The role of the engineer in a free economy

The population of the world is increasing and is almost certain to reach six billion by the year 2000. In many countries, the standard of living is deplorably low so that more than half the present world population cannot do much more than exist. In some countries, they are getting even poorer and, if the population goes on increasing, are in danger of starvation. This depressing situation can only be averted by improved agriculture, on the one hand, and more and better engineering, on the other. If only to increase agricultural production, more engineering is needed to provide irrigation, fertilisers, agricultural machinery and transportation to the densely populated areas where it is needed. To improve the quality of life beyond the subsistence level, even in the simplest manner, will require production of consumer goods, public utilities and transportation many times greater than are available now. In addition, the growth of big cities and conurbations in developing countries will require capital development of housing and public utilities, as well as leisure facilities on a large scale. All of these activities involve engineering and, because the engineering problems are dependent on the local enviroment, professional engineers will always be needed for their successful solution. The task of raising the quality of life in the less developed countries, when population is increasing by 3% a year or more, is so immense that the greatest ingenuity is required to ensure that our limited resources of materials, tools and skills are exploited in the most effective manner. This means that we need, not only more qualified engineers, but better ones, and particularly more engineering leaders who can see large and complex projects through to a successful conclusion in the most difficult conditions. Although such leaders are more likely to be born, rather than made, they must still have the education and training to make them resourceful in emergencies, experience wide enou- gh to give them critical judgement to do what is best in difficult circumstances, and the determination to combat inefficiency wherever it may arise. Above all they must have integrity and a sense of mission to do their best for their clients, whether they be world organisations or small communities, powerful corporations or struggling private companies, multimillionaires or subsistence farmers. The customer may know best but not the client, because, if he die, he would have no need to employ a professional engineer. The professional engineer must for ever be striving to improve his technical ability, and this he will only achieve by widening his experience and carrying out every job he takes on as well as he possibly can. He must treat all men without fear or favour and always put the public interest before his personal ambitions. This does not mean that he should not be entreprenurial: far from it, for if he beleives his work is good, whom does it profit if it goes unheeded, and so he must do his utmost to exploit it for the benefit of others. If he profits from this exploitation, he is fortunate, but if he is unsuccessful he must carefully consider the reasons and try again. In the end, it is only the engineers who can ensure the success of the project or the quality of the product, and, if they fail, we are all the poorer or, worse, there will be some dreadful disaster.