The Bridge - Issue 3, 2023 - 42

History Spotlight
Exploring the Technological Tapestry: A Reading List
for Students and Early Career Engineers
Burt Dicht, Eta Chapter
There are many reasons for engineers and other technical
professionals to study history. Studying the history of
technology along with the great innovations and innovators
will help you make more informed decisions as you progress
through your career. Ultimately, history provides all of us with
a context for understanding the present and a roadmap for
navigating the future.
Engineers can learn valuable lessons from past successes
and failures. By applying these insights to your own career,
you might be able to avoid repeating a mistake or ensuring
that you are on the correct path. Historical perspectives from
key innovators and technical leaders can inform your own
leadership style. A by-product of this historical review can
reveal ethical dilemmas and choices made by individuals and
organizations which could help you address similar challenges
in your own career. Finally, learning from history can promote
cultural sensitivity, aid in your global perspective, bring about
empathy for groups of people whose lives are different from
our own, and provide you with a broader perspective and a
deeper understanding of human interactions.
With those goals in mind, I have assembled a technical history
reading list to aid you in your development as an engineer
and provide you with historical perspectives to guide your
career path. These summaries are not meant as book reviews,
although at times I include a description to provide you with
context for what you can learn from reading these books.
There is a mixture of genres including autobiographies and
historical narratives. Enjoy the reading.
Photo credit: Simon
and Schuster
David McCullough's book, " The
Path Between the Seas: The
Creation of the Panama Canal,
1870-1914 " focuses on the
construction of the Panama Canal,
a monumental engineering feat that
connected the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, revolutionizing global trade.
The construction of the canal had
broader implications than engineering.
There were political, social and
health challenges that confronted the
builders and threatened its successful
construction. McCullough's narrative brings this to life with
the introduction of the key players. Ferdinand de Lesseps,
the French developer, led the construction of the Suez Canal
in Egypt. He thought he could transfer the knowledge and
experience on the Suez Canal to building the Panama Canal.
He learned fast that Panama was not Egypt and the French
effort failed. The lesson for all engineers is that engineering
solutions are not " one size fits all. "
The story then turns to the Americans who took on the
task of building the canal. Project engineers John F. Stevens
and George W. Goethals brought new and innovative ideas
to the construction. Engineers from all disciplines will be
fascinated by how this massive project came to fruition. A
key takeaway from the book is its message about the human
cost of this project. It is estimated that between the French
and American efforts, more than 25,000 people died during
the construction, mostly from disease. Most of the labor
force were immigrants, and while much has changed in the
one hundred plus years since the canal was constructed, it
is important for engineers to always focus on the health and
safety of workers involved in any major project.
Martin Cooper is a pioneer in the
wireless communications industry
and an IEEE-HKN Eminent Member.
In his book, " Cutting the Cord, " he
tells the story of the creation of the cell
phone. He recounts the challenges
of balancing government regulators,
lobbyists, the police, entrenched
opposition, and many other factors in
driving innovation. Many technologies
have drastically changed our lives. The
cell phone is one such breakthrough
Photo Credit:
Rosetta Books
that has transformed how we communicate. Like many
transformative technologies, it is not just about the
technology itself. Many factors can influence how a product
finally makes it to market.
Cooper focuses on the conditions at Motorola that created
an open-minded environment and a culture of risk-taking.
He mentions Motorola CEO Bob Galvin as a driving force
that emphasized creativity and idea generation. The point
Cooper is making is that " Eureka doesn't just happen, "
and that innovation is a process that must be managed.
An important lesson that Cooper solidifies is that the
" advancement of knowledge requires risk. " For engineers
starting out, recognize that not every idea will pan out, but
to just " keep going and keep learning. " These are important
lessons for engineers in any industry.
THE BRIDGE
The Bridge - Issue 3, 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Bridge - Issue 3, 2023
