BAT PERFORMANCE INBASEBALL AND SOFTBALLCAN BE ENGINEEREDBy Dion Gteg Reyes Photo by: usatoday Photo by: lehighvalleyliveMost sports haven’t essentiallychanged over the years. Standardsare always as they were whenthe sport started, and such isthe case in baseball and softball.The bat and the ball have beenthe same, which enabled thefield of engineering make betterunderstandings of the relationshipbetween the bat and the ball.Further, this has lead to better batperformance.Yup, bat performance in baseballand softball can be engineered.There are two ways that thiscan be measured: elasticity andstiffness. Both are dependent onrepeated tests.Every time a ball is in a play, thereare three important factors to beconsidered to in measuring batperformance. They are the speedof the pitch (vp), the speed ofthe bat (vb), and the collisionefficiency (ea). The collisionefficient is readily computed asthe ratio of the ball’s reboundspeed to the ball’s inbound speed.Given these three factors, thespeed of a hit ball in play canbe computed using the followingformula, which will set as thestandard in comparing tests:vh = vp ea + vb (1 + ea).This is one measure of the accuracyof baseball and softball players.There are digital models thatsimplify bat performance, whichfurther ranks the players accordingto their accuracies. Moreover, thisserves as basis in studying theopponent’s abilities as batters andpitchers.Who says baseball and softballare sports that are merely missand hit? AUGUST 2016 51 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
5 AWESOMEGADGETS TOIMPROVE YOURSPORTS GAME By Cielo Panda Technology has been constantly improving in the field of sports engineering. To be able to help create better athletes, sports tech has evolved from ever- shrinking sensors to deep learning gadgets. Here, we present to you five sport gadgets according to TIME that can give you data to help you raise your game.52 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Adidas MiCoach Smart BallThis is more than just an average ball, it is a training devicethat connects to smartphones and tablets to give yoututorials to help you master the pitch. It generates variousdata like how hard the ball was struck, impact points, andeven the spin.Photo by: Bless This StuffFWD PowershotThis is a Bluetooth-connected hockey stick-topping sensorthat can calculate the speed of the stick, its swing angle,weight transfer and other helpful analytics. It’s Androidand iOS-compatible and it easily slips inside the top ofa stick’s shaft. It’s only 35 grams, so the weight is moreor less negligible. It can remember 5,000 shots so betterget’em.Photo by: CreativitechGame Golf LiveThis golf shot-tracking system will surely make your gameof golf more enjoyable. It captures your stats in real-time.It is Android and iOS compatible. It consists of a waistbandworn tracking device and 18 NFC tags for inserting into thehandle of your club. With this, you can measure fairwayaccuracy and shot dispersion, calculate club performance,and you’ll be able to count putts as well.Photo by: Golf WeekJolt SensorThis is very useful for sports that could lead to braininjuries like tackle football. This sensor can be clippedonto a headband or tucked into a helmet and synced withAndroid or iOS apps via Bluetooth to monitor strong hits.It has a range of up to 200 yards, so worried parents andcoaches can keep track of their player’s health.Photo by: Hit ConsultantPeloton BikeThis is a web-connected stationary bike that you’ll surelywant to use for your cardio sessions. It has a 21.5 inch HDtouchscreen, Wi-Fi, and a neodymium rare earth magnetresistance system. This can connect you to different liveclasses or archived workouts to push you to your limits—and you won’t have to leave home.Photo by: Lulu and Lattes AUGUST 2016 53 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Which Type of SportsDrink Should You Buy?Of course we are all re familiar with Powerade,Gatorade, Monster, and Red Bull as sports drinksthat enhance endurance and strength for physicalactivities as they put it on their commercials. Whilethey all belong to one category as sports drinks,there are actually three kinds of sports drinksengineered with different levels of carbohydrates.Such are hypotonic, isotonic and hypertonic drinks. Isotonic drinks Isotonic drinks are drinks that generally contain between 4g and 8g of sugar per 100 ml, and have about the same osmotic pressure as bodily fluids. An isotonic drink is taken up by the body about as quickly as water, and is perfect to quench thirst and provide energy just as equally. This is the drink for those who play endurance sports. Photo by SportSisterHypotonic drinks Hypertonic drinksThis contains less than 4g of sugar (carbohydrates) Among the three, hypertonic drinks contain theper 100 ml, with low osmotic pressure. Hypotonic most sugar which is more than 8g per 100 ml.drinks are primarily to quench thirst, giving This also has greater osmotic pressure, whichathletes very little energy. This is ideal for are higher than bodily fluids. The main purposerecreational sports that are not so strenuous. of this kind of drink is to supply energy rather than quench thirst, which only comes secondary.Photo by BiotechUSA Hypertonic drinks are ideally taken 30 to 60 before sports/training/exertion and immediately after such. This will also work for less strenuous but long duration exertions like studying, driving, gaming, etc. Photo by BevIndustry54 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
AUGUST 2016 Here is a graphic explanation by 5-a-side to understand better the three kinds of sports drinks.Sports Engineering and Other Special Features Photo by 5-a-side55
THESE BROTHERSBUILT A ROBOT TOTEACH PEOPLEHOW TO PLAY PINGPONGThe Chen brothers were competitive when Trainerbot is an app-enabled ping pongit came to ping pong. Playing the game at robot and can help anyone boost theira very young age, Alexander and Harrison skills in playing ping pong. It’s compatiblewere able to master each other’s moves with Android or iOS devices so anyoneand eventually became really good at the has access to this device. Players can playgame. However, both had to move away it anywhere - from their own homes toto study in different places and found it their offices (during break time of course).difficult to find someone who had the It really wouldn’t be a problem carryingsame passion that they had for the sport. it around since it is only 1.2kg and has a travel-size dimensions of 16x32cm. It onlySo they decided to build a robot that can costs $329 - with 1 unit, 30 ping pong ballsturn casual ping pong players to pros! and 1 power supply.They first started out with a prototype The Chen brothers aimed to reach its $80kmade out of a garbage can. Every summer goal and plans to produce the first batchand winter breaks, they used what they of units by the end of the years. Peoplelearned in college to improve the robot seem to love the idea of a robot teachingthey’re working on. On their 8th and them how to play ping pong. Over $218kfinal prototype, they have seemed for was raised! The backers of the project willthe Kickstarter community to help them be receiving their units in February andproduce and sell their Trainerbot to the March 2017.public. Photos by: Trainerbot Via Kickstarter56 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by Hello Giggles AUGUST 2016 57Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: Trainerbot Via Kickstarter58 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
COMPUTERSWILL WRITEMINOR LEAGUEGAMES NEWSSOONBaseball game writers may be in human writers can give to make adanger of losing their jobs when story enjoyable.computers will do the writing forbig companies. The Associated Press As for the other sports, thesehas recently announced that stories computers may have a hard timewritten about the minor league writing them since computers relygames will be written by computers completely on the data which isn’twith the help of natural language exactly easy to get from other games.algorithm company, Automated Baseball is a data-driven game, whichInsights. makes it possible for computers to write the stories.The data these computers will usewill be coming from the information For the other sports writers outgiven by the Major League Baseball there, you don’t have to worry aboutAdvanced Media (MLBAM). With losing your jobs to machines. Thesethe help of this technology, around computers are not as advanced as142 uncovered teams will be able we expect them to be. Also, weto enjoy a little publicity from this believe that people would still prefercoverage. a news article with a little bit of a commentary on the side.As expected, the stories written willbe very straightforward but it gets Photo by qz.comthe job done. Unlike humans, thesecomputer-written stories don’t havethe sarcasm, the wit and the humor AUGUST 2016 59 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
How Has TechnologyChanged The Sports IndustryTechnology has played an important role in As for the athletes, they can easily reach outshaping our lives and improving every industry to their fans and ask for their support. Thesepresent at the moment. When you look at it, athletes can easily connect with their audience,technology has opened new doors and made way so big companies can easily hire them to endorsefor new industries to operate in our society. From their brands. That’s the impact social media hasbusiness to sports, there’s always something on the sports industry. Everything’s easier toengineers have contributed that provided us with achieve: connection and coverage.the technology to help us live more efficiently. Another way technology played a huge role inNow, let’s focus on sports. today’s sports industry is the ticket-buying. In the past, sports fans have to endure long linesHow has technology shaped today’s athletes? outside stadiums just to buy tickets for theirFrom a more detailed assessment on an athlete’s favorite games. Now, you can easily buy onebody to gadgets that allow them to move faster online. With just a few clicks on your desktop orand play better, technology is important in today’s mobile phones, you are now ready for the bestsports industry. game you’ll ever see.These are the ways technology changed the Lastly, technology has shaped the way athletes aresports industry. being trained now. This involves the consideration of their safety and welfare. Trainers use the latestWith the 2016 Olympics in Rio coming up very gadgets available to improve any athletes’ skill.soon, more people are excited to watch the Every now and then, when an athlete gets into angames because of the coverage social media can accident, today’s technology has the right tools tooffer to us. Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram help them heal from it and maybe even help themcan update us on who’s winning and what games improve their abilities to become the very best inare coming up. Everybody can easily replay the the game.games and save it for later viewing. Photo by De-Facto60 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Practice, Practice,Practice: The Secret toEfficient EngineeringProblem Solving When you are already faced with the exam with utmost practice up your sleeves, you wouldn’t have a hard time finishing it, even getting a high score. Familiarity of the problems presented is key, paired with the speed in solving and the ability to work with a calculator. And all of that can be done through practice, practice, practice.Engineering is a body of Photo by markvanderpool.naiwe Photo by chemistry.aboutknowledge that deals with a Photo by thelifematicslot of calculations and analysis. in handling problems withIt is a world that mixes words calculations and analysis. So whatwith numbers and applies math is the secret to survive such? It’sand physics in solving real-life fairly simple: practice, practice,problems. practice.Those already in the field know The old adage “practice makesthis too well having been able perfect” doesn’t only apply toto survive tons of gruelling sports but to learning engineeringexams in college that involve as well. Solving problems overextensive problem solving. Even and over again makes you betteruntil one takes the professional at it. Invest more time on thisor licensure exam, he or she rather than merely staring at theshould be equipped with problems (that’s not solving!).problem solving skills. Only The more problems you solvefew calculations are done with as a preparation to a quiz orengineering work unless you are an exam, the more proficientin the field of design, research, you become in dealing with anyand development. kind of engineering problem. It becomes a bit easier for youMore than the engineering to decipher future engineering problems having been exposedprofessionals, engineering to different kind of problems by mental exercise.students experience this difficulty AUGUST 2016 61 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
ARE YOU TESLA While stories of the Tesla- focus on smaller details. WhileTHE ENGINEER Edison controversy have Tesla’s ideas around alternatingOR EDISON THE been exaggerated over time, current allowed him to powerBUSINESSMAN? especially when it came to generators and lightbulbs, the the Nobel Prize both men lightbulb as invented by Edison by Margaret Banford were alleged to have refused worked – it was just not a because it had been offered good fit with the direct current Photo by: openculture, to the other, there are some voltage system that he favored. hedgehogvsfoxes seeds of truth to the rumors. Similarly, to go back to the62 AUGUST 2016 Tesla and Edison were very Sports Engineering and Other Special Features different men, with Tesla being most well-known difference much more focused on his inventions and engineering between Edison and Tesla, work, to the detriment of any financial concerns. Edison, on while Tesla managed to get the other hand, was highly focused on selling his designs lightbulbs to work, it was and inventions, and focused on the financial side of any Edison who distributed them. given situation. The stories involving both Tesla and His business acumen, while Edison, including the infamous generator story (briefly: Tesla it may have been motivated came to work for Edison soon after arriving in America. He by personal gain, brought came to Edison with news of a flaw in the (admittedly faulty) them into the wider public generator design, and was told that if he managed to fix consciousness, allowing it, Edison would personally pay him fifty thousand dollars. lightbulbs to spread, and Having fixed the problem, Tesla came to Edison and asked for lighting systems to gradually his money, only to be informed that Edison had been joking), change into the precursors of show that while both men may have shared a similar the ones we know today. skill set and range of interests, they approached life from All this is to say that teamwork completely different directions. is important, and traits are not necessarily bad. Without This is not necessarily a bad teamwork, progress becomes thing – overspecialize and much harder, because everyone you breed in weakness, after is working away on things all – but the story of the which, naturally, are geared difficulties Tesla and Edison towards their own personal had when working together strengths. Teamwork allows us are a testament to the power to pool those strengths, and of teamwork. Both men working in common means accomplished so much apart that tasks become easier. – what could they have done together? The combined expertise of Tesla and Edison gave us Everybody has their own area lightbulbs – Edison created the of expertise, even (or perhaps lightbulb, Tesla discovered that especially) people who are it worked more efficiently when working in the same field. In supplied with electricity via the same vein, some people alternating current. Tesla was may be more focused on the able to work with alternating bigger picture of what they are current to the degree that he doing, while others can only did because he was entirely focused on the invention side of his work. Edison was on track to supply America with his lightbulbs and lighting methods, because he knew how to advertise his products and inventions. If the two had continued to work together, the invention of the lightbulb could have profited them both, but instead, because they had already parted company by this point, Edison was no longer credited with supplying light to
Photo by: youtube his country, and Tesla ended up focus on profit (conveniently penniless because of actions forgetting that he was a outside his own control. celebrated inventor in his own right, as seen by the fact Teamwork also allows that he created the lightbulb). everybody involved in a project What is forgotten is that having to be recognized for their a solid business sense – being work. Unlike Tesla, who gave able to sell what you create – up the money he was rightfully is not necessarily a bad thing. owed in unpaid royalties when Tesla’s work arguably only Westinghouse was caught became as famous and widely- up in financial difficulties, a used as it is today through team which utilizes all aspects his collaboration with other of its members’ skills will be people who had a head for able to ensure that everyone business. Teamwork allows is properly appreciated and everyone working on a project credited for the work they to be valued for the work they have done, and will continue to do, rather than simply the do for the team in the future. people who have the ability Biographers of Tesla tend to to move the product into the vilify Edison for his supposed public consciousness.Photo by: diffen About the Author: Margaret Banford, when not writing, spends her time reading and playing several musical instruments. She is also a fair baker and the CEO of C.M. Cornes, Birmingham UK. AUGUST 2016 63 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
WHAT HAPPENSWHEN YOU FAILA CHEMICALENGINEERINGSUBJECTBy Afsana Alam overlooked it. As a student, I was still expecting her to just let me through to the next phase. I went online,There are many ways students can come to terms saw the failing letter and that was it. My confidencewith failing a subject. Here, it’s basically about became like that of Humpty-Dumpty’s fate, brokenwhat happened after that failure and how I coped and couldn’t be put together again. Not passing thewith it. subject was disheartening in itself, but the fact that it was my very first Chemical Engineering subject,‘Professor, it was the stress. I was tensed and the added more fuel to the fire. That fact alone threw meinformation was all over the place. I was afraid I into a pool of doubts and I started questioning myself.wasn’t going to complete the paper.’ Well, before reaching that phase of sanity, I had to‘I understand, but, your answers on the paper is overcome some rough hurdles.telling me that you still haven’t learned the basicsof this subject. I don’t think you are ready yet.’ Myself. I cried like how Luffy cried for his brother Ace whenThat’s when I knew. That’s when I knew I was going he died in the anime One Piece. Loud and clear, Ito have to repeat that damned subject and being was all over the damn place—the feeling was thatan ass kisser wasn’t going to help. Well, that was devastating. ‘The first subject of the field and I failedmy first time in her office and there wasn’t much it?’,’ Should I just quit?’,’ Stupid woman! What wouldon my paper to argue for. But, I still desperately you lose if you would have given me the passingtried to convince her to just give me that passing grade?’, ‘You had to fail me! Have you ever askedgrade. I tried all sorts of bullcrap to convince her; yourself why students fail your class?’. I drowned init was due to the stress the questions were going negativity and sometimes even Googled inspirationalover my head, the concepts were all over my mind, quotes to get me back up. The quotes didn’t helpthe time wasn’t enough,etc. However, it looked like much really, but, thanks to time, over-eating andthe more I spoke, the more certain she became animes, which really helped me in getting out of theabout my understanding of the subject and the negativity. Eventually, I came to terms with the failuremore hopeless I became of passing it. and tried to move on.‘Afsana, wake up! She posted the grades online, Not so fast! The parents!wake up’. My mom was fine, but my dad wasn’t! For them, failing a subject is like blasphemy! I remember theI saw the message and rushed to check my grade. expression my dad gave me. It was like he was deeplyFailure was confirmed for me, since I heard itdirectly from the horse’s mouth, but I guess I just64 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
staring into my soul and was about to rip it apart into Am I not smart enough? Will I just be a terriblean atom’s size. It was hard for him to accept it, because Chemical Engineering student if I continue? It wasaccording to him, ‘Students no matter how bad he/she my first Chemical Engineering subject, so I had to askdoes in a subject, can never fail it. They will somehow myself, ‘Was it the right major for me?’. I remember mypass it.’ Professor telling me, ‘Never evaluate yourself based on 1-2 subjects. Look at your overall performance andI could see my life as an engineering student coming then determine if it’s the right major for you or not.’to an end, but, my other subjects’ grade held onto my Regardless of that, my confidence was still shaken updad. After he went through my other grades, it finally and I still questioned as to why I didn’t get it the firstenlightened upon him that overall, I wasn’t a bad Chemical time.engineering student. He saw that I was doing great in myother subjects and my license as a Chemical engineering The subject and the Professor were the minor reasons,student was fortunately saved from cancellation. It took but, the major reason for my failure was because Ithem time, but, they eventually understood. sucked at it. I remember I used to just brush through the questions and instead of solving them, I used toThe next semester began and I found myself crazily directly jump onto the solutions. I couldn’t grasp thewanting Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak, to avoid people concepts, because I slacked off. I kept piling everythingand to sneakily enter the class of that damned subject. I up till the end. This was my major mistake. I forgot that Ientered the class and my friend says to me, ‘Yea, me too.’ was doing Engineering, that too, Chemical Engineering.At that instant, the feeling of embarrassment was maskedby this overwhelming feeling of happiness. Turned out, The revelation came in too late, but, failing a subjectmy friends too were on the same boat with me. Honestly, doesn’t determine a student’s success or failure.it’s a great feeling to know that it’s not only you, but, even Failure is not bad, rather, it’s a displeasing way toyour friends are next level geniuses. reflect upon ourselves and our methods. Therefore, we as engineering students, should try to understand thatBut, was it only the subject? The subject does indeed failure is a temporary phase and that success is justhave a habit to throw the students into a dark abyss. around the corner. Never let 1-2 subjects determineThe concepts were new and different, so it was sort of whether you are a successful student or a failure. It’sdifficult for many of us to understand and absorb them. not the subjects, rather, it’s your motivation, yourHowever, that wasn’t the only reason we had to repeat perseverance and your attitude that determine yourthe subject. Looking at so many students repeating the successes and failures. So, never doubt yourself,class, disclosed a rather undeniable fact—the Professor always look ahead and remember, you are a Chemicalsucked. Unfortunately, she was partially at fault for not Engineering student; you are a survivor.being able to get us geniuses around the concepts clearly. Photo by: todaysparent AUGUST 2016 65 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: SCIENCE FICTION OR REALITY? By Emmanuel Stalling Photo by: itnewsPhoto by: youtube When you hear the term programming and learn of “artificial intelligence”, you their own volition for their probably think of the 2001 own reasons. I know, scary. Spielberg film, the agents in Below, we’ll discuss the current The Matrix, or even time- climate of A.I. development, traveling robots with Austrian and how far we have to go accents and shotguns. The before the machines rise up to concept can be divided into eliminate their human creators two very broad meanings. from existence. The first is the blanket Challenges of Artificial definition applied by those Intelligence outside the fields of computer These are the main obstacles engineering and robotics, in the way of true artificial which includes a machine or intelligence, not just the kind program’s ability to absorb that stops your computer- data, take its meaning, and controlled squad mates from adjust its behavior according running into walls in Call of to ideal outcomes. The second Duty games. definition, the one that really Natural Language Processing matters, is more scientific. Every time we ask our Android “Intelligence” in the term has mobiles or iPhones for much deeper implications directions and get an answer, than absorbing information we are seeing fundamental and changing behaviors. It A.I. at work. This is a large part contains human concepts like of artificial intelligence called cognition, reasoning, and self- natural language processing awareness. It applies to the (NLP). When we think of the aforementioned science fiction robots from movies who themes like machine sentience, wherein robots and programs move beyond their original66 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: eng-csobey commands and carry only it deals specifically withon discussions like human, it visuals. We’ve seen it in actionbegins with NLP, which has in such applications as Googleseen tremendous advances Goggles and more recently,from the days of the early with the self-driven cars thatTuring tests. When machines will eventually replace Uberare able to understand the drivers. Progress towardnuances of speech like different practical application could stilldialects of the same language, be considered experimental,emotional inflections, and so there’s some time beforemost importantly, sarcasm, the advanced facial recognitionwe’ll be on the way to creating seen in film.the type of machines that The Future of Artificialcan replace us at work and Intelligenceeventually use our body heat We’re still a long way fromfor fuel. bartending androids, butAbstract Reference we’ve already seen the threeHuman vanity dictates that challenges above answeredfor intelligence to exist, an in real-life scenarios. In fact,entity must perceive the world it’s not unreasonable toas we do, and much of our conclude that digital virtualexperiences are based on the assistants and bot programsabstract. Abstract activities will be used exclusively bylike music, painting, poetry, modern companies withinand literary prose are all the next decade. That is,full of non-literal concepts, once manufactures stopand teaching a machine to trying to make robots “life-understand these themes still like” and taking us into theeludes programmers. You can uncanny valley. Conglomeratesprogram a robot correlate two like Google and Microsoftitems with similar values, but are already committing anot to understand the power tremendous amount ofof metaphors as a vessel of resources toward research andabbreviated communication. development, which meansUntil we can show machines we may even get to see thenot to take everything literally, electronic harbingers of ourthey will always be a threat to extinction in this lifetime.our continued existence.Optical Recognition This guest post was written byThe final step before the Emmanuel Stalling, softwaremachines know precisely engineer, technical writer,how to target humanity is online philosopher, aspiringgranting them the ability to novelist, part-time ninja, andteach them how to recognize fan of hard science fiction.abstract shapes. This ties into Follow Emmanuel on Twitter @the previous entry on this list, The_UnseenOne. AUGUST 2016 67 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
TOP 5 old, some are new to the students,HARDEST therefore it has a fair distribution ofSUBJECTS IN difficulty level throughout (which isCHEMICAL somewhat high). Basically, it involvesENGINEERING concepts of physics, which involves some maths. However, it’s not theBy Afsana Alam math part, it’s the physics part, which makes the students go crazy.Chemical Engineering is Photo by imgflipa difficult major to begin After passing this subject, I felt likewith, however, there are is absolutely normal, because this I could pass any subject in Chemicala few courses that make subject itself is abnormal. Therefore, Engineering; the feeling was thatthe major even worse. take time with this subject. It’s hard, overwhelming. With this subject,Well, here are a few of it’s new, it’s different overall. Practice the student always needs to be up-the subjects, that me and all sorts of questions, if possible from to-date. In the sense, students havesome of my friends had various other books. Remember, the to study this subject every day,the toughest time with. answer is in the question itself, so because the chapters are long and read the questions carefully. They the concepts are difficult to grasp.Principles of Chemical are long, painful and have a lot of Basically, it’s trying to aim for ourEngineering I: information, therefore, write down head. Therefore, the only defense, each of them. This will lead to some we students have is to attack it.In a battle between students and other hidden information, which may Question the concepts and clearsubjects, this subject will be the eventually turn out to be the trump even the minutest doubt you havefirst and the most dangerous enemy card for the students. about the concepts.to deal with. This subject basicallyreminded me of the Shadow King Photo by imgflip Thermodynamics I:from X-men for its special abilityto feed off of student’s hatred. The Fluid Mechanics: This subject by far was the worstmore it progresses, the worse it gets! subject for me after Principles 1. TheyIt starts off easy, like every other This subject will be the bombard are the huge fortified walls on thesubject, with recurring materials and cannon on the battlefield, because battlefield, throwing heaps of arrowsequations. However, somewhere in it will go straight for the head, at the students from nowhere. Thebetween, new concepts start to seep no pain no gain style. It’s a very ability of this subject to confuse thein and take over the entire subject. difficult, but an interesting subject, students is absolutely next level.More than approaching the concept, because it forces the students to The entire idea of Thermodynamicsthe questions are more difficult to think about the concepts in a whole 1 is the ideal gases concepts. Theseapproach. They are long and include new perspective. Some concepts are concepts are like Mystique froma lot of information, which eventually X-men, they keep changing, takingmake the students lose their track. on different faces!As a student myself, I have seen other Students need to practice a lot ofgood students who barely passed questions to understand where tothe subject and students who didn’t use the ideal gas equations. Thepass it for maybe 2-3 consecutive best part was that we didn’t have tosemesters. Not being able to pass it memorize the equations. We even had to deal with theory questions, which also sometimes made us wonder, ‘Why I am doing what I68 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by imgflip to another answer, one question and Heat Transfer. Well, it’s basically led to several other questions for us like Juggernaut, crushing theam doing?’. This subject was really students. The answers were long, but students and their hopes of everfrustrating, because we had to get it was a step-by-step process. passing it.used to applying these hideouslooking equations; like we already We had to know some of the derived It’s more like the agony ofdidn’t have enough of those. equations, which were the key to Thermodynamics recurring 10 times answering the questions. For me it fold. It mainly involves studying theThe thing is, this subject forces, was difficult, because I didn’t know rate laws and how to derive them.literally kicks the students out of their my information clearly and because Basically, Physical Chemistry I tellscomfort zone. So, we had to know us if a reaction is feasible, Physicalwhere these equations came from Photo by imgflip Chemistry II involves studying theand why they are being applied only kinetics of an equation and how thatin particular situations. Therefore, of that I didn’t understand what was reaction will happen.know the equations, their conditions happening in the question. Also, Iand where they should be applied. suck at memorizing equations. If students find rate laws fromPractice, practice, practice. Logic, Chemistry interesting, then it will bealong with practice, will definitely The questions are bound to confuse a rather enjoyable subject for them.make the student perfect for this the students, because they are justenemy. never ending. Like Principles 1, the Photo by imgflip questions are long and contain a lotMass Transfer: of information. Therefore, again, However, Chemistry is not something take your time with the questions. students are really fond of, especiallyOn the battlefield, these will be the The concepts aren’t difficult to grasp, after what we went through inTrebuchets, which will bombard its just the questions that take time Organic Chemistry I. Therefore, thethe students with huge fire balls of to understand. thing with this subject is to not slackquestions. Heat transfer and mass off. Hating it is one thing, but we stilltransfer use different terminologies, Physical Chemistry II: got to pass it. So, know the basics,but are very similar concept-wise. and as I said practice and logic. TheseFor example, I had my heat class Well, this subject was for us to will definitely be some useful tools toright before the mass class, and in understand what happens to the beat down this subject to a pulp.the beginning, it felt like we were chemicals on a molecular and atomicdoing one subject with two different level. As my friends say, Physical About the author:names. However, starting from the Chemistry is the combination of Afsana Alam is a chemicalmiddle, we had to deal with questions major subjects like Thermodynamics engineering student at Americanthat just couldn’t be answered with University of Sharjah. She is a brokeone or two equations. We needed blogger and a huge fan of animes.to know the steps, one answer led AUGUST 2016 69 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by videohiveAAn BEanngkineereWr,aAlkLIanwtoyearBaanrd by Amanda Pelletier The lawyer impatiently flags down the old man behind the worn wooden bar and orders three bourbons on the rocks. At first they talk about family, mutual friends, how their stocks are faring, and who’s going to win the world series. Since college, the engineer, the lawyer and the banker find the time to get together a few times a year. Once they have their first drink in hand, they start in on debating the best way to solve pressing environmental issues. Seeing as the lawyer bought the drinks, he feels fit to throw his opinion out first. As he loosens his light pink silk tie he tells them, “If the government held polluters accountable for emissions with tighter policies it would reduce further pollution and slow the rise of the world’s oceans.” Listening quietly while sipping bourbon from the edge of his glass, the engineer reminds his friends in their suits, “It’s difficult to tell where emissions come from. They are carried on the wind across state and international borders and it’s mostly past generations that made the majority of the emissions affecting us now.” A young woman sits a few bar stools away and orders a mojito and flashes the three men a curious glance. 70 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Ice cubes clink against the banker’s perfectly-aligned white Photo by theodysseyonlineteeth as he swallows the last of his bourbon. He adds that,“Policy ought to be paired with taxation on emissions to create Taking another careful sip from his glass as to not dampen hisa financial incentive to reduce future warming”. He slicks back thick mustache, the engineer tells the men in suits “It doesn’this thinning hair and adds, “It’s all about the money”. matter where it’s built, as long as the conditions are prime for the physics and science behind the machine to work. If itTurning to the banker, the engineer says, “It’s unfair to tax works like it should and benefits everyone, then it would beupcoming urbanization in poor regions. How are they to get important for all nations to preserve.”ahead with steep tax burdens not applied to other nationsduring their industrial revolution and urbanization stages? From behind his gold-rimmed spectacles, the banker remindsSlowing their economic growth would only stifle their ability his friend the engineer, its bankers that find investors forto use more environmentally friendly methods to generate venture capital projects, and without men like him pipeenergy and add to the long-term use of coal.” dreams like giant gas sucking trees wouldn’t float. He points out that if they were to side with environmentalists, then Big“Instead of policy,” the engineer tells them, “we could make Oil would back out, and he adds, with an awkwardly close leancurrent transportation systems more efficient and slow the toward the engineer in his dark denim jeans and half buttonedprogress of greenhouse gas release. Massive gas exchange dress shirt, bring their money out with them.units that work on the same principal as trees could beconstructed to cycle carbon dioxide into oxygen as the wind “Big Oil would back it,” the engineer speaks frankly, over hispasses through them. The same structures could double raving friends “because it would fix their emissions issues.as wind turbines or be lined with solar panels to reduce Hell, they’d install one on every oil rig and that woulddependence on oil and coal fired plants.” A few bar stools decrease ocean acidification as the gas was fixed into waterdown, the young woman nods in agreement with the engineer. molecules circulated in machinery installed on the rig’s base. They could suck up emissions, slow sea level rise and reverseWhile bragging with increasing volume and decreasing ocean acidification. No taxes or policy needed, just sell Big Oilpronunciation about their individual skills and capabilities, on the idea and hand them the schematics.”they had quickly drained their first round of drinks. The bankerwaves at the old man and orders three citrus vodka cocktails The engineer allows the suits to banter and debate amongston his tab. The second round rapidly expands their already themselves as he quietly slides down the bar next to theoversized egos, throwing fuel on the heated debate. woman with the empty glass. She is studying environmental engineering at the local university and wants to hear moreThe lawyer starts raving about how “International policies for about this oil rig idea. He orders her another her mojito andbuilding something like that would have to be in place to ensure asks if she’d like to see the skyscraper being retrofitted forthe construction would go forward on schedule and meet rooftop solar with a massive crane four blocks up near hisregulations. It would benefit the international community hotel—there is a killer view from his room.but if conflict broke out in the region it was built…” he rattledon with self-righteous grandeur, until the banker butts in to Ready to order third round, the banker and the lawyer setask “Who’ll pay for such a huge construction project? If we their empty cocktail glasses on the bar and look around fortaxed emission we could use an international pool to fund the their friend; it’s the engineer’s turn to buy. They turn toproject.” catch a glimpse of the engineer as he slips out the door while discussing the complexities of climate change and sea level rise with a pretty young woman by his side who turns and smiles back at them.Photo by whiskeyriff About the Author: Amanda is a homesteading tech nerd working from her rural home as a freelance writer, graphic designer, and educational program coordinator. AUGUST 2016 71 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
HORRIBLE ENGINEERING BOSSES By Patricia Eldridge Photo by imgflip Imagine yourself in the shoes by numerous engineers. APhoto by ps363 of Jason Bateman (but as an terrible boss results in a highly engineer) in the movie Horrible uninteresting work environment, Bosses. You have to work your which severely hampers bum off from sunrise to sunset motivation, productivity and (and longer), be shouted at for progression. Not only is it bad for being just a couple minutes the company, but it is also bad for late, not be awarded the credit the employees and their bosses and praise you deserve for as well. While money, working your tireless work, and see the hours and workplace locations promotion you are due go to are some of the factors behind someone else who does not engineers quitting jobs, the deserve it in the slightest. Worst more common factor is having of all – your boss is a complete a horrible boss. Most engineers and utter nightmare. quit their bosses, not their jobs. Many of the instances mentioned Engineers are well justified most above are commonly experienced of the time in deserting their72 AUGUST 2016 Photo by Wallpaper Made Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
bosses, too. Ponder this – your strong will, steely determination Photo by aolboss is uninspiring, has zero and command respect from Photo by forbesleadership skills and is unable to subordinates. This is asking Photo by peoplepassionateguide you and your peers. Would a lot of one individual, butyou like to put in any effort for choosing the right person willthis person? Of course not. Some ensure that the company is setof the most common behaviors for comfortable times ahead.which make engineers lose Conversely, choosing an incorrectfaith in their bosses are yelling, person as the leader of the packaddressing others with foul will result in performances goinglanguage (profanity), socializing downhill.excessively and taking credit forsomeone else’s work. As an old saying goes, it is never too late to learn. BossesIn a study conducted by Gallup, can try reaching out to their30% of more than 350,000 dissatisfied employees, discussparticipants said that they were about their problems and figuremerely ‘engaged’ in their jobs. out a solution. For example, if aThis means that 70% employees manager has six happy engineersare not performing to their out of 10, then he/she can tryfull capacity. This results in an to inspire and motivate the fourestimated $450 billion lost in U.S. dissatisfied engineers – two atproductivity. The number alone a time, if needed – and raiseshows just how significant the spirits. This would result in betterimportance of having a capable relations between the employermanager is. and employee, and significantly improve working conditions andIn another study performed by results. Moreover, managers canGallup, 12% of more than 7,000 try and improve themselves forrespondents said that they were the sake of the better coordinationperfectly happy with their bosses. with their engineers.They opted to go for the highestagreement rating, embodied At the end of the day, it comesby the statement ‘I feel I can down to the happiness andapproach my manager with any satisfaction of the employees. Justtype of question’. Respondents as a king cannot have a peacefulwho chose this answer were kingdom with unhappy people,very progressive in their work, similarly a manager must knowand happier at work than their how to keep engineers content.more dissatisfied counterparts. Having motivated engineers willThis shows just how imperative it result in better productivity, andis to have a manager who offers propel the company forwards.openness to their staffers. What bosses need to understand is that dominating their authorityBeing a boss is never easy. on their members of staff does notManaging all of the employees bode well – instead they shouldin itself is tough enough as it is, focus on becoming positive roleand making tough decisions and models for their subordinates.knowing that the consequences After all, employees want a bossof those decisions will rest on to be an inspiring leader, not atheir shoulders give bosses a strict gym trainer.headache more often than not.Hence, the candidates considered About the Author:to be promoted to the rank of Patricia took her MBA in London,manager must be evaluated UK. She's a model, actress,carefully. Higher authorities blogger and a copywriter.must choose someone who has a AUGUST 2016 73 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
7 Financial GoalsMillennial EngineersShould Achieve BeforeHitting 30 #2It’s awesome to be an independent adult! You’re Photo by pinterestyoung, and energetic and ready for the worldahead of you. And since we’re adults, we have tounderstand and deal with the different challengesin the world. Just like Uncle Ben said, “With greatpower, comes great responsibility.” In this age,it’s important that we have total control over ourfinances, here are 7 financial goals you shouldachieve before hitting the age of 30.#1 Photo by blog.portfolium Zero or Decreasing Debt As much as possible be debt free, but if you still are, then work out an action plan to get out of debt. Being an adult working and thinking about a lot of things is stressful enough, don’t add more stress by thinking about debts. #3 Photo by memegenerator A Job/Business that Pays for your Daily Expenses You’re way past the age for getting weekly allowances from your parents. Go get a good job that will pay for all your daily needs. Instead of being supported, you should be the one supporting. Learn to be financially independent. #3 Savings Worth 3 times your Monthly Expenses Life is not predictable, we all know this by now. Accidents, emergencies, and other unforeseen events could happen. So it’s important to have some savings that could help you through this time.74 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
#4 Photo by paradigmlife #6 Photo by stylevitae.tumblrA growing Retirement FundWouldn’t it be nice to grow old and not needto work? So it’s important to have a growingretirement fund.#5 A Failed Business Photo by linkedin Failed businesses, big or small, are battle scars that teaches us new lessons and help us become better at what we do. Having done this teaches you that you got out of your comfort zone and took some risks. #7 Photo by steveonomicsA Splurge AccountThis account is a little spoil for you. You work hardfor your salary, so you have to reward yourselfand play hard as well. Separate a certain amountfrom your paycheck to spend on yourself. A Financial Mentor Having a financial mentor is important, so he/ she could guide you about your finances every now and then. If you’re not comfortable getting one, then you could download/ purchase some financial books and go to some finance seminars. AUGUST 2016 75 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
How Engineers Should Deal with Lingering Office PoliticsAll engineers in the field have experienced at one At times when your insensitive co-engineers takepoint in their career that they have to deal with the aggressive route – “shit Gary, your idea iswhat professionals call as office politics. It doesn’t so brilliant this should be mine,” or “is this yournecessarily mean office gossip, but yes, mostly report Adam? this is terrible” – the approach thatthat’s what it is. will work best is confrontational. It takes lots of balls to do this, but that kind of attitude, if notSometimes it could be an issue of a co-engineer faced with equal or more action, will continue.spreading lies about you or others that will make You don’t have to be rude back in doing this. All ithim appear as the good guy, and sabotages needs is a formal, neat conversation of the otherothers’ work to get himself ahead. There’s also ends’ issues. Speak to the person first with utmostthat co-engineer who takes credit for everyone respect and curiosity. Don’t forget to documentelse’s work. And that one manipulative engineer the exchanges in case it won’t go well, so that youwho uses flattery to the higher ups and the have proof. Never go below the belt by attackingsubordinates to see him or her as the one who the person as you will only be dragged with himexcels. Such engineers are total suckers, aren’t or her to the manager or human resources officethey? when the issue goes at an uncontrollable rate. Settle this kind of politics at its core, and that is toWhile those kinds of people cannot be removed explain to the banterer that his or her actions arein any engineering company or workplace, how unfit for pleasant engineering work.does an engineer deal with such? The approachto this varies depending upon the kind of politics Office politics are not entirely negative either,it propagates – the endpoint is that you should as an engineer can also enhance connectionsalways win them over. with co-workers. That’s also office politics. You can volunteer to stay late or offer to work withIn any office politics situation, always the another engineer, even it’s out of your requiredbest response is to practice tact. When a co- work. That way the people at your office will beengineer blurts out something negative – “wow, pleased and will have one less issue with you, atmy foreman is a dickhead,” or “office engineer least.Michelle just won’t shut up about her weeklydates” – it is wise to shrug it off by changing the Take note that disengaging from office politics istopic. You can always say, “I’m sorry you feel that not the answer. Excellent engineers in the fieldway” without being offensive to the one who is know it that they have to effectively participate intrying to involve you into the issue. When that co- such issues. Like them, you will have to deal withworker persists with his unnecessary feelings, be each one – negative or positive – you just need toas diplomatic as possible by proceeding with your know how to convert it to your advantage.work. That will kill the conversation naturally. Photo by gabblin76 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
The Engineer Who Says\"I Dont Know\" Has BetterDecision Making SkillsEngineers at work are faced with so many conclusion was that those who were confidentproblems that range from paper works to field about an immediate solution when presentedwork, may it be managerial or technical. Each with a problem were less successful.time an engineer makes the decision to eachproblem, he or she should look for the most What engineers can draw from this experimentsound solution. And to this, experts say that you is to take time in formulating decisions. Sayingshould not rush to it by saying “I already know.” “I don’t know,” or “I don’t know yet” is simply buying more time to really think about a strategicAn experiment done by Mark Chussil, founder and competitive solution. You can ask otherand CEO of Advanced Competitive Strategies, engineers at work to consult rather than thinkingrevealed that overconfidence is the best way to on your own because newsflash: you don’t alwaysruin your chances for making a good decision. He hold the right answers.wrote, \"When you think you know the answer,you sincerely believe it's a waste of time to keep Photo by imgfliplooking for it.” This kind of thinking eliminatestime to think more of better solutions.He also shared that those who simply said theydidn’t know enough to make a decision weremore likely to have positive outcomes. Another AUGUST 2016 77 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by BusinessNewsDailyWHAT ENGINEERS SHOULD DO TOBE LIKED IN THE WORKPLACEWorking as an engineer is not always until you make it. But you need to with others but a relationship witha one-man team. There will be communicate effectively at work. them. When the other end seems tocollaborations with other engineers, You also have to be liked by your get a response that we are listening,especially in other departments co-workers in order to survive. And it will set an impression that we careand levels of the company you are studies show a sure-fire solution how about them.working in. Engineers are required to do just that: you are more likeable This is also true when we give theto interact with each other as part of when you listen attentively and give other end undivided attention. Athe work. undivided attention. Harvard Business Review post tellsIf you are the kind of engineer that In a book called Getting What You that, “giving and receiving undivideddoesn’t want to socialize, in short Want and Resolving Conflict Sooner, attention, even briefly, is the leastan introverted engineer, fake it it states that, “simply gazing steadily that one individual can do for another and warmly at that person, nodding — and sometimes the most. And at times and reiterating what you yet, attending to others doesn’t just heard will activate an empathic, help them — it helps us, by evoking mirror-neuron response in both of responses that help the listener feel you.” This wires our neurons that cared for, useful, and connected to improve not only the communication the larger world.” In short, if you are an engineer and want to be liked in your workplace, make others feel engaged with you by listening and giving undivided attention.78 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
HOW TODEALWITH THEENGINEERWHO HASBODY ODORIt’s a good day and you’re in the It is advisable to talk to that engineermiddle of finally solving that problem at the end of the day to avoidyou need to discuss with your clients. distracting him/her at work afterYou’re the boss in your section and talking about the issue. Discuss it in aso far, no one’s suing anyone inside private corner where no one else canthe office. The day is starting to look hear it to avoid embarrassing him/good until one of the people who her. As soon as you are alone withwork under you asks for a little bit of that engineer, just be completelyyour time. honest about the observation YOU made. Don’t mention someone elseYou ask her to close the door so that complained about him/her to avoidyou both can have your privacy. She any conflict. Get straight to the pointhesitates to tell you what she came but be kind to the engineer.in for until she finally complainsabout the other engineer who has a Remind the engineer the importanceterrible case of body odor. Of course of good hygiene inside the work placeyou tell her you’re going to look into so that he/she will see how urgentthis and thank her for approaching this issue must be resolved. Also, askyou first instead of embarrassing that if this is a medical condition. If theengineer. engineer says yes, assure him/her that you’ll be more understandingNow, you are left with this of the condition.If not, the engineerresponsibility to inform that engineer should find a way to work on this.about the issue and admit it, it’s oneof the most awkward things to do at Keep in mind that sometimes, thesework. But before you do, you must smells are results of one’s diet socheck it yourself. Does that engineer reminding everyone to be a littlereally have a body odor issue or is the more tolerant with each other willcomplainant having an off day? In also help keep the peace inside.case the claim is true, this is wherethe awkward but necessary part Photo by inchappens. AUGUST 2016 79 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
HOW ENGINEERS CANCORRECT A BAD FIRSTIMPRESSIONThe truth about first impressions is that we While a good first impression put us in aonly have one in each experience with other position that we were liked in the company atpeople. When we get hired as engineers, the start, a bad first impression – an incidentpeople in our workplace have their fair share of pressure, nervousness, wrong approachof first impressions depending on how we and distraction – already left a mark amongmove and interact with them initially. It can others. So how do we correct that?either be a bad or good first impression thatcements us of their perspective towards thenewbies.80 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
#2 Interact with the others in any way you could. A study from Harvard tells that it usually takes eight subsequent positive encounters for another person to change his or her negative opinion about you. To have more chances in having that eight straight incidents, all you have to do is interact with them more and do your best not to mess it up.Photo by batimes #3 Try the honest route by making it up them with an invite. While this takes a lot of balls to do, this confrontational approach may just work. Simply asking for a lunch together or watching a movie in the theater will yield a better response that you are better than your bad first impression. Talk it out with them if you can.#1 #4Realize that first impressions… are just first Ask them for advice – on anything.impressions. Adam Grant, a Wharton School professor,Think as well of how your bad impressions says that asking for advice is a smart wayabout others might change over the course to be influential. He said, “Asking for adviceof time. encouraged greater cooperation and information sharing, turning a potentially contentious negotiation into a win-win deal.” AUGUST 2016 81 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
THE HABITS OFHAPPY SUCCESSFULENGINEERSBy Cielo PandaThe everyday routine jobs of engineer #3 Don't wait for an apology to forgivecan be stressful and tiring, but we stillwork our butts off because we want to Sometimes it’s better not to expectbe successful engineers in the future. an apology, and just forgive. BeingUnfortunately, we sometimes tend to able to forgive someone that may notwork too much, to the point that we deserve it releases you of any negativearen’t really happy with what we’re relationship burden. If they give andoing anymore. So how can we be able apology then, that’s awesome. If not,to become successful engineers and be then just forgive them and learn fromhappy at the same time? Here are 10 this experience.habits that happy successful engineerspractice. Photo by: Spin.atomicobject#1 Cherish learning in success or failureThey see failures as an opportunity totry something new, and better.Photo by: TheGlassAcademy #2 They assume positive intent of #4 Listen to understand, not to respond others Listening to understand and develop Happy and successful engineers avoid a habit of asking at least 2 questions interpreting the motive of others as of clarity before giving your point of ill-intent. They simply assume positive view. By doing so, you will have a wider intent. outlook of the topic and you’ll be able Photo by: OurBusinessLadder to collaborate better.82 AUGUST 2016 Photo by: forbes Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
#5 Live an attitude of gratitude #8 Seek the adventureBe grateful for what you have in your Find a challenge and get out of yourlife. comfort zone. It will train you forPhoto by: wikihow different adversities you may encounter in the future. Photo by: webgranth#6 Discover the positive #9 Avoid judgmentAlways find the positive light in ou don’t know the story behind others’everything, even in problems. behavior. They may have rationalPhoto by: texasSharon reasons. It’s important to avoid being judgemental. Photo by: civiljustice#7 Embrace the child within #10 Don't compare yourself to othersBring out the child in you and be Just do your best at what you do! Stopcurious, discover new things and learn comparing yourself to others. The onlyfrom them. one you should compare yourself to is who you are today, and how you canPhoto by: adventuretimeWikia better yourself for the future! Photo by: popsugar AUGUST 2016 83 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
BEFORE QUITTING THATENGINEERING JOB, DO THISThere will come a point at your engineering career that you are more than ready to leave the job. You’vealready made the resignation letter and all you have to do is place it on top of your boss’ desk. But before youmake that big decision in your career, consider these questions first:Photo by: tanveerNaseer Are the things that make you want to quit permanent Photo by: news.com frustrations? There can be situations in your engineering workplace that can Photo by: medicaldaily be shrugged off and not worth pulling the trigger of quitting Photo by: linkedin the job. It might be just be a petty incident, disagreement, or mistake that can be easily forgiven. Take note: there will always be problems encountered anywhere you will work, maybe even bigger than what you are facing right now. Have you considered taking a break? Sometimes it’s just a matter of a fresh start by taking a short leave at work. Relax and go to a vacation to have a renewed mind when you get back. This shift of perspective cannot undermined and will ultimately have that resignation letter shredded. Did you consider the big picture? If you indeed turn in that resignation, and say it was accepted, what does that make of you? A jobless engineer. Are you ready to have that kind of title or that phase in your career where you just lie down at home and wait for another job opening? Think of that first. Have you saved enough? Quitting your job would mean you will have no source of income for quite a while, in case you do not realize that. You still have to pay your monthly bills and maybe have family members to support. This is a great factor since you don’t want to be broke while being unemployed. Do you think of the consequences of a resume gap? Your future employers will notice about the multitude of companies you went into and I’m sure they will ask why you left each time. Every time you quit a job there has to be a valid reason that the HR of your next companies will understand. Are you comfortable with uncertainty? This question perhaps hits you so much when there is no job waiting after your resign. Would you be able to not overthink about having no job? Are you sure of the future that lies ahead of you when you quit?If these kinds of questions didn’t even bother you at all, or managed to think of the answers with strongconvictions, you might be ready to quit that job. Otherwise, just stay until you are really ready to leave.84 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: thelofquistproject Photo by: relatably Photo by: writingmemes.tumblrWHY ENGINEERS MUSTLEARN HOW TO WRITEBETTEREngineers were trained to bosses. Writing allows them outside perspective. We canbuild, create and develop to slow down their thoughts, later on criticize our work andanything that could help review what they write about find more ways on how tothe public live better and gives them a chance to improve it. Being an engineerlives. That’s basically write more precisely and give requires a lot of researchwhat engineering schools a polished product. since working on projectstaught them in their years One thing an engineer forgets and reports requires one toof learning engineering when writing a report or learn the latest trends inscience and major subjects. paper for a work report is the engineering and technology.If there’s one skill engineers audience. We have our own They will have to search fordidn’t really learn in college, jargons which not everybody more information about theit’s to write better. Writing understands. When we train topic they are working on.is crucial in an engineer’s ourselves to write better, This will allow them to learncareer since it allows one to we will be able to learn to more about their specialtyrelay a message properly in consider the audience of our on the process. The morethe office, to clients or with work. Once they read your an engineer reads, the morethe public. work, they won’t have a hard new information they’ll learnHere are reasons why it’s time picking up the point of and this could help themimportant for every engineer your work. with their careers.to learn how to write better: It’s obvious that when we A lot of young engineersIt’s part of an engineer’s learn how to write better as nowadays have troublejob to respond to emails engineers, we will be able to expressing their thoughtsand letters. One problem express out thoughts better. and ideas to their colleaguesan engineer encounters This also affects our ability to and potential clients. Mayis his/her lack of ability to give speeches in public. We all it be from the reportsexpress the important point know that this is something a to be submitted to theof the message clearly. lot of engineers have trouble presentation of projects,Learning to write better with aside from writing. A engineers find it difficult towill certainly improve one’s clearer thought process concisely relay their thoughtsefficiency, persuasiveness through writing will train to their audience. Taking theand approachability in any us to better at conversing time to write their thoughtskind of exchanges. with other people - may it be on paper would allow themToday’s young engineers with public speeches or just to train their selves to leavehave a very fast thinking a conversation between you the clutter out of the thoughtprocess. They can easily and your boss. process. Eventually, as thesethink of really good ideas, Being able to write down and young engineers learn howhowever, they have problems present our ideas will give to write better, they will bewhen it comes to delivering us the opportunity to see able to write more concisely.it to their colleagues and our own thoughts from an AUGUST 2016 85 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
THINGS ENGINEERS MUSTDO DURING THE WEEKENDPhoto by: imgflip It’s been a very tiring week running some errands that and for most engineers, all you can never accomplish we want is to just relax on during the weekday? the weekend. We just want Spend time with those to sleep the entire day and who matter to you. just be in our beds if given We’re always so busy during the choice. However, some the weekdays that we never of us still want to make the get to talk to the people most out of the free time we love. Better catch up on we’re given two days a them during the weekend. week. So if you’re one of It’ll leave you feeling happy those engineers who want to after. Making plans with achieve something, here are them will also give you things you should do during something to look forward to the weekend. during work. Make plans for the Disconnect from your weekend. gadgets. You don’t have to do You’ve been glued to your anything extravaganza but phone and other gadgets you should have a general for the past five days, you idea on what to do during have to detach yourself the weekend. How about86 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: thespreadissuefrom it during the weekend. so don’t spend all your guilty of. We bring work toClear your mind from all the money on your activities our homes and slave theclutter you normally get from during the weekend. Find days away. We need to startchecking your email. events or do something you thinking of not doing anyLearn to have fun. like that can be done for free work at all. Working duringIt’s what the weekends are (or at a minimum cost). free time is just toxic for us.for. Have fun! Learn to reflect. Just relax. Learn toDon’t sleep the whole Take a few minutes to reflect breathe in and breatheday. on yourself, on your career out.This is a mistake we normally and on your life in general. Learn to relax and de-stress.do every Saturday and Figure out if you’re okay with This helps you feel refreshedSunday. We sleep the whole the path you’re taking, if you and ready for the new weekday and as soon as Monday need to do something more ahead of you.comes in, we start to panic to improve or if you need a Plan the new weekfor not doing things we could change of scenery in your ahead.have done during the two life. This will allow you to On Sunday nights, don’tdays off work. focus on important things forget to plan the weekDon’t spend all your instead of doing petty stuff ahead of you. This will helpmoney on the weekend. for the brand new week. you achieve goals easier.It always pays to save money Avoid doing work. This is what we’re most AUGUST 2016 87 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: linkedin10 IMPORTANT JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONSFOR ENGINEERS (AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM)By Raymond Gerard del Valle Okay, so you’re a big shot in college. job you applied for. Understandable, first- You are consistently on the Dean’s time jitters. You didn’t get the second list, and you have never had a grade one. Okay, third times a charm. But, you below above-average. You graduate flunked the third time. What’s wrong? with honors, and believe that the life The truth is, even if you have a flawless ahead of you will be a bed of roses. record and a smashing CV, you still have Okay, so you’re a qualified engineer. to ace the job interview, or at times You are a consistent performer, and interviews, in order to get the job you have experience in handling critical want. Most applicants take interviews for functions. Unfortunately, you find granted, and thus fail to prepare for them. yourself in between jobs now. But you It is not at all bad to “be yourself” and are not worried because with your give an extemporaneous interview, but previous record, companies will sure job interview questions are not asked just be more than willing to hire you. for the heck of it. They have underlying You apply for jobs, and because you meanings, and the interviewer dishes have a stellar academic/professional them out to extract answers essential to record, you get called for interviews. the position you are applying for. So, in You didn’t get selected for the first short, it is not advisable to answer just because.88 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Here are 10 important Photo by: quickmemejob interview questionsdissected and explained. for. Also, don’t forget to emphasize 9. What to you are the characteristics that though you are not the master of of a successful engineer? The1. When did you start looking everything, you are always ready and interviewer is looking into your values.for a job? Have there been any willing to learn. You can choose around three or four traitsoffers so far? The interviewer here is 6. What do you get out of and explain why in your opinion they aretrying to find a reason why you are engineering that you couldn’t get in important. Perhaps a good way to tacklenot currently employed. He or she is other functions in other industries? this is to use a real person as an exampletrying to figure out if it is a question This questions basically means: “Why – say a manager or a colleague. Explainof timing, employability or personal pursue this industry?” Here, you can talk how their positive traits contributed tochoice. You have to explain that the about your engineering achievements their success. Also, explain how you havereason you are still unemployed is that further drive your interest in the learned from working with them.because you are waiting for the “right industry, or you can talk about aspects 10. How were you able to handlejob” – an opportunity that matches of engineering work that stimulates a difficult client? As an engineer, youyour qualifications and experience, you. Don’t forget to relate them to the work with clients day-in and day-out. Thus,and a position in which you can position you are applying for. it is important that you are emotionallymaximize your potential. 7. How were you able to help in stable and are able to amicably work with2. What do you like most/ the success of your last project? them, even through trying times. Makeleast about engineering? The The interviewer is essentially trying sure you emphasize that you listen tointerviewer is looking into your general to find out how you work with and your clients, and that you work with themattitude towards work. It is advisable contribute to a team. It is opportune to throughout the projects. But clarify thatto concentrate on the positives, mention your creative thinking, effective despite this, you took the responsibility ofkeeping in mind the requirements communication or attention to detail. You providing an effective solution, and thatand responsibilities of the job you are are also welcome to provide an example. you took ownership of the project.applying for. 8. What was the load like in your There! We hope that these job interview3. Where do you see yourself 5 previous work? This question should tips can help you in your present or futureyears from now? With this question, tell you that the company is expecting job search. By the way, now that you havethe interviewer is trying to gauge you to handle a considerably heavy an idea on how to handle these interviewwhether you have a vision of growing workload. Don’t forget: In talking about questions, you should feel confident ininto the position, and therefore not your previous jobs workload (or your applying for relevant positions.move jobs too soon. You should be University subject load), do not complain If you are ready to jump ship, thenable to provide a realistic career path, and do not sound overwhelmed. This is try to apply for these engineering joband emphasize that your intention your chance to highlight your efficiency, opportunities (click here)is to master the demands of every and your time and work managementposition you will hold within the skills.company.4. What would you consider tobe your greatest success in usingyour engineering skills to solvea problem? The interviewer wantsto know how you can explain yourachievements, and how well youapply your problem-solving skills tosurmount real-life obstacles. Here,make your examples as concrete aspossible. The choice is yours – selectthe one that puts you in the bestpossible light.5. What engineering skill/s haveyou developed in the past year?As an engineer, it is important thatyou are always updated with thelatest methods and technologies inthe industry. With this question, theinterviewer is trying to find out if youhave the initiative to improve on yourindustry knowledge and skills. Here,make sure you mention skills that arerelevant to the job you are applying AUGUST 2016 89 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: productivitymeetings Meeting Mistakes Every Engineer Must Avoid Everyday, engineers attend meetings to discuss important matters about their work. From settling the accounts with potential clients to debating which project to pursue and updating their boss about their work, it’s impossible to avoid meetings at work. But what if the engineer starts to climb up the office ladder? What if he/she needs to lead meetings and require updates from the people working for him/her? These meetings can play a crucial role in the company’s productivity so an engineer must avoid these common meeting mistakes to achieve the success they need: Meetings start late It’s never a good idea to start the meeting late. Wasted time means wasted possibilities to get things done outside the meeting. You could have sealed the deal with a client instead of waiting for the meeting to start 15 minutes later. Your90 AUGUST 2016 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
Photo by: workplacedivaBlogspotcolleagues could have finished the papers and Photo by: memegeneratorreports needed to deliver to your clients. Photo by: linkedinThe next time you hold a meeting, make sureeveryone’s present on time.Wrong people present in the meetingDon’t invite everyone in the office to the meeting.Check your agenda and know which ones needto report to you during the meeting and whichones don’t. Inviting everyone would only wasteeveryone’s time.Forgetting to discuss the importantissuesFocus on the important issues you need to decideon always. When trivial things start to pop upduring the meeting, quickly shift the discussionto the important matters needed to be resolved.Always consider everyone’s time. You don’t needto discuss during the meeting who will bring theimportant guest to where he is staying during hiscompany visit. Nope, you don’t have to.Meetings scheduled at the wrong timeTry to find out when it’s usually productive foreveryone to work and let them do their work thattime. Set the schedule for the meeting when it’sconvenient for everyone.Wrong people lead the meetings.Make sure that the ones who know how to makethe right decisions for the important matters arepresent. Make sure they are able to speak upas well. Sometimes the loud and overconfidentcolleagues dominate the meeting while the quietones are left to sit and listen. Make sure you’reable to facilitate the discussion in the meetingwell. AUGUST 2016 91 Sports Engineering and Other Special Features
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