Engineering skepticism

In 1939 General Motor s Electro-Motive Division sent its famed demonstrator FT-103 diesel-electric units on a triumphant tour of America. One purpose was to show skeptical railroaders that this 5400 hp, four-unit diesel locomotive developed more low speed tractive effort than competitor steam engines, which meant smooth starts and excellent performance on long mountain grades. The effect was much like Trevithick s demonstrations 130 years earlier, and a new generation of railroad locomotive power was assured. 

Since the earliest days of the atomic age, physicists and engineers have predicted the coming of practicable nuclear fusion within ten years or a generation. Histoi y therefore offers many reasons to be skeptical about the promise of nuclear energy. At the same time, this unparalleled form of energy is not going to return to the Pandora s box pried open by the Manhattan Project more than a half century ago. 

There are already many books published on the subjects of fluidization, solids handling, and processing. On first thought, I was skeptical about the wisdom and necessity of one more book on these subjects. On closer examination, however, I found that some industrially important subjects were either not covered in those books or were skimpily rendered. It would be a good service to the profession and the engineering community to assemble all these topics in one volume. In this book, I have invited recognized experts in their respective areas to provide a detailed treatment... 

Most dispensers use spin-on type filters, similar in appearance and construction to most common engine oil filters. Most use steel housings and paper filter element that are compatible with ethanol, but the glue used to fasten the element to the housing may not be compatible with ethanol. The filter manufacturer should be contacted to see whether they have tested their filters for compatibility with ethanol (a recommendation without testing verification should be looked upon skeptically). If there is doubt, dispenser filters having nylon filter elements and ethanol-compatible glue should prove compatible. 

That does sound much more risky than genetic engineering. Is that stuff actually in our food supply Amie exclaims, looking skeptically at the salad in front of us. 

If increased reaction yields and/or cleaner reactions are demonstrable, to add to large reductions in reaction time, one has the best of all possible opportunities to profitably partner the process development chemist and chemical engineer in the development of a pilot plant scale microwave reactor as an alternative to conventionally heated plant equipment. As with any relatively new technology, sober-minded and realistic evaluation is needed in order to gain credibility with one s supporters and to overcome the inertia, often born of skepticism, which is frequently associated with excursions into the unknown. 

As animal fats are a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, Cummins et al. (142) assessed the danger of a human contracting CJD as a result of the use of tallow as a fuel in diesel engines. They concluded that the risk was several orders of magnitude less than the rate of spontaneous appearance of CJD. Thus, scientific analysis indicates that processed (i.e., rendered) animal fat is not an agent of transmission of BSE. Nonetheless, especially in the United Kingdom, the public remains skeptical. This has in some cases led to less use of animal fats in feed applications. Especially in the United Kingdom, the BSE epidemic has reduced the amount of domestically available tallow (because of condemnation) and increased the use of other lipids in place of animal fats. 

Given the apparent lack of progress over the last decade, some will be skeptical that the Navy will actually succeed at engineering the necessary risk management posture, but there are good reasons to be optimistic ... 

Retired politicians and celebrities write personal memoirs. Retired entrepreneurs and investors write financial guides. Retired engineers and professionals write how-to or do-it-yourself manuals. Why cannot retired academics write text or reference books of their specialized fields After many years of teaching and research experience, we certainly have lots to write about. I have taken up this project after my mandatory retirement, not without skeptics. However, I am relieved that I have made it. 

US students. Current immigration policies combined with global skepticism about US foreign policy continue to threaten our capacity to attract outstanding students, scientists, and engineers from abroad. 

There has been considerable discussion and expressed panic for the prospective lack of engineers in the United States. Some skeptics argue that the gap between demand and supply of domestic engineers could be covered by outsourcing work to foreign engineers for less money and, in some cases, better work quality. While there are some engineering jobs that could, and probably should be outsourced, there are others that must remain domestic. If these jobs were outsourced, the security and culture in the United States would suffer. 

A survey of Rutgers University students found that in graduate school, a significant number of students admitted to cheating (MBAs 56%, engineering 54%, education 48%, and law 45%). The Ethics Resource Center s 2007 national business ethics survey results showed that within the corporate environment, 56% of employees have observed misconduct 36% fear retaliation and 54% are skeptical that a report would matter (Ethics Resource Center, 2007). Management may not be aware of misconduct, since 42% of employees who observe misconduct do not report it. 

The skeptical engineer is wary of the idea that molecules leap into contact with their surrounding snrfaces. After all, car parts on an assembly line do not suddenly jump together and adhere strongly to fashion the finished vehicle. However, at the molecular level it is quite obvious that such events occur naturally, and a nanoscale car could be self-assembled by these normal adhesive forces. The problem is that the nano-engine would not work because all its parts would seize togeflier. 

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