Mechanical engineering addresses some of humankind’s most challenging and persistent questions. With its roots in an understanding of the fundamental laws of nature, mechanical engineering encompasses the development, design and manufacture of machines and systems that harness those forces to benefit society. As the broadest engineering field, mechanical engineering plays a role throughout a range of scientific domains, three of which are touched upon here:
- Responsible use of natural resources: mechanical engineers conceive and construct solar, wind, thermal, and hydraulic energy transformation installations, and continue the development of other energy domains, from fuel cells to heat pumps.
- Transport: from bicycles to rockets, trains to planes; the innovation of mechanical engineering has been most spectacularly expressed in the domains of transport, with its challenge of producing an optimal response while respecting environmental and societal concerns.
- Production of goods for society: Mechanical engineering plays a crucial role in the fabrication process, and advances in the field contribute to the evolution of industrial processes, improving yields, optimizing energy, and minimizing environmental impact.