Draft:How Engineering is used Today

Lead Section

The grand challenges of engineering are critical issues in our world that are trying to be improved today. There are 14 grand challenges, and each one has its own problems. These include making solar energy economical, provide energy from fusion, develop carbon sequestration, manage the nitrogen cycle, provide access to clean water, restore and improve urban infrastructure, advance health informatics, engineer better medicines, reverse-engineer the brain, prevent nuclear terror, secure cyberspace, enhance virtual reality, advance personalized learning, and engineer the tools of scientific discovery. With each of these grand challenges there are specific ways that engineers today are trying to mitigate the problems that come along with these issues.

Grand Challenges of Engineering

The 14 Grand Challenges of Engineering

Engineering has played a huge role in our world today. Engineering has allowed for many of the things you do every day to work like roads, irrigation systems, energy production, and much more. Engineering also allows for people to improve many of the necessities needed for life. This can be seen in the 14 grand challenges of engineering. These grand challenges consist of making solar energy economical, provide energy from fusion, develop carbon sequestration, manage the nitrogen cycle, provide access to clean water, restore and improve urban infrastructure, advance health informatics, engineer better medicines, reverse-engineer the brain, prevent nuclear terror, secure cyberspace, enhance virtual reality, advance personalized learning, and engineer the tools of scientific discovery. These 14 grand challenges are the issues that are very important in working on and improving through engineering.

Carbon Sequestration

Diagram of Carbon Sequestration

The article on carbon sequestration provides an insightful overview of the mechanisms and importance of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) to mitigate climate change. The topic is highly relevant in the current context of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the article does a commendable job of explaining the scientific principles behind carbon sequestration in both natural and artificial contexts. It covers the key methods of sequestration, such as biological sequestration (through forests, soil, and oceans) and technological methods like carbon capture and storage (CCS) in geological formations.

Strengths:

• The article effectively explains the concept of carbon sequestration and highlights its significance in the fight against climate change. The use of simple, non-technical language makes it accessible to a broad audience.
• The inclusion of both natural processes (e.g., forests and soil) and artificial technologies (e.g., CCS and direct air capture) provides a well-rounded understanding of the topic.
• The article references real-world examples of carbon sequestration projects and government initiatives, helping to connect the science with practical applications. Areas for Improvement:
• Depth and Technical Details: While the article does an excellent job of providing an introduction, it could benefit from more detailed discussions of specific technologies or methods. For instance, the description of geological sequestration could include more information about the challenges and risks involved, such as the potential for leakage and the technical limitations of long-term storage.
• Environmental and Economic Considerations: The article briefly mentions the benefits of carbon sequestration, but it would be helpful to delve deeper into the environmental trade-offs (e.g., land use changes or biodiversity impacts) and the economic costs of implementing large-scale sequestration projects. This would provide a more balanced view.

Medicinal Chemistry

Tools used for Medicinal Chemistry

The article on medicinal chemistry provides a comprehensive overview of the interdisciplinary field, which bridges chemistry and pharmacology in the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents. Medicinal chemistry plays a critical role in designing drugs that can target specific biological processes and diseases. The article covers key aspects, such as drug design, molecular modeling, and the importance of structure-activity relationships (SAR), offering a foundational understanding of how chemistry underpins modern drug development.

Strengths:

• Clear Explanations: The article presents complex topics like drug design, SAR, and pharmacokinetics in an accessible manner without oversimplifying the science. It balances the chemical and biological aspects of drug discovery well, providing a clear understanding of how molecules are optimized for therapeutic use.
• Scope of Content: It covers a broad range of essential topics, including drug discovery, optimization, and the role of medicinal chemists in bringing a drug from concept to clinical trials. Additionally, it includes key scientific techniques like high-throughput screening and molecular docking.
• Historical and Practical Context: The historical perspective on how the field has evolved, along with examples of well-known drugs (e.g., aspirin and statins), connects the theory to real-world applications. This makes the content engaging and relevant. Areas for Improvement:
• In-Depth Coverage of Recent Advances: While the article mentions traditional drug discovery methods, it could be enhanced by including more information on cutting-edge techniques such as AI-driven drug design, CRISPR-based therapies, or biologics. These emerging areas are revolutionizing medicinal chemistry and should be highlighted to reflect current advancements in the field.
• Challenges in Drug Development: The article would benefit from discussing some of the major challenges in medicinal chemistry, such as drug resistance, off-target effects, and the high cost of drug development. Including these would provide a more critical and realistic view of the complexities involved in bringing new drugs to market.

Water Desalination

Simple Diagram of the Desalination Process

The article on desalination explains how desalination is the process of removing minerals from saline water which is removing salt and minerals from saltwater. Once this saltwater has been treated it is then able for human consumption, agricultural use, or even irrigation.

Steps of Desalination:

1. Seawater intake
2. Screening and pretreatment filtration
3. Reverse osmosis (Removes salt and minerals)
4. Post treatment (Adding minerals and tests for safe drinking water)
5. Clean water supply
6. Seawater concentrate (58 percent of the water used is returned to the ocean)

Making Solar Energy Affordable

Solar energy is a very clean alternative to many methods of energy today like one of the worst ones, fossil fuels. A study was done, and it was predicted that using solar energy alone could reduce total carbon emissions by 21 percent by the year 2050. The problem with solar energy is it can be very expensive but there are ways that humans are working on to make solar energy more affordable and more efficient.

Solar panels on the roof of a house

Ways to make Solar Energy more Affordable and Efficient

• Solar Trees- Allows for solar panel leaves to collect light, saving space and producing the same amount of energy.
• Advanced Solar Material- Using different materials that are cheaper and could be more efficient.
• Double-Sided Cells- This allows for light to be captured on both sides allowing for a boost in energy.
• Half-Cells- Cutting processed cells in half allowing for more durability and an energy boost.
• Solar Roofs- Making roofs of homes out of solar panels which could eventually be cheaper than a normal roof and giving the home solar power.
• Floating Solar Installations- A structure of solar panels allowing for zero emission energy.
• Thermal Systems- Solar panels are cooled and the heat exiting the solar panels is used as thermal energy, allowing for maximum energy.
• Agrophotovoltaics- Placing solar panels above crops.

Improving Urban Infrastructure

Example of urban infrastructure

Urban infrastructure is the work that allows cities to operate. This includes transportation, construction of buildings and houses, and much more.The article Urban renewal talks about economic revitalization, social and cultural regeneration, and environmental sustainability. Projects often involve collaboration between governments, private entities, and community organizations. While urban renewal can lead to economic and infrastructural improvements, it also raises concerns about gentrification and displacement of long-standing communities. Strategies used in urban renewal include slum clearance, eminent domain, and slum upgrading.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive Overview: The article provides a thorough overview of urban renewal, covering its history, goals, strategies, and impacts.

• Neutral Tone: It maintains a neutral tone, presenting various aspects of urban renewal without bias.

• Relevant Content: The content is highly relevant and up-to-date, including recent trends and examples of urban renewal projects.

• Well-Organized: The article is well-organized, with sections that logically follow the major points of the topic.

• Clear Writing: The writing is clear, concise, and easy to read, making the complex topic accessible to a broad audience.

Providing Energy from Fusion

Fusion reactor

Fusion energy is a process by which two light nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus, and in doing so release considerable energy. This process needs an extreme amount of heat and is difficult to achieve. Researchers are doing their best to try and make this available on earth.

The article Fusion power talks about it requiring extremely high temperatures, pressures, and confinement times to create a plasma where fusion can occur. The most common fuel for fusion reactors is a mixture of deuterium and tritium, isotopes of hydrogen. Achieving the conditions necessary for fusion is challenging, and researchers have explored various confinement methods. It also has several potential advantages over nuclear fission, including reduced radioactivity, minimal high-level nuclear waste, abundant fuel supplies, and increased safety. However, technical challenges remain, such as maintaining the required conditions for fusion and managing the materials that degrade under neutron bombardment.

Strengths:

• Up-to-date Information: It includes recent developments and breakthroughs in fusion research, making it current and relevant.

• Well-Organized: The content is well-organized into sections that logically follow the progression of the topic, from basic principles to advanced research.

• Use of Visuals: The article uses diagrams and images to help explain complex concepts, enhancing reader understanding.

• Reliable Sources: Most of the information is backed by reliable secondary sources, including academic publications and reputable news outlets.

Secure Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity are practices that try and prevent hacking and cyberattacks. This is extremely important because hackers can get important personal information that can harm people or even hack into important government information.[5]The article Cyber-security regulation talks about various efforts to improve cybersecurity through regulation and collaboration between the government and the private sector. It highlights key U.S. federal regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the Homeland Security Act, which includes the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). These regulations mandate that healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and federal agencies protect their systems and information.

Strengths:

• Well-Organized: The content is well-organized into sections that logically follow the progression of the topic, from general principles to specific regulations.

• Use of Examples: The article uses specific examples of regulations and incidents to illustrate points, enhancing reader understanding.

• Reliable Sources: Most of the information is backed by reliable secondary sources, including government reports and academic publications.

• Global Perspective: It provides a perspective on cybersecurity regulations beyond the United States, mentioning international efforts and standards.

References

1.) Sydney Desalination Plant. How desalination works – Sydney Desalination Plant. Sydney Desalination Plant. https://sydneydesal.com.au/education/how-desalination-works/.

2.) Brown, M. Solar energy: the 8 ideas that will make panels more efficient and cheaper. Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/article/60968-solar-energy-the-8-ideas-that-will-make-panels-more-efficient-and-cheaper.

3.) The Urban Infrastructure | Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/urban-infrastructure.

4.) What is Fusion Energy? – Australian ITER Forum. Ainse.edu.au. https://fusion.ainse.edu.au/home/what-is-fusion-energy/.

5.) IBM. What is cybersecurity? IBM. https://www.ibm.com/topics/cybersecurity.

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