It's not the best time ever to have a birthday coming up, particularly as an aerospace engineer. After all, why did you become an aerospace engineer? To allow people to be free and fly, of course! Generally, this means you enjoy that freedom yourself, but being stuck inside (or at least, being inside more than you used to be) during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic can make a birthday celebration a little lacklustre. So here we're listing our favourite gifts for aeronautical engineers, from books to toys, to keep them as occupied as possible.

Engineering as a discipline is as vast as it is interesting. It is also one of the toughest courses to study. For young scholars looking to delve into this amazing and complex field, knowing where to begin can be an uphill task. Furthermore, excelling as an engineering student requires extra effort. Thankfully, engineering summer schools exist to help out. These are specialised learning programs that take place during summer, outside of the normal academic year.

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.

Air pollution is increasing at a rapid rate across the world, wreaking havoc with the environment and the health of humans. In fact, every year an estimated 4.2 million people die globally every year as a result of exposure to outdoor air pollution, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The rapid increase in pollution can, in part, be attributed to the swift economic development enjoyed in many areas across the globe.

We all know that engineers are far too busy working on the latest projects and getting to grips with ever-changing technology to actually sit down and watch the idiot-box. Well, perhaps that’s not strictly true – we all need a break sometimes. And who doesn’t like to kick back now and again with the remote in one hand and a light (or not-so-light) beverage in the other? So, without further ado let’s take a look at some top TV shows that engineers will love (in no particular order).

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.

Would you like to get ahead in your engineering role? In today’s fast-paced world of tweets, connects and posts, why not do yourself a favour and take some time out to read a good book and increase your knowledge along the way? It’s well known that many of the most successful people on the planet take time out to read on a daily basis. Bill Gates, for instance, reportedly gets through 50 books every year!

While engineers come in many different shapes and sizes, the one thing common to them all is a curiosity about how things work. And yet, in our modern, fast-paced world, the engineering discipline is developing quicker than ever, and it can be difficult to stay abreast of cutting-edge technologies. That's where TED Talks comes in! TED is a non-profit organisation that was created in 1984 as a platform for spreading ideas, primarily in design, entertainment and technology.

The coronavirus lockdown has caused new construction projects to plummet by 37% from last year, according to a report by Glenigan. The global supply chain has stagnated, boding ill for any construction activity.

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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.

Globally, people spend up to 87% of their time indoors and 6% in vehicles. However, staying indoors for a long time may have negative repercussions on health, as air inside homes and buildings can be very polluted. Indoor air pollution is responsible for 1.6 million premature deaths annually caused by poor ventilation, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Fortunately, technical engineering makes it possible to design a building that is hospitable to human beings without compromising their health and well-being.

Maybe you’re looking for something to distract you for ten minutes on the train. Perhaps you’re avoiding starting that big project at work. Or you’re at home with your kids getting on your nerves, so you want to give them something vaguely ‘educational’ to play on your phone. It could be you're just bore during lockdown, and you've done all your work for the day. (Congrats!) Whatever the case may be, we've got a list of the top online games for engineers so you can procrastinate to the very best of your ability.

Prepare to be enraged. This list may well make your blood boil and your skin creep. But you’ll probably find yourself nodding along in agreement. We’re a special breed, us engineers and we all seem to have very similar dislikes. So, in no particular order, here are the top ten things that engineers hate. Click here for a list of all our engineering programs

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).

Do you want to be more knowledgeable in the field of engineering? Well, look no further! Whether you are walking your dog, driving a car, or travelling in a bus, a podcast can be your best friend - it is reliable, obedient and will rarely let you down (unless your phone runs out of battery). Initially introduced to be used only on your iPod, podcasting has since become a hugely successful industry, covering almost every possible topic you can think of, from making the perfect omelette, to the best way to groom your pet cat. Essential knowledge, you must admit!

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.