Science History - John Dunn, Consultant, Ambertec, P.E., P.C.

Art History is a dreaded but required subject for all college Art Majors, both at the Bachelor's level and at the Masters level. It is universally deemed in that field of endeavor, that one cannot be considered a true professional unless one has at least a passing knowledge of which artists and which cultures did what, when they did it and within what social and political circumstances.

It's not good enough just to be able to put some paint on a surface, to carve something up or to put pieces of heaven knows what together and hope for gallery exhibit space and/or accolades at some prestigious museum.

Please consider the following names (some genuflection will, of course, be acceptable):

Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta, André-Marie Ampère and Georg Simon Ohm. 

I kinda think these fellows had something important to tell us, but I must confess that I never had any formal instruction in their lives, their times or their works. For lack of that, I feel cheated because in engineering curricula, there is no equivalent study of Art History, call it what, Science History? I think there should be.

The best engineers whom I have known have all had at least a passing knowledge of the people who laid down the foundations of our profession. Also in my experience, the best engineers have always held these giants in high esteem and respect.

Interestingly too, most of the lesser lights whom I have seen practicing (masquerading?) as engineers showed not the slightest bit of interest in that history. One really sad case was not even aware that our familiar units of measure had been named in honor of these great individuals.

I submit that it would be an uplift to professional training if this gap in the engineering education curriculum were to be filled.

 

 

Comments

[Jerry]

When I was an undergraduate in physics (1957-1962) many of my textbooks included photos, along with brief biographies, of the men responsible for what I was studying. It inspired a lifelong interest in their lives. I hope that's still being done.

[Steve]

I agree completely that the lives of the great engineers and scientists should be studied as part of any engineering undergraduate course. Sadly in my case this did not happen although I have since read books on some of the main players in the field of electronics. The rivalry between Tesla and Edison was particularly interesting. How sad that a brilliant man like Tesla is practically unknown outside the field of electronics.

[Daniel]

I can't agree more. I have learned a lot by studying the successes (and failures) of not only early pioneers in electricity, but more recent entrepreneurs (founders of Sun, Intel, Apple, etc.).
Someone needs to develop a class or at least write a book. And when they do, please let me know!