Portrayals of engineers in "Science Times"

Engineering plays a crucial role in the creation of technologies and infrastructure that make vital contributions to the U.S. economy and security, to U.S. prestige in the international arena, and to individual well-being through the provision of jobs, services, and products. Despite this, a large proportion of the U.S. public undervalues the role played by engineers in a wide variety of technologically-based activities, holds engineering as a less prestigious occupation than science, and regards engineers as less socially responsible than scientists. In addition, declining levels of enrollment by Americans in engineering programs, together with under-representation of women and minorities in the profession, are also seen as causes for concern. The reasons for these low levels of public understanding about what engineers do are most likely complex. However, since Americans obtain much of their information about science and technology through the mass media, it seems likely that media coverage of engineering plays at least some role in the formation of public ideas about engineers and engineering.