individuals to get more involved in the renewables and green energy sector.