Whether it’s Christmas or an upcoming birthday, gifts are a fantastic way to show another person you care.

The first step in many engineers’ careers is an engineering internship. Some companies and universities call internships “co-ops”. Companies offer interns an opportunity to gain real-world engineering experience while they are still students and may offer full-time employment upon graduation. As a student, it can be difficult to get your first engineering internship because you don’t have much experience. You need to find other ways to stand out. Luckily, this article will give you some tips and tricks that will help you get a leg up on your competition.

It’s a sad fact that historically, women have been less likely to move into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) career fields. The institutions and organisations mentioned in this article aim to empower woman and girls to pursue careers in the STEM fields. The lack of woman in STEM fields currently is a global problem, and as such this article aims to shine light on five institutions that are working hard to eradicate this issue and to help us move towards a more equal society.

Portugal has become one of the most desirable places for engineers to work and study in the EU - a remarkable achievement, by all accounts. As recently as 2007, it was written off as the ‘sick man of Europe’; its economy was sluggish and living standards were stagnating. Fast-forward a decade and how things have changed. As 2018 drew to a close, the ruling Socialist Party pledged to deliver the country’s lowest deficit of just 0.2% and the tourism sector was back booming.

It should come as no surprise that securing an engineering job is not just about luck or connections; it’s also about the skills that an engineer has perfected over the years. Due to the thousands of engineering graduates and highly-skilled professionals who are also looking for better opportunities, more benefits, and job security every year, competition is tough. An engineer can do something about it, however, by learning these top engineering skills to make themselves more competitive and indispensable.

Ok, so the time has come to write your engineering PhD motivation letter. The cursor is blinking on the blank page. Your mind races. What do I write? How do I start? How do I phrase it? It can be a challenge, especially for us engineers who may not enjoy the written word as much as other academics do. But competition for some PhD places can be fierce, especially at good universities. Getting the motivation letter right is one of the most important parts of your application, so don't leave it until the last minute.

In 1974, the first ever genetically modified animal was created by Beatrice Mintz and Rudolf Jaenisch. At the time, it was hailed as one of the most important scientific discoveries since humans discovered fire. The success of the experiment raised the question of whether human cloning would soon be possible - an ethical question of monumental importance.

Environmental engineers design structures and systems to protect the natural environment and promote sustainable living. They can also perform work to mitigate the environmental damage caused by large industrial operations such as pulp mills, mines, and oil-extraction sites. It is a discipline of engineering that can be studied at most engineering schools and can also be categorised as a sub-discipline of civil engineering.

Engineers are the inventors, designers, analysers and builders of our modern age. They create the machines, structures and systems we use on a daily basis. The constrains of physics, the confines of the manufacturing technology of the modern age, the limitations imposed by current material properties, requirements in terms of health and safety and cost: all of these are things that engineers must take into account when designing whatever it is they're working on.

Academic journals are a place for researchers to read the latest research findings, publish their own works, and to comment on and discuss various scholarly topics. They are usually periodic publications that are peer-reviewed and focus on specific topics such as nanotechnology or material science. In the engineering field alone, there are numerous scientific journals dedicated to specific disciplines such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and chemical engineering.

Bored in lockdown? Unable to head to the workshop and build that gadget you've been designing for the last three months? Think there's nothing better than a meme to brighten up a dull day? Fret no longer, bored engineers! Especially for you, we’ve got our engineering meme game on and compiled 10 of the best. If you’re at home relaxing during the lockdown, kick back and enjoy some well-earned laughs; or, if you’re meant to be working or studying, get on with that design/as-built/research/assignment you lazy so-and-so! (But maybe after a well-earned meme break.)

Engineers are better known for their actions rather than words. But that hasn’t stopped some of the top engineers saying some pretty profound (or in some cases, downright hilarious) things. Engineers of all backgrounds and walks of life have insightful things to say about the discipline and life itself - even if sometimes, the quotes around 

With the advent of online shopping and next-day delivery, your gift-buying troubles can be somewhat alleviated knowing it’s never been easier to cop a cool present over the internet and even have it wrapped for you before it arrives, saving you the trouble of doing, well, anything, really. Luckily, this logic still stands when you’re buying for an engineer - even when the engineer’s your dad, and you’re buying something for Father’s Day (which in the English speaking world, lands on the third Sunday in June).

The App Store is a wonderful place, full of things that can make your procrastination easier, more efficient, more fun. From Candy Crush to Fruit Ninja to Ballz, there are millions of ways to not get done what it was you wanted to do, whether that's working, studying, or spending time with your family.

Modern times sure are interesting. The human race stands at the peak of technological advancement, making futuristic inventions that are increasingly accessible for each and every one of us. Most of our basic – and not so basic – needs have been taken care of by one invention of another. And lots of these inventions have become so embedded in our lives we have forgotten what it was like before they existed!

What kind of movies appeal to engineers? That’s a good question. You have to think about what kind of people engineers (generally) are – problem solvers, innovators, logical thinkers, action takers. Then it becomes pretty obvious. We like films about engineering. Maybe some maths. Sci-fi elements perhaps? And of course, plenty of good old-fashioned action.