When many people think of engineers, they imagine train conductors or a guy covered in oil fixing a car in an auto-body store. I think it’s about time that we change that image. Engineers are the people that help build the world around you – your house, your car, your computer, even the water you drink has once been part of an engineer’s plan.

Exxon Mobil started a commercial campaign to spread the word of the world of engineering. Their website, beanengineer.com, introduces the 15 different types of engineering: aerospace, agricultural, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer hardware, computer software, electrical, environmental, industrial, materials, mechanical, mining and geological, nuclear, and petroleum engineering. The website has lots of great information about the types of engineering, some real-world engineers, and other information that would help you get a better grasp on what an engineer is and does. The website also provides a description of what education engineers need and provides some tools and resources to use.

Let’s take a bit of a closer look at the website. In the Feats Of Engineering subsection you can find out 10 of the world’s greatest modern-day engineering phenomenon, like the large hadron collider. The subsection Types Of Engineering  has the list of the 15 types of engineering and, if you click on one, a description. In Engineering In Action, you’ll find Engineering Champions, which is a list of organizations that help the engineering community. This is a good list to check out if you have an interest in going to college to become an engineer.

Engineering is a necessary profession, but not many people know much about it. It’s not a job for everyone though. I would reccomend checking out beanengineer.com if you want to learn more. The website encourages you to “be an engineer… where changing the world is part of the job description.”