Talk:Engineering

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seeking consensus to add a section on bioengineering.

also to add the concept of biomimicry somewhare in the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by RJJ4y7 (talk • contribs)

I am thinking it would be an improvement to move "engineering design process" from the first sentence to the fourth one. It is historically inaccurate, it introduces circular dependence, and also makes the sentence harder to read. The new sentence would look like something in these lines:

Engineering is the practice of systematically applying natural science and mathematics to design and improve systems, devices, or processes that solve problems under constraints.

I would move it to the fourth sentence, replacing "In turn, modern engineering practice spans..." with:

Modern engineering practice follows the engineering design process and spans multiple fields of engineering, which include designing and improving infrastructure, machinery, vehicles, electronics, materials, and energy systems.

I think thats where it belongs. For reference, here is the current lead sentence:

Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to design and improve systems, devices, or processes that solve problems under constraints.

Thoughts? Cicada419 (talk) 01:05, 21 May 2026 (UTC)[reply]

I think the lead section is not very effective in introducing the topic. The first sentences summarizes it well but it jumps immediately to engineering disciplines. I think more space is needed to explain what engineering is. It may be beneficial to add three more sentences right after the first one to explain what kind of problems engineering solves, provide some examples of the outcome of engineering, and elaborate on the constraints aspect. This is what I am thinking of adding:

These problems typically involve satisfying human needs and have resulted in engineering creations such as bridges, engines, smartphones, the internet, spacecraft, and washing machines. Every design engineers create respects and adapts to constraints. These range from soft limits such as budget and time to hard boundaries such as the laws of physics.

Or simply:

Examples of the creations of engineering are bridges, engines, smartphones, the internet, spacecraft, and washing machines.

I think that the list of examples is probably worth adding since it not only helps explain the topic but also indirectly shows why it is notable, which is important and not done elsewhere in the lead section.

For reference, this is how the new lead paragraph would look like:

Engineering is the practice of systematically applying natural science and mathematics to design and improve systems, devices, or processes that solve problems under constraints. Examples of the creations of engineering are bridges, engines, smartphones, the internet, spacecraft, and washing machines. The traditional disciplines of engineering are civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical. The academic discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more specialized subfields, and each can have a more specific emphasis for applications of mathematics and science. Modern engineering practice follows the engineering design process and spans multiple fields, which include designing and improving infrastructure, machinery, vehicles, electronics, materials, and energy systems. For related terms, see glossary of engineering.

Thoughts? Cicada419 (talk) 00:08, 27 May 2026 (UTC)[reply]