Emerging Engineering

Isaac Asimov, the science fiction writer famously said ‘Science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world.’ He was a biochemistry professor when he was not writing science fiction. Engineering is all about taking the latest scientific advancements and converting them to applications that can change the way the world operates. With the progress of time, some fields of engineering (such as civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering) have become known as established classical fields while new off shoots combining various aspects of these basic disciplines continue to evolve. 

Such relatively new offshoots are termed as emerging engineering fields. These engineering disciplines are often compelled by recent innovations in science, and are aimed at addressing the key needs of the day. A classical example is that of nuclear engineering which was considered an emerging engineering field in the early 1950s, driven by the discovery of radioactivity and atomic energy in the early 1900s . Today, multiple new disciplines of engineering are considered emerging. The fusion of biology and engineering has given rise to the field of biotechnology and biomedical engineering. The ongoing global warming crisis has necessitated that more focus be placed on clean energy sources and technology, giving rise to renewable energy engineering. Similarly, as climate change and pollution become more of a threat, environmental engineering has evolved to address the challenges. These are just a few examples that will be discussed in this article. There are many more emerging engineering fields, and they all have one common characteristic. These fields are in their nascency, with immense potential for growth. Let us discuss three such fields in greater detail. 

Biomedical Engineering 

Biomedical Engineering (BioMed or BME for short) is the application of engineering methods, tools, and principles to the medical field, addressing various needs in diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation. For example, a functional MRI machine is a biomedical engineering application aimed at diagnostics while nanorobots capable of targeted drug delivery and even surgery are applications of the field in therapeutic treatment. Prosthetics  that communicate directly with a human nervous system is one of the many biomedical engineering applications in rehabilitation. The applications of engineering in the field of healthcare and medicine are numerous. The importance of this field is further highlighted by the present COVID-19 crisis. The contributions of this field encompass protective equipment such as PPE kits to life saving interventions such as ventilators and BiPAP machines. Those trained in this emerging engineering discipline is naturally in great demand. The field of Biomedical engineering is expected to grow at a staggering 23% growth rate between 2014 and 2024, which is more than three times the growth rate of most engineering disciplines. Biomedical engineers work as tissue engineers, genetic engineers, rehabilitation and orthopaedic engineers, bio instrumentation engineers, and biomaterial engineers . These jobs may be attached to research institutes and universities, private companies, hospitals, and  research facilities.  

The median salaries of biomedical engineers in the US is $91,400 with just a bachelor’s degree. It should be noted that this figure increases significantly with experience and additional qualifications. The top 10% of biomedical engineers earn nearly $150,000 per annum . Even in India, the top 10% of biomedical engineers earn nearly Rs. 10 Lakhs per annum . It should be noted that biomedical engineering is as of yet not an established field in the country, and salaries and opportunities in this field are only likely to increase with time. With technologies such as 3D printing and nanorobotics becoming more commonplace, biomedical engineers of the future are sure to find challenging and rewarding opportunities that let them work with cutting edge technology while effectively bettering human lives. 

Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineers work with the management of resources such as water and soil, prevention or mitigation of air water, and soil pollution, and critical public health issues such as waste disposal, recycling, etc. Given that it is such a diverse field, environmental engineers are trained in basic chemistry, biology, ecology, and geology in addition to having an exposure to basic engineering disciplines such as mechanical engineering and civil engineering. In fact, in top engineering institutes such as MIT, environmental engineering is clubbed with civil engineering discipline, while Caltech  has an environmental science and engineering department, highlighting the linkages this emerging engineering field has to basic sciences and engineering. Needless to say, the job opportunities available to environmental engineers are just as diverse . Environmental engineers can directly affect the health of large human populations by designing and managing appropriate pollution mitigation schemes. They may work on present day challenges such as recycling and waste management. Many environmental engineers work in green buildings, making sure that upcoming buildings are energy efficient, contain solid waste management systems, maintain appropriate air quality, have water management facilities such as grey water recycling and rainwater harvesting, and are energy efficient. Given that water scarcity, especially with the rapid pace of urbanization, is a defining challenge of this century, many environmental engineering jobs are directed towards water resource management.  This field is expected to grow by over 25% in the next decade, with a median salary of $87,620 for those with an undergraduate degree. Experienced environmental engineers in India comfortably make over Rs. 10 Lakhs per annum, and as an emerging field, the need for environmental engineering graduates is likely to rise. This is especially true for India, given its high population, need for better management of water resources and municipal waste disposal systems. Those trained in this field are likely to be at the forefront of human intervention against climate change, making it a very rewarding and lucrative area of study.

Renewable Energy Engineering

Of the three emerging engineering fields discussed here, renewable energy engineering is arguably the most well established. Renewable energy-engineers study basic mechanical and electrical engineering subjects in addition to those related to specific energy sources. For example, some knowledge of chemistry is essential to understand battery technology, while an understanding of aerodynamics is necessary for designing windmills. Renewable energy engineers are also trained in the basics of green building and energy efficient materials, thus providing for a skill set with great latitude. These engineers can choose to work directly on power generation projects such as designing and setting up solar and wind farms, small hydel projects, and biomass energy projects. Given the global focus on renewable technology, such opportunities are available globally. In addition, most large-scale companies now focus on renewable technology for minimizing their carbon footprint. For example, large technology companies such as Facebook and google are building sustainable data centres which are energy efficient and run on renewable power sources. Cases such as these pose the unique challenge of building high reliability renewable power supply with appropriate battery backup. Similarly, companies such as Tesla are already manufacturing green vehicles that run entirely on clear energy, and the need for renewable energy Engineers in the automotive sector will only rise. In fact, the jobs related to solar energy alone in regions of the United States increased by 20%  in 2018 and 4.5 million new jobs are likely to be created in this sector in India alone over the next 25 years. At present, renewable energy engineers earn a median salary of $73,500 per annum  with experienced engineers in India earning over Rs. 10 Lakhs per annum. Like any other emerging engineering field, the demand for such graduates and the diversity of opportunities available are likely to increase over the coming decade, especially given the need for reducing fossil fuel dependence.

Studying Emerging Engineering 

Given that emerging engineering fields are new, reputed engineering courses in such fields are limited to a few top-ranking universities such as IITs and NITs in India. In addition, international exposure in such fields can be useful in such fields, as opportunities exist on an international level. The best places to study biomedical engineering for example, include Georgia Institute of Technology (USA), Harvard (USA), Monash University (Australia), National University of Singapore, and Stanford University (USA). Similarly, the courses on environmental engineering and renewable energy engineering at UC Berkley, ETH Zurich, MIT, and Stanford University are highly rated among others. While it is challenging to get admitted into these top-rated universities, it is not an impossible task for a dedicated student. It requires a high score in the country specific entrance exam (such as SAT score for US institutions) as well as a certificate on English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) in most countries. The typical fees range between $40,000 to $60,000 annually. While this is expensive for a middle-class Indian family, most top-rated institutes have scholarship schemes for students, as well as the opportunity for part time work. With appropriate planning, it is certainly possible for a brilliant student to secure financial assistance to any of these world class universities. The admission process, though complicated, can be navigated easily with some expert assistance.