Connections
Engineers
Engineers fix, design, tinker, innovate and invent new technologies for Humankind. And yet it is in fact not crucial to know the history and impacts of one's own Industry or Technology while doing Scientific Work. It is often incredibly insightful to do both structured and open-ended exploration of historical material. This can include reading literature and consuming media outside of contemporary popular media. To work in the Sciences is to be highly specialized even relative to other Scientists in the same field. So Engineers easily become short-sighted. Engaging with historical material can be an important exercise to keep the figurative eyes in working condition. Engineers must review the bigger picture of the technology being worked on, making sure that that it provides value for people and that it ultimately plays a positive role in society.
Gender
American Engineering Schools and Universities in general have discriminated against women by prohibiting them from entering these institutions. Brooklyn Poly originally was a male only college. Only in 1958 was this policy reversed. Despite instituitional discrimination, women have broken through this glass ceiling and have done cutting edge Science and Engineering. The image below features Katie Bauman and Margarat Hamilton who have done great work in Computer Science.
