Post 15

In this post I am going to argue that the current issues scientists and engineers have to solve will impact society, corporations and daily life in many ways. It is evident that one day, in the near future, fossil fuels will run out and an alternative, renewable energy source will be needed. Most vehicles require gasoline, petroleum, or diesel to run, which means that when oil supply is exhausted, transportation will become a nightmare, unless a solution is slowly implemented as oil reserves are finally emptied. Also, many factories use coal or similar forms of fuel to function and therefore, searching for and developing renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar, geothermal and wind should be prioritized given that fossil fuels are not the energy of the future.

Another issue that scientists and engineers must address is global warming. Our environment is deteriorating and many species are becoming extinct due to loss of habitat (polar bears dying because of melting ice caps). The melting of polar ice caps leads to dramatic rise in ocean levels and therefore causes flooding on land. This affects humans directly because people living in areas that are already below sea level are forced to relocate, often turning their lives upside down. In relation of the previous example on cars, almost every American owns or uses a car on a daily basis. Therefore, if other sources of fuel in cars are adopted, the average American would essentially be a test dummy to see if they are functional or not and if using “x” fuel or energy source is plausible.

Another aspect that engineers and scientists control without us realizing it is through the materials and objects humans use on a daily basis. For example, if scientists and engineers designed a computer to last only two years, consumers would be forced to buy more often and thus increase revenue for those companies. This business model would lead to overconsumption and create more waste in third world countries where these technologies are put together. Scientists and engineers control almost every facet of our life because of how materialistic American society is. It is safe to say that engineers and scientists influence our lives as much as or even more than politicians do. Whether or not they deserve this power is something to be considered in future constitutional overhaul.

Sources

"Alternative Energy." - Wind, Solar, Hydro and Other Alt Energy Sources for Home Power. Alternative Energy. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://www.altenergy.org>.

"Home." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. NASA. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://climate.nasa.gov>.